Omaha daily bee., 1908-08-03
SCHOOL AND COLLEGE WORK
Work Of New Department Of School
Hygiene in Boston.
Co.EDUCAT1oN TRIED IN GERMANY
Activities of Vacation schools I'm
Large Cfties--ChanEes In College
FacuIties--EducatiOnaI
Notes,

Scarcely twelve month"; ago a new de-
partment Of school hygiene was Instituted
in the public schools of Boston. Some
experimental work in that direction has
been undertaken in other large cities,
notably in greater New York, but not with
the systematic t-horoughness which char
acterizes the work in Boston. The results
of the years trial are decidedly favorable
to the system. Although many difficulties
had to be overcome in making the depart
ment fit into the school machinery, it was
reduced to a system before the close of
the school year, and was marked by a
decided gain in the general health Of school
children.
A writer In the Boston Transcript de-
scribes the methods of the new depart
ment, and gives some interesting facts.
He says, in part:
In accordance with the provisions OF
the act of 1907, eighteen park Fairgrounds
have been placed under the jurisdiction Of
the school committee, for the use of the
children and their elders; and these, with
the t~wenty-eight schoolyard Fairgrounds
already in use by the schools, have pro-
vided ample facilities for the Institution of
the new system.
AAAC WIN 10 oeNN ~ ASH0As
for not fewer than five thousand children
a day., from the grammar and primary
schools, are being amused and Instructed
through the vacation season. Nothing less
than system and discipline could make
other than riot Of such a gathering in the
open air. From seventy to ninety girls
and from eighty to one hundred and twenty
boys average to gather daily in each OF
the Fairgrounds and school yards and in
the congested districts the number often
exceeds three hundred. Eight trained ath-
letes, of the type of Leary, the famous
right guard of Harvard, and Matthews, the
Harvard base ball coach, have charge of
the park Fairgrounds, where the boys are
instructed in all the mysteries OF foot ball,
base ball, putting the shot, high jump, broad
jump, racing and a score of other attrac-
tive exercises; and an equally pleasing pro-
gram, adapted to their sex, is provided
for the girls. Even to the small boy with
blocks, the small girl with dolls and the
tot that can only toddle about the sand
heaps, is the benefit OF amusement and
exercise given. Bids will be opened this
week for permanent apparatus to be In
stalled in the yards and Fairgrounds, and
extra care has been taken to specify only
that which is safe and indestructible. Thus
thousands of children who never before saw
a plaything that could benefit while 1t also
amused them Will find every form of
healthful exercise provided about the IA
miltar premises or the school II the
weather is Indictment, the schoolrooms may
be opened and the little ones saved a
drenching; the %janitor is paid for his extra
work at the rate of seven cents a room a
day.
One of the Innovations of the new
regime is to prescribe that every time
a pupil rises in the schoolroom, for reel,
tation or whatever purpose, he shall be
required to stand easily and correctly
and that he shall learn to walk properly
from the time he enters the public school
Since military drill, hitherto a separate
department, has been placed under thu
Jurisdiction of the department OF hygiene
every school session is opened with ter
minutes of simple setting-up drill. A
the windows are thrown up, a star pupil
steps to the platform and takes "com
mand," and the pupils exercise their mus
Giles and fill their lungs deeply with pur,
air. One estimated benefit Of this re
quirement is that as the boys go out int
life they will take with them the knowl
edge of how easy 1t Is to start the da,
right, physically speaking, and what {
flood Of health and vigor can be poured
into the system by a few simple move
ments.
Much tact and skill are required t.
conduct the nursing division with du,
regard to all the sensibilities to be con
sidered and still to obtain practical re
suits. The nurses, of whom there ar,
thirty-four, are forbidden to wear either
cap or uniform. A small stickpin is tn,
only badge of their authority. 1t is tn,
desire of the department, that for diplo
matte reasons, the nurses shall be iden
titled by parents and children with tn,