Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-04-07
EDUCATION BY MEANS
OF THE BATHTUB.

Special Correspondence.
7 ONDON, March 80 Education by
means OF the bathtub IL the latest
scheme of the wealthy Anglo
American. Joseph FEELS. And so
strongly does Mr.. FEELS believe in this
idea that he has just backed his faith
by an offer OF $4,000 to the London
county council for providing what he
describes as an experimental health
center" at one Of the day schools IN
London. Whether or not the council
viii accept this offer 1t is impossible 10
say; meanwhile, however, 1t will be re-
called that Joseph Fels is the Quaker
City philanthropist who already has
done so much for the poor OF this c0un-
try by means of his farm colonies, pro-
posed and adopted a few years ago,
Without health" asked MIR. fets in
the course of an interview yesterday,
what good is education to the ordln-
airy child2 | would propose to establish
new departments In connection with all
schools: where children would he
taught the rulse of physical training
and development. In word the class
room of first importance would be the.
bathroom.
Personal cleanliness has an immense
influence on the well being, mentally AZ
we'll as physically, OF every child.
Before any child should be allowed to
attend school, It should be carefully ex-
amined by medical experts, and then
trained In accordance with its indlvid-
ual constitution. At the health center,
| would propose to train each child IN
remedial way not make all do exactly
the same thing"
Would your health center be limit
Al 10. hat hi
mot at an replied Mr.. FEELS. THE
centers would include every form Of
physical health development. Children
would be taught the proper methods of
breathing. voice production, the care
OF the teeth. nostrils. palate ears. hair,
skin, and SO forth-everything would,
In fact, be done that concerns the prpo-
er health development of the child
THE proposed scheme would include
n careful system of weighing and
measuring each child on its first en-
trance into school; this work being done
under the supervision OF competent
medical men: and would insist on II
that physical development should be
made as important as mental educa-
ton. As things are now. children are
sent to school even without sufficient
food: and their Individual health Is al
together neglected. 1t Is true thar
they undergo certain forms OF physical
drill but this does not take into ac-
count the constitution of each particu>
lar child, which. In many cases. may be
wholly unsulted for this form OF physi-
cal drill"
but could such an elaborate system
be worked practically" Mr.. Fels was
asked.
Certainly" ne replied Il have seen
something similar TO what 1 speak OF
carried out at Bradford, under Miss
Margaret Mcmillan, who. | might say,
originated the idea. II was at Bradford
that the idea OF making the bathroom
classroom was first put into opera
ton; and the progress In physical de-
velopment at this school has been
greater than anywhere else that know
of. / invited Miss Mcmillan to draw up
a plan applicable to London. and sent
her memorandum to the London county
council. with an offer to build myself
the first center
>"Miss Mcmillan worked 10 years be-
fore she persuaded the Bradford school
board to build n bathing room In con-
nection vlth the school the first one
costing $500 Finally. the board spent
s350,000 IN baths for its children, and
with the best possible results"