Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1901-02-14

benefited by this club. To learn
from the experience of others what
Is best in every way for me to do
Tor the precious little tot entrusted
to my care, whose life | am sup
posed to have nodded before it en-
tiers school. 1t is not the teachers.
dear mothers, who have the destiny
OF those little souls to account for;
1t is we mothers. We should weigh
this well before it is too late. Short
sessions are also physical advant-
age for young children. Kinder
garten children are happier and
healthier in than out of kindergar.
ten. They are only kept three
hours, and only one hour if very
nervous, until they become accus-
toned to the change. Parents and
teachers should watch bright child
rem very closely and not permit
them to overtax their nerves. Pri-
mary teachers could help parents SO
much if they were permitted to use
their own judgment in every little
detail that would promote the heath
of the children, and not do things
for which their conscience bitterly
reproaches them, all because the
unreasonable taxpayer wants the
value of his money, at the expense
of wrecking physically those who
might and would make bright men
and women.
Cleanliness is virtue. The op-
posite of cleanliness is a great fault,
since it comprises the dignity of the
human person by giving an often
sive appearance to the body. Clean
illness is valuable in itself, as a hv-
gienic rule, as an element of health,
and as a preventive of contagious
which give rise to disease, light or
severe. Too much Importance can
not be given to cleanliness especi-
ally in the home and school. 1t
rests chiefly on the mothers to in
sist on children giving attention to
cleanliness-but the teacher can aid
by example and advice.
Perhaps one of the most vital
points to be considered in caring for
our wee men and women is that of
diet. The infant comes into the
world prepared by an Allwise
Father to live a natural life, only
too often to be forced by unwise pa
rents into a life utterly unnatural
and health destroying. The most
important knowledge a mother can
possess is how to feed and train her
little ones. so they shall have the
rich heritage of sound mind in a
sound body. 1t is the attempt to
give the little one material unsuita-
bic for building up its body and de-
priving it of food prepared by ma
ture, that causes so much trouble.
Food eaten by children should be
plain but wholesome, and it should
be varied. Rich pastry or sweet
meats should be restricted, especi-
ally for luncheons when carried to
, school.
The clothing should be full and
loose, so that the body shall feel at
ease in every garment. 1t should
not be SO heavy as to produce an
uncomfortable warmth, but warm
enough to prevent any feeling of
cold. Activity is one of the essen.
tial conditions of health. We are
nourished not by what we eat but
by what we digest, and our limbs
assist in this as we'll as our stom-
ach. The common idea of "hardz
ening" children is grievous delu-
sion. Children not infrequentiy
harden" out Of the world.
The life of a child should be
shielded from everything which
would have tendency to impair
bodily health, such as excessive
brain labor. This will be the pur-
pose Of a positive physical educa-
ton, which will comprise all the ex-
ercises and sports of childhood, all
the practices recommended by n.y.
giene and all the movements which
constitute gymnastics. Every child
needs healthful exercise out OF
school hours, and it should be in
the open air as much as the parent
can spare it. Some children spend
all their time out of school study.
ing or reading, which is very trying
on the nerves and should not be
permitted, especially with nervous
children. Parents, by watching, car
see when the child is overtaxed, but
as a rule not many children care tc
study at home.
1t is true but sad, there is very
little difference between the college
graduate and the uneducated cir
when it comes to the needs anC
cares of their little children. Wher
this is true, can we wonder tha
men, kind, generous but misguided
men, have made SO many mistakes
in regard to school work? | have
the utmost faith in the willingness
of men and women to do the RICH
thing, provided they know what tn,
right, the best thing, is. Let fathers
mothers and school trustees ono
realize the vast Importance of ever,
thing in the school being the bes
for the physical education and de