November 26, 1942

Mire As Je Mix
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Keneas

Dear Vrs Mix,

The increased demands on this department necessitated by
the requirement thet students missing physical conditioning must
present a doctors excuse lead us to offer this suggestion,

Many of these cages are of very minor illnesses or injuries
that really do not require a physician's attention but make it
inconvenient for the student to participate in exercise. During the
firet 24 days of November we issued 335 statements of excuse from
physical conditioning and diseussed with an additional 30 students
physical complaints which did not warrant exeuse, The issuing of
exouses is not a simple clerical procedure, It requires, in many
instances, & rather complete oxaminetion of the patient before the
request for excuse can either be confirmed or disproved, To relieve
this situation,would it not be possible to institute some sort of
an honor system for requesting excuse from physical conditioning
elasses on the basis thet this training ie supposed to be for the
benefit of the individual. I suggest e form something lilte thies

"Recognizing that the physical conditioning course has
been lnstituted for my benefit and to help in the war
effort, I request exeuse from clase on (date)
because of the following reason whieh did tot require
medioal attentiog. ‘

Signed _ *

Our oxperfemce is that any student requiring medical
attention for iliness or injury will, es he hae. done in the past,
report to the Health Service. Use of this volunteer type of exouse
would eliminate the necessity of the student putting the responsi«
bility for exouse from ¢lass on a physician's diagnosis rather
then on his own desire to escape, what at the moment eppears to

him to be en irksome duty.
Sincerely,

Ralph I, Ganuteson, Meds
Director, Health Service

RIC ek
oo to Dr. F. Gs Allen
to Dr. Raymond Nichole