The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-03
TO PARENTS AND TEACHERS.
A Plea in Behalf Of school Children--The
Ailing One.


fully eluded the truant officers. Such a
one is almost always Of the 'gamln or
der. i'll fed, scantily clothed and gener-
aliy neglected. And yet, notwithsiand-
inc the hardships implied, we find him
strong. active and "wiry." If pitted
against a country boy Of his age the
chances are our city lad would "use the
other up" All things considered 1t
must appear evident TO those who study
the subject that because our children are
sent 10 school at too early an age Is one
potent reason why they su.ler so much
from the contrast with their country
cousins. But it is purposeless to attempt
20 persuade parents 70 keep their little
ones out of school until it Is safe to SEND
them. Borrowing an expression. one
might as well hope TO level Gibraltar
with a crowbar. In the proper authori-
ties is our only hope Of reform. They
cannot be ignorant OF this grave re-
spon,ibiltv. Reluctantly accepting me
situation. we viii give mothers ana
teachers q few words of practical advice
~ regards their treatment II school
children. in so far as pertains 10 heailh.
"Cleanliness Is next t0 g0diness. Us
importance Is not always appreciated
either bv parents or children. Every
child should have q full bath at least
once n week. whereas many IN our pun
lie schools know that luxury only when
the public bathing houses are opened to
them. which is, of course, only m warm
weather Neglect Of cleanliness prOpa-
oates other mean habits. and tends 10 de-
velop the beast in ones nature. II
child's body is continually dirty he VIII
soon grow low ana depraved, notwith-
standing all his other influences are the
best. Let parents fix that fact in their
minds. else by that one neglect they ut
terlv ruin the natures of their children.
Those who live in humble tenements.
destitute of bathing facilities, should call
the washing tub into service &C least once
a week. and a general scrubbng Of the
children take place Some mothers take
pleasure and pride in the appearance Of
their little ones; others seem positively
Indifferent whether or not their faces are
washed or hair Is ever c0mhed. They
should see that both is done faithfully
not only in the morning, but on going to
bed
The character Of the clothing gener-
ally is not n matter Of dictati0n. We
cannot expect the children of poor pa
rents TO wear good clothes. but what
is worn can be clean, and there Is no eX-
cuse for their being otherwise From
this time out until school closes in the
spring, children should wear flannel next
TO the skin. and let mothers remember
that underclothing worn during the day
must not be worn during the night while
i'm bed. Children. rs well as adults,
must have undershirts for night wear,
and the one taken of at bedtime should
be spread over chair TO dry and air
well. 4 word here about the sleeping
room. Our poorer people are forced to
content themselves with q few small
rooms. and. rs a rule. they are sadly
ovcrcrowded That cannot be helped IN
many instances but such rooms can be
properly ventilated Open-throw wide
open-the windows Of the bedroom a
little while before the children 90 20 bed,
and then, when they are ready 20 un-
dress, go in and partially, but not en-
tirely. close them. Leave them open rs
much as the weather will permit. A
d,siuclinat0n o. ventilate their rooms
properly is one glaring and fatal fault
with ignorant people. To that cause
alone can be attributed much of the sick
ness and many Of the deaths among
them.
Some mothers allow their children TO
remain in bed in the morning until late
and then hurry them away 10 school.
The consequence is breakfast must be
bolted. Il ought not 10 b. necessary 10
say that children should have ample time
i'm which 10 eat. and should be forced 90
do SO slowly. Tea and coffee are iniuri-
Gus to them. II mothers will insist i'm
allowing them 10 have those drinks. then
let the quantity be- small and IN much
milk. Cocoa is liked by every child.
and. If not made too strong it is whole
some and n0urishing. One thing more
about breakfast be- sure that The children
eat enough. Even if they eat heartily,
as a rule they will be hungry before din
ner time comes, therefore, provide them
with a light luncheon bread and butter
and some sound, ripe fruit if possible.
Early to bed and early to rise is a rule
which cannot safely be violated by chill
dren. That they need much more sleep
than adults. every one should know. Let
the hour before retiring be passed quietly
in some form of amusement.
To allow them 10 90 to bed excited
either by hard play by study, or by a
"s:ory book, - means wakeful hours or
sleep disturbed by dreams When q
child appears to be ailing he should be
kept out Of school until he is himself
again. BY teachers much too high a
premium is put upon punctuality and un-
broken attendance. In consequence,
children are encouraged to go to school
when they are really quite sick enough to
be at home and in bed Scarlet fever,
measles, diphtheria and the like arc very
easily transmitted from an affected child
Done in perfect health. The former need
not be very i'll; he may, in fact, be 10
school and appear but slightly ailing, and
yer IL il ptiite u0.sible for him 10 hear about