Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1912-03-21
Editor of Warren Sheaf:

Dear Sir: ha. read with much
interest your recent editorial entitled
Arrested Development of the Boys
and Girls" and, desire to commend
Iyour thoughtfulness in calling the at
tention of the readers of your paper
to this question which so vitality con.
Germs all who are interested in the
welfare of the boys and girls attend
ling our schools. We all wish to see
the young men and women complete
their school life without Impairment
of health even though methods adopt
ed to promote vigor of body may have
interfered to some extent with the ac-
quirement of knowledge obtained IN
the school room. But it is proven.
beyond successful contradiction. that
we'll regulated play, open air recess
and calisthenics in well ventilated
rooms promote, rather than retard. the
progress. Of the child in the usual stu
dies taken up at school. In your edi-
torial above referred to, you give
good example in proof of this when
comparing the country boy and girl
with the less fortunate dweller in tho
town. The health of the pupil and
the temperance and purity of the air
in the school room in which he does
his work has ben given much scientific
study in many cities of this country
with the result that many boards of
education now employ regular d.
rector of practical hygiene whose du-
ty it is to see that the environment of
the child is that best suited for the
successful requirement of knowledge.
DR.. Harrington, Director of School
Hygiene in Boston, recently said that
the children in the schools of that
1city made the most rapid progress in
their studies where the temperature
Of the room was kept at about 67 de-
grees and where physical exercise was
given several times daily with the
windows thrown wide open or in case
of the physically weak in open air
rooms or out of doors. He said, sIn
high schools, ten minute set up drill
with the windows open in the middle
OF the session and in the elementary
grades these physical exercises in ad-
dition to the regular airing recess, at
|
doors with the children and takes part
in their play" 1t is a great mistake
in this climate to let the room become
over-heated and then throw open the
window while the children are seated
lat their desks, as is frequently done.
When necessary to air the room,
which should be done during the win
ter months at least every hour, the
children should have some form of ex-
ercise that will keep them moving
about the room for the short time that
the window is open and in this way
will avoid catching cold Teachers
have said that the above interferes
too much with the work but am of
the opinion that if the plan be given
fair trial it will be found that the
increased capacity of the children for
work will more than make up for the
time taken for proper recreation. We
We're all children once and if we have
forgotten our school days let us but
consider how difficult it now is for
any of us to sit quietly for an hour in
hot and poorly ventilated room and
not even whisper to those around us.
The chances are that but few Of us
will work diligently during that time
upon any mental problem.
also wish to call attention to a
regulation which has been in force in
the Warren schools which permits a
pupil to be punished who finds it ne
cessary to visit the toilet room while
the school is in session. Such 3 reg.
ulation If enforced must necessarily
be the cause of much suffering and fu-
ture ill-health. have assurance that
this rule has been abolished and sin
cerely hope it has never to reappear.
You're