Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-09-07
Too Young for School.

Five years old, and to be sent TO
,hool What has the poor little inno-
cent done that he should be turned out
of the nursery at such tender age !?
Has he already learned all there is to
be learned at that best academy, a
mothers knee or, l hesitate to make
the suggestion, has he become trouble
some there?
When in my walks see little tots Of
four or five start out Tor school III the
morning, carefully hooded aud mitten-
ed, and then again watch them IS they
come home with coats unbuttoned,
mittens mislaid or dangling from their
pockets, rubbers carelessly forgotten,
I wonder how many sore throats, how
mauy ear aches there will be next day,
and | feel like running after each aud
every one Of them in a fruitess attempt
to secure all the lost buttons and mis-
sing ruDbers or mittens, aud of saying
to their mothers: "Do keep your ba-
bies at home until they are old enough
to have learned something about the
care of their own little bodies"
Ofcourse in q private school needed
personal attention is cheerfully given.
but in large public school it is practi-
cally impossible. Then, too, the dan
ger of infection from that large class Of
diseases, popularity known as children's
diseases, is much greater among the
Younger children, and the more they
are brought together the greater the
risk in this direction. should like TO
call the attention Of all thoughtful
mothers to the report of the instructor
Of hygiene in one OF the Boston schools,
where he frankly acknowledges that
the highest sanitary conditions are far
from being reached. Even TO yentilate
Il school room properly, one of the most
necessary conditions of health, Is
matter not often satisfactorily arranged.
The building up of good physique
must be begun in the earliest period Of
life. 4 wellsknown writer on The train
ing of children says
"Whoever has straight, well-formed
childrer may rest satisfied that their
physical training has been what it ought
10 be. Straight, erect. lissome forms
cannot be found without good health,
nav, without the best health. When
boys and girls begin to droop and 'lop
around, to use the expressive, homely
phrase, it is high time to look after
their physical well-being. Food, dress
and ventilation, at home and at school,
should undergo the most critical in
Spection."
But perhaps some busy mother may
say with sigh, "Ah, well, this sounds
very reasonable. should like to keep
my children at home, but what am
to do with sewing on my hands, the house to
look after and iunumerahie duties beside. all
claiming immediate attention To such l
would say: BE sure first of all which are the
most important duties None of us can DO all
we would like to do then let us choose. Put
fever frills on your children's petticoats few
er tucks on thcil pretty aprons and dresses,
and give them more OF yourself more OF your
heart and mind, more of your personal care
Said a wise little woman TO me not long
ago For the first six years OF my chiids lie
tried Ia teach him almost nothing except
what and how to eat, and 10 tell the truth
And consider the time well spent"
Most of us are apt TO uudervalue the I'M
portance of constant watchfu!ncss IN all
matters pertaining 10 the physical well-beins
of our children. because the results are not al
ways Immediately apparent. but many of the
diseases of maturity can be traced to want
of care in infancy and childhood. 1t is as i'm
possible to secure the highest intellectual and
moral development without sound. healthy
brain and body, as to rear Il beautiful and sub
stantial dwelling upon insecure foundations
and it is To the mother and the home that
these earliest years with all their possibilities
for good and evil, beloug.-Phifadeiph Re
cord.