The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-04-08
BATH TUB USED
As EDUCATOR
Joseph FEELS, a Rich Ameri-
can, Proposes to Introduce
It Among British People

spEcIAI. DISPATCH TO THE CALL.
LONDON, April 7.-Education by means
of the bath tub Is the latest scheme OF
the wealthy Anglo American, Joseph Feis.
And so strongly does Fels believe In TINS
idea that he has just backed his faith
by an offer of s25. ooo 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 Will accept
this offer, 1t is impossible to say. Mean
while. however, 1t will be recalled that
.Ioseph FEELS is the Quaker City philan-
thropist who already has done so much
for the poor of this country by means
of mis- farm colonies, proposed and adopt
ed few years ago.
l..Without health" asked Fels In the
course of an interview yesterday, what
good is education to the ordinary cnllo
l would propose to establish new depart
ments in connection with all scnoois,
where children would be taught the rules
of physical training and development. In
a word the classroom of first Importance
would be the bathroom.
personal cleanliness has an immense
influence on 1he well-being. mentally as
well as physically, of every child. Before
any child should be allowed to attend
SCHOOL. 1t SnOulQ DG SAdAAi1SN
by medical experts, and then trained In
accordance with its individual constitu-
ton. At the health center 1 would pro-
pose to train each child in a remedial
way: not make all do exactly the same
thing
"Would your health center be limited
to bathing?" was asked.
mot at ALL" replied Fels.
1.-THE centers would include every form
n
dren would be laugh the proper mech
DDS of breathing. voice production. the
care of the teeth, nostrils, palate, ears,
hair, skin and so forln-everything would,
In fact. be done that concerns the proper
health development of the child
1.-The proposed scheme would include a
careful system of weighing and measur-
ing each child on its first entrance into
| school. this work being done under the
supervision of competent medical men;
and / would insist on it that physical de-
| yelopment should be made as important
| as mental education. AS things are now.
| children are sent to school even without
! sufficient food; and their individual health
| IS altogether neglected. 1t Is true that
| they undergo certain forms Of physical
drill, but this does not take into account
the constitution of each particular child.
which, in many cases, may be whony
unsuited for this form of physical drill.
But could such an elaborate system
| be worked practicauy?" Fels was asked.
Certainly" he feplied. II have seen
something similar to what speak Of car
ried out at Bradford. under Miss Marga-
ret Mcmillan. who. might say, originated
| the idea. 1t was at Bradford that the
| idea of making the bathroom class
room was first put into operation; and
| the progress in physical development at
! this school has been greater than any
where else that I know Of invited Miss
Mcmillan to draw up plan applicable to
| London and I sent her memorandum to
the London County Council. with an Of
| fer to build myself the first center.
Miss Mcmillan worked ten years be-
fore she persuaded the Bradford School