Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-07

otber niaces aro,ind the school-house, so
AZ TO avoid wet feet n frequent cause Oh
sickness among school children Disease
reveis I'm dirt, dampness, ana oarhns's.
No dark, damp musty, unheai'ny cs"a
or closet should ever be permitted ABOUT
the premises to breed sickness ana pes"-
lence among the pupils.
CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.
Contagious diseases as smallpox
chicken-pox, scarlet-fever, measles
whooping cough, diphtheria, itch etc'' are
readily spread from pupil to puph anu
from house TO house through the instru-
mentality OF the school, unless strictly
guarded by risid quarantine regulations.
Epidemics often quickly die out wheh
schools are closed I'm a town or nelgh-
borhood. No pupil or teacher affected
with any Of the above diseases or from
"A family 40 affected should attend school
until pronounced cured and free from IN
lection or danger OF communicating dis
ease to others by medical certificate.
No teacher or pupil suffering from con-
sumption should be permitted 10 attend
any school, and splitting upon the noors
or In the Railways should be prohlDited'
The bacill arising from the dried sputa
OF consumptive people are prolific sources
of this dreaded disease.
I'pon every school board a physician
or health officer should be required
whose special duty should be 10 look Al
ter the sanitary condition Of school build
ings and premises and the health or the
puplls. Much can be accomplished by
gaining the cooperation OF parents IN
looking after the good health OF the
children; their regular habits, their habits
OF sleep eight to ten hours every night,
etc.
AS TO EXERCISE.
Physical exercise is healthful, ana
should keep pace or alternate with men
tai work. Pupils. need regular exercise
and so do teachers Regular calisthenics
and gymnastic exercises should be IN
every school curriculum in order TO secure
healthy and symmetrical development
and give ease and grace of movement.
Children. I'm these exercises. should De
warned and guarded against being over
heated and suddenly cooling off without
coats on. from sitting In drafts, from
sitting or lying on damp ground, sitting
I'm cold rooms, standing I'm cold winds
without hats, running out during
DAYS. getting feet or clothing wet. In
door exercises and games should be de-
vised for damp and rainy days.
HOURS OF STUDY.
II has been truly said that the Ameri-
can children are oveIworl<ed in schools
and that their bodies suffer and their ply
steal development is retarded.
Sound minds, sound morals, and sound
healthy bodies should be in the training
Of the young, the high goal of ambition
on the part of teachers and parents al
all times.
The number of hours in school should
vary with the age Of pupils. The toio"-
ing schedule is a wise one:
Children from 10 years old may be In
school two hours a day.
Children from to 10 years old may be
in school three to three and a half hours
a day.
Children from 10 TO y years old may be
in school four to four and half hours
a day.
Children from Il to IS years old may
be in school seven to eight hours day.
More time than this will probably be at
the expense of physical health.
Night study should be avoided as much
as possible with growing children. Re
cesses and noon periods are important for
rest and recreation, and should not be
omitted, Children should not enter
school at too early an age. Healthy chill
dren at or 8 years Of age; those not
strong later.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The ears of children should never be
boxed or pulled. nor should children ever
be struck over the head. nor on the palms
of the hand with a ruler These punish
ments are dangerous. Pupils should not
be deprived of their meals nor of their
periods of exercise and recreation.
All narcotics and stimulants. as alco-
hol. tobacco, tea coffee, etc, are in1u-
rious, especially TO the young, and should
be prohibited. Their systems require
nourishment, not stimulation.
The banefUl cigarette is producing I'M
told injury to the rising generation, and
should be abolished by law. Tobacco eff
fects harmfully the general nutrition Of
the whole body, especially the eye, the
heart, and the nervous system.
Alcohol in all its forms is Injurious. IL
can produce temporary insanity and grave
disorders Of the whole system. Strong tea
and coffee impair digestion and injure
the nervous system OF growing children.
Public schools should so educate and
trains boys and girls that they may be
strong i'm mind and body. Public health
and public education are so intimately
connected and dependent upon each other
IL would seem that as much time, atten-
ton, and money should be expended on
one as the other. What IS education
without health? Wisdom, strength ef-
fectiveness, all the qualities OF the sound
mind depend for their highest manifesto
tions upon the possession Of a sound
body.
This government, according 10 the sta
tistics Of the last decade. spent $lSs. 1885, 1893
on the support Of the public schools OF
the country. our own state. with COM
mendable pride, spends annually some
thing near million and a half dollars
on her public schools. Could not more be
profitably spent on public health in order
TO give 'mens sana in corpore sano" so
essential to productive citizenship?