Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-09-29

the cause Of many diseases-notably
rheumatism. II adenoids interfere with
breathing through the nose the mouth
is necessarily held open for the passage
OF air, and, as result, the lower jaw
may not develop properly. and the teeth
may be imperfectly rooted. One under
stands, then. why it is that in the schools
of some of our cities regularly equipped
dental clinics are operated. any child
found to have imperfect teeth being re-
quired to undergo treatment.
One advantage of the inspection sys-
tenn here referred to is that, If any
thing wrong is found about the pupil.
prompt treatment may be given. EX-
aminations are made at regular inter-
vals and, If little boy or girl has
measles. for example. the mischief IS
likely to be discovered carly. so thai
he or she may be sent home before get
ting chance 10 star. an epidemic.
riphtheria. by the way, is Il malady
very liable to spread among children
in a school. II is sometimes commune
Gated by taking alternate bites from
an apple, shared by two or more young
sters, or by indiscriminate kissing.
The hygienic reformation of schools
is being conducted at the present time
on very extensive scale. in accordance
with highly scientific and up-to-date
ideas There is the matter of ventila-
tion, for instance. How familiar is
the old-fashioned stove. standing out
in the middle of the rural schOolroOm
and vitiating the air with its eff1uX
of unwholesome gases. This is now
replaced by other and more healthful
apparatus. one form of which Is a
stove with an outer and separate
Jacket" The warmed air it supplies
rises and spreads out over the top of
the room. while the bad air 1t replaces
and which has had time to cool and
descend by its greater weight Is
sucked out through pipe provided for
the purpose.
Illumination Is another important prob
lem that has had to be tackled for the
benefit Of the child Plenty Of light is in
itself healthful. Besides. it prevents eye
strain. Skylights are an important fea-
ture in the architecture Of up-to-date
schoolhouses. Care is taken even in re-
gard to the. position of blackboards with
reference to the light.
uncomfortable seats are Il cause Of bad
attitudes in school. They may give rise
10 reformation of the spine, the bones Of
the young body being very plastic. Now
adays the child il not made to fit the
seat, but the seat is made to fit the child.
This is altogether a new departure. But
the most interesting novelty, perhaps, for
the children's benefit is the open-air
ScnOOl, SuCn dS may De IOuuu IN the city
of Rochester, where boys and girls af-
flicted with incipient tuberculosis. or 9TH
erwise sickly, have rest periods, during
which they lie on the cots i'm the open
air-protected in winter by blankets and
by sort Of tent which takes the place of
a schoolroom.
One Of the curiosities Of this depart
ment of the health exhibition, II such
it may be termed, Ia a display OF ap-
paratus for testing the intelligence and
mental development Of young children
So admirably is the system worked out
that the mentality of any child can be
with an exactitude practical
~ mathematical. Iii this way children
on entering school. or at previous or
periods. can be graded def
initely, one object In view. where
school children are concerned, being
to ascertain what classes they ought
to enter and may be expected to keep
up with.
At four years OF age the average
child can repeat three numbers. such
as 2. Z and 4. 1t can tell which of two
lines Is longer. And it may even be
to say which faces are pretty
and which ones are ugly. among a Sc
ries of drawings of human heads.
At six years of age the average child
can copy d drawing Of . square. but