Clarksville evening chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn) 1886-1890, 1888-11-13
TO PARENTS end TEACHERS.
A Plea In Behalf OF School Children, he
Ailing One.

fully eluded the truant ofioera Such
one is almost always Of the ''gaInin" or
der, Ill fed, scantily clothed and gener-
ally neglected. And yet, notwithstand-
ing the hardships implied, we find him
strong. active and ''wiry." II pitted
against country boy Of his age the
chances are our city lad would ''use the
other up" All things considered it
must appear evident to those who study
the subject that because our children are
sent to school at too early an age is one
potent reason why they suffer so much
from the contrast with their country
cousins. But it is purposeless to attempt
to persuade parents to 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 crowbar. In the proper authori-
ties is our only hope of reform. They
cannot be ignorant Of this grave re-
sponsibility. Reluctantly accepting the
situation, we will give mothers and
teachers few words of practical advice
as regards their treatment Of school
children, in SO far as pertains to health.
Cleanliness is next to goodness" Its
importance is not always appreciated
either by parents or children. Every
child should have 81 full bath at least
once week, whereas many in our pub
lie schools know that luxury only when
the public bathing houses are opened to
them, which is, of course, only in warm
weather. Neglect of cleanliness propa-
so, Nt1 ho1Nsk- N,I AovN Il
velop the beast ia ones nature. II
childs body il csntinually dirty he will
soon grow low and depraSed, notwith-
standing all his other influences are tho
best. Let parents fix that fact in their
minds, else by that one neglect they ut
terly ruin the natures of their children.
Those who live in humble tenements,
destitute of bathing facilities, should cali
the washing tub into service at least once
o week. and a general scrubbing of the
children tako place. Some mothers take
pleasure and pride in the appearance of
their little ones; others seem positively
Indifferent whether or not their faces arc
washed or hair is ever combed. They
should see thu both Is done faithfully,
not only in tle morning, but on going to
bed.
The character of the clothing gener-
ally is not n matter of dictation. Wo
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 undertaking worn during the day
must not be worn during the night while
in bed. Children, as well as adults,
must have undershirts for night wear.
and the one taken off at bedtime should
be spread over q chair to dry and air
well. A word here about the sleeping
room. Our poorer people are forced to
content themselves with q few small
rooms, and, as 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 go to bed,
and then, when they are ready to un-
dress, go in and partially, but not en-
tirely, close them. Leave them open as
much as the weather will permit. A
Discrimination to 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 to school!
The consequence is breakfast must Eo
bolted. 1t ought not to be necessary to
say that children should have ample timo
in which to eat, and should be forced to
do SO slowly. Tea and coffee are injuri-
GUS to them. If mothers will insist in
allowing them to 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 nourishing. 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 light luncheon-bread and butter
and some sound, ripe fruit if possible.
Early to bed and early to rise" Is rule
which cannot safely be violated by chill
dren. That they need much more sleep
than adults, every one should know. Let
tho hour before retiring be passed quietly
in some form of amusement.
To allow them to go to bed excited
either by hard play, by study, or by a
''s;ory book" means wakeful hours or
sleep disturbed by dreams. When
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 I'M
broken attendance. In consequence,
children are encouraged to so to school
when they arc really quite sick enough to
DO at home and in bed. Scarlet fever,
measles, diphtheria and the like arc very
easily transmitted from an affected child
to one in perfect health. The former need
not DO very i'll; no may, in fact, be in
school and appear but slightly ailing. and
yet itisquite possible for him to bear @bout
with him the germs of disease, and COM
municate them 10 those with whom he is
brought in contact. All must remember
that a case of infectious disease need not
DO severe to be source of great danger
TO others. A child Is lust IA likely to