Evening journal., 1910-03-03
THURSDAY. MARCH 3 1910
RURAL SCHOOL CHILDREN.

ID ATHER dismal is the picture drawn by
IN Superintendent Spad of the condition of
IKE pupils in the rural schools Of New Castle
County, and evidently there is much work to be
done to improve the physical standard The
Superintendent has made an investigation ac-
cording to the latest-methods and in line with
the inquiries pursued by educators in other
fields.
We have as a tradition been accustomed TO
regard the rural schools as producing robust
healthy children fitted to battle with the count
less obstacles of life in the cities. From the
country come the boys who are to keep up the
life OF the city who are physically fit to stand
the hard and grinding labor that Is supposed 20
be the lot of the city man. Have we not been
told our city Offices and factories are recruited
with the robust from the country districts while
the dissipated city youth goes to the rear or has
hard task to hold his own in the procession? /?
And is the report of the Superintendent to con-
vince us that all this is a delusion that IN a few
years we shall not have this bountful supply OF
raw recruits whose physical condition is their
capital? Are these children Of the rural regions
different from the children in the same districts
Of former years Would report of the physi-
cal condition Of the children of the years gone
by have revealed them Mr.. Spaii's statement
does today?
Only a small percentage of children, accord
ing to the report are vaccnated, and therefore
the majority are in peril of smallpox. True,
dOuDDcSS, Dul lnCN nave DCNl III OF Sildli-
pox for many years without an epidemic break
ing out Even the report of so acute an observer
as Superintendent Spaid may not convince par
ents of the need of having their children vacci-
mated.
Proper care Of the teeth the Superintendent
makes clear is important as s3I children lost
time from school because of toothachc. Pure
neglect that is. for which parents should be
roundlv scored Teeth not attended TO in youth
mean many hours of misery, and il the school
authorities can impress upon parents the necess-
iy of having the teeth of their children treated,
they will have performed a commendable SER
vice Why not have lectures in the schools on
the care of teeth?
About one-hfth of the boys use tobacco, says
the report. mostly in the form of cigarettes.
These figures astonish the Superintendent as
we'll as every other. thoughtful person Cigar
cite smoking among boys is a pernicous habit
No defense be made OF it.
The Superintendent tells of other Affections
from which children in the rural schools suffer
just as city children do. Mr. Spaid also speaks
of sanitary conditions of the schools, and his
entire report is very interesting and instructive
tt seems TO us that hygiene and all things that
pertain to the physical welfare of the children
should be taught more thoroughly and fire.
quently. The same story will have TO be drum
med into the children and into the ears Of their
parents over and over again before results car
be observed 1t is hard matter to change th'
manners and customs OF people.
Some think these subjects of little interest
In New York Superintendent Maxwell of tn
public schools has been making elaborate re
ports on the physical condition OF the children
One of the leading newspapers of that cit
replies that the Superintendent is merely irwin
to scare the people, that he is running to fad
that the physical care OF school children Is onl
a fad because children have got along We
enough in days gone by and no evidences
deterioration have been noticed.
But the sound body is more than fad
strong healthy youth with fair education an
fair mental ability stands a better chance to wi
success than has a physically weak youth eve
though the mental development of the latt
may be superior And the pity of it is that II
physically unfit youth is so because he had n,
the benefit OF training to ensure him sound bod
such advantages as Superintendent Spaid an
other advanced educators would give.
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