Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1901-02-14
AT THE rlOTHERS' CLUB.
The Child PhyicaI; How May Teacher
Cooperate With the Mother
for his yyeIIheiug


| Paper Read by Mrs. Z. NJ Wolfe before Artemesi
Mothers Club of Mountain Home
Published by Request OF the Club
Psychologists tell us that the des
tiny of human being is largely de-
cided during the first seven years O
life. Is it not of supreme impor
lance what kind of impressions
ideas and memories art indelibly
made upon the plastic brain anc
nervous system? We have learned
that the mother is the child's frs
teacher, whether she will realize il
or not; and we need clear headed
true-souled women who understand
the science of motherhood aud meth.
DDS for developing true manhood
and true womanhood from the com
pick organization of the child. But
the mother needs the cooperation
of the skilled teacher, and the chiid
needs the companionship of other
children. "The teacher is like the
director of an orchestra: the child
rem are the Instruments; before
harmony can be thought of there
must be the tuning of each"
Some eritieise new methods be-
cause we do not teach so much from
books as in years past. 1t is the
duty of all who understand new
methods to lead the public to see
that during early childhood, growth
and not cram is what is most need
ed. Then the public will realize
that human seedlings require the
same care and wise discrimination
as to individual needs, which the
careful gardener or nurseryman
gives his tender buildings, easily
blighted trees and flowers.
Prevention is better than cure,
and when we can cause all who are
interested in the welfare of the hui
man race in the smallest detail that
pertains to its earliest development,
to see this then we may expect re-
formation along many lines. We
may not spend less public money
in building hospitals, prisons,
asylums, ETC., but there will be
more spent for the adequate prepar-
alton of teachers for the very young;
properly equipped and suitable
buildings, designed and set apart
for their special use, with play
grounds attractive and beautiful.
If taxpayers could be made to
understand that money spent for
the education of the very youngest
child is the wisest possible expend-
iture that could be made, we would
have healthier children and better
teachers. ! believe from observa-
ton and experience that the nursery,
Kindergarten and primary rooms
are of greater Importance than the
higher grades and universities.
Over and over again we must use
the time-worn SMILES of the bent
sapling, consequently the crooked
tree; the weak and insufficient
foundation, and the inevitable crash
and fall Of the subsequent super
structure. Of what use are all the
magnificent advantages of such col
leges as Harvard, Yale, Cornell
Vassar and Smith, if young men
and women bring to them, as we
can not deny they do in numberless
instances, imperfectly developed
senses, weak Wills, and consequently
lack OF self-directing powers-im-
mortal lives, either indifferent or
perverted and aspirations that are
unattainable because of inadequate
physical strength.
/ came across this paragraph not
long since and | heartily endorse it;
IF this people is to take and KEEP
the place among nations for which
it is peculiarly fitted and for which
God intends it, more must be done
for the care of the body. Too many
educated wrecks drift from oul
schools and colleges" And | would
add that the majority of cases date
back to overcrowded, illventilated
poorly heated and lighted primary
rooms. The teacher can aid the
mother more here in the physica
upbuilding of the child than in any
other loom in the school. To de
this she should be provided with q
room that will allow 800 cubic fee
of air-space for each child. TIT
windows should be thrown open a
recesses and at noon in all weather
and the atmosphere of the room pu
rified. During a great part of thu
year some of the windows should b'
left open at the top. The norma
temperature of healthy room il
70 degrees. 1t must be remembered
} that very young children are ia
more susceptible to the evil effect
of impure air than grown people
and yet they reveal less quickly tn
, diseases arising therefrom. Their
, should be at least one-sixth as mucl
; space for light as floor space. 1t i
, best in every way that light shoul'
come from but one side of the room
but is difficult to obtain sufficien
r light from one side. To avoid th
} evils of weak eyes cross-light shoul
, come from opposite sides of tn
J room and not from right angles
: All windows should be supplies
2 with dark shades, SO undesirabl
light may be excluded, especial