Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-03-19
Or, Buxton Tells Of Evils Of
Improper Positions.
Treatment Of SICK CHILDREN
Interesting and Valuable Facts Con-
tanned in Lecture Delivered Before
the North End Patrons League
RISING Vote Of Thanks Accorded.

at the North End school Tuesday al
ternoon to attend the meeting of tn"
North End Patrons League and hear
an interesting ajdrlss by DR.. Joseph
r buxton OH the subject. THE E'li
Effects Produced by Improper POSI-
tions in School Children. and the Cure
and MANAGEMENT of Sick Children.
During the lecture Miss Evans dem
oastrated on the blackboard. the
ladies' accorded Or. Buxton rising
vote Of THANKS.
The program for the meeting inclu'
ded IA piano solo by Miss Rivtns. read
ing by Miss Clements. motion song by
Miss Kerlin's grade. vocal solo irish
Folk Song" lE Mrs. Alexander Wits.
Refreshments were served after the
formal part of the program had been
rendered
DR., Buxtnns lecture. which Is OF
especial interest 10 all parents, Is
given below:
In order to name the i'll effects .!
improper posture it is well tina, We
shonld look into the conditions when
produce these evils. Since the schol-
ar spends a large. part OF his Schoo'
life seated up.n some sort Of seat an"
In the higher grades provided with
a desk. II is important that these TWO
articles OF furniture should b" cor
rectly made as far as possible.
y The heights CT the desks shotld'
be about two-sevcnths of that of the
body. .. The width should be about
one-fif;h the length Of the body. or
about three-fOurths the length OF TN"
thigh. .. The seat should slope
downward toward the back and be
slightly concave. having beveled edges
IN the front. !. A back rest Is essen
tial for hips and shoulders. .. The
correct difference or vertical distance
from the seat to the edge of the desk
is that which permits the child when
sitting. to place both fore arms On
the desk. without raising or lowering
the sh2 ulders. 6. \ desk slope. pre-
ferably of fifteen degrees for writing.
with capacity for adjustment for other
purposes. !. Strength. durability and
simplicity CT construction. s. Sur
faces easy to clean. and unfavorable
to the accumulation OF dust. 2. A
moderate price.
The general faults of the cOnStruc-
ton OF school furniture are that the
chairs are too low or desks too high.
also that the chairs do not CONFORM
TO the shape OF the back. so as to give
1t proper support.
Chairs shluld be made so that they
will supper; the lumbar region OF the
spine, following its natural curve. so
that the pupil can sit back with COM
fort in a position when the trans
verse axis Of the body Is parallel with
the desk The chair must be Of such
a height as will permit the feet 10
rest firmly upon the floor
Adjustable chairs and desks are
now in the market. which can be
lowered CT raised to suit the height
of the individual. Lateral curvature
of the spine is considered by many
observers to be largely dependent
upon faulty positions assumed in
schools. The chair may either be
too high or too low In relation 10 the
desk. or not constructed so as to sup
port the back The result Is that the
child must lean forward in order to-
see we'll. especially while writing and
generally rests on one elbow. sitting
on one bullock. In this way the spine
is thrown into a position Ct dOr'al
curvature. The chest L. seriously
contracted by many OF these p sitions
and a consequent srcdisposition 20
ward tuberculosis Is developed. An
examination Of lumber Of b toI
school children Developed the fact
that lea OF 2't have some abnor NAL
degree OF spinal Curvature. and only
IS assumed the correct POSITION,
namely. that the traBsvcrsc axis Of
the body was parallel with that Of
the desk.
'Myopia. or nrarsiSh,cdncss j.
anC ih,T very common result % i'm
proper posture. NearsighisGnc. Is
believed 10 De pr duccd. frs. BY In
suficicn; light. and second NV wrong
Iy G. instructed furniture. in which ;h"
relation OF chair ana desk l.. .rIch
mat the eyes Of the child are br, right
too near the page thus esiaJli shin-
that permanent degree of near accom-.
modatica fouDd in this diseasc.
1t has been said thai short lessons
and had desks ARE likely 4 b. less
injurious than long confinement at
he most pcrfeCt. The sitting pos
turc Is IN itself had and should b.
countractcd nv active exercise. hence
the use Of bIackboards for irawins
ana writing. BY beginners in place
Of copy-books Is earnestly advised. As
an instance o. serious effects pro
dnced by want % ADDITION Of school
furniture 10 tho ages and height Of