The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-12-02
Science of Health,

lSftI uOIlC 14CulUl ASoOClttlDil, dIb )dlll-
more, was the subject of popularizing the
science of health in our public schools
A memorial to Congress was prepared
and agreed on, in favor of such legisla-
ton as would bring about Il cooperation
of the general and several State Govern
ments for q uniform and efficient system
Of recording births, deaths, marriages. etc.
On the specific subject OF ''The Popu-
larization of Sanitary Science in our
Schools" a very able paper was read by
Prof. f. W. Claypole, OF Antioch College
Ohio. We condense the mai. points pre-
sented by the learned writer;
The Importance OF sanitary science may
be measured not merely by "a philanthropy
ic but an economic standard; for disease
and crime are costly factors in Il nations
lite which it is not only humane but actu-
ally profitable to eliminate, especially as
the present condition Of science points to
facts that such elimination is possible and
shows the steps by which it may be et-
fected.
Next in Importance to the discovery Of
the laws Of health, stand: First, the ditftl-
sion of its truths among the community );
second, the conversion of the community
to faith in these truths, and in correspond
ing action. Side by side stand the prin-
cipal difficulties that must be met First,
the general Ignorance Of facts, physiolog-
zeal and other, on which sanitary science
rests; and, second, bias in q wrong di-
rection, resulting from custom. For the
diffusion of such sanitary knowledge the
school is the best possible means The
next generation can be elevated in a san
itary condition by physiological education
more thoroughly than the present by leg
islation; not by text book memoriaing,
but by 4 study and observation of the oft
quoted Herbert Spencer, that fright
knowledge. rightly impressed, is OF pri-
mary Importance in scheme of proper
education" He advocated the employ
ment OF expert teachers in sanitary
science in all the universities, colleges,
and schools; men and women able to
teach physiology broadly and connected
", in whose hands u bone of any other
organ furnishes a lesson of structure,
from which, in orderly consequence, flow
the lessons on functions, and at Il further
remove, all the wider relations OF SAM
tary science which bear on the best con-
dition for the perfection OF the functions ;
illustrating the whole subject by refer
ences to mechanics, chemistry, physics
and optics, SO that the other sciences
shall contribute to the perfect knowledge
OF the human body. inexpensive local
schools for the instruction of teachers
during portions Of the year are needed,
with 4 physiological labratory to supple
ment the work of the class ROOM with in
structions not to teach, but to snperin
tend the work OF the students.
He then alluded to the waste of time,
waste Of labor, and waste of words at
the meetings of teachers Institutes which
might be better employed to aid teachers
in gaining pratical acquaintance with
the foundations of sanitary science, anato-
my, physiology, chemistry, and kindred
| Subjects Education and refinement, like
water, flow downward In order, there
fore, to dtfuse sanitary science let us first
improve our physiological teaching and
| our unhygienic modes of lite in the higher
institutions of learning, that their students
| i.,cy- know tho light, cad ~hvu,u IL If lney
will Let us provide physiological and
sanitary instruction for teachers whose
age, means, OF time will not allow them
| to take college course. Let lis, rs far
as possible, utilize all existing organiza-
| tons, such as teachers institutes. Let no
spirit of false economy of school trustees
obstruct teachers and scholars in the art
and practice of healthy living
In the face of the sanitary law that two
thousand cubic feet of fresh air hourly
are needed for Il single person, yet we
| read of the public schools of BROOKLYN
| where from one hundred and eight to
! twenty-tour cubic feet to each child is
possible, while the temperature ranges
from siXty-four to ninety degrees, and in
one school from fifty to ninety-live de
grees, Lunatics maintained at the public
cost receive better treatment; criminals
live in better condition. This is the sani-
tary education our children get--reciting
lessons on ventilation in polluted atmos-
phere, OF on the evils Of tight lacing, to a
teacher who disregards the law. These
examples prove that in the way of sani
tary teaching there lies a difficulty far
greater than mere need of sanitary knowl-
edge. The teachers must be men and
women with whom to know is to do.
This is unquestionably a matter worthy
the most intelligent consideration of our
public school boards, teachers and phil
anthropists. AS to the great advantages
arising from Il proper observance of sani-
tary laws, there is and can be no question
But how are they to be intelligently OBJ
served if they are unknown to the masses
of the people? Such u thing is 4 pract-
cal impossibility. and the surest and most
effective way to convey this knowledge is
to make it part of the every day educa-
ton of the rising generation as suggested
by Professor Claypole
To make the science Of health, and the
study Of sanitary laws a part Of public
school education, need entail but trifng,
if any additional expense. 1t is subject
on which teachers and parents may readi-
ly inform themselves, and which may be
taught rs much Or more by example than
tEhn lont Of