The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-04-04
PROF. HUGHES TALKS ON
TEACHING OF HYGIENE
IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

South Bethlehem. Pa, April 4.-Per-
I icy Hughos Professor OF Philosophy
and Education at Iehigh University
delivered an address here last night
before the Conference on COnserva-
tion of School Children. held under
the auspices of the American Academy
Of Medicine. Professor Hughes sub
ject was the instructors point OF view
IN the teaching Of hygiene, and he
spoke i'm part as follows:
What should be taught in the field
OF hygiene is an ideal of complete liv-
ing, realized as far as may be under
the conditions OF the school room. Dur
ing the first six years Of the school
life. hygiene should be taught as
incidental to the art of doing and liv-
ing efficiently, of attaining those
scholastic and social aims which a true
school life makes prominent. Most
treaties on hygiene for elementary
grades still speak of health as though
IL were a dominant motive i'm the child
life; whereas boys and girls of that
age seek the joys of achievement.
rather than the mere comfort of being
we'll. They do not miss health, and
therefore do not seek it. They think
effectively. and should do so. II the
school building, the school equipment.
the school program, the personality and
life Of the teacher are eloquent of
health. and If the teacher is informed
and alert TO make use of the games
of the child. and every part of in
struction as a means OF forming ha-
bits Of health, II it is recognized that
education is at every stage n prepara-
tion for life, only in SO far as il ~
itself a complete living. according to
the stage Of development of the child.
then the child will learn in such a
school an ideal of efficient and joy
Gus living which will remain with him.
Without such an ideal and such a
memory. hygienic habits are unlearned
under the occasional stresses OF life
and are not renewed.
But in the seventh or eighth grade.
at the dawn of adolescence. the rules
Of health, and some Of the most evil
dent data OF physiology may be sum-
married. with special reference not 50
much to the child himself. as to the
social and civic life of the community.
into which he must now feel he is en-
tering.
OF four difficult subjects in hygiene,
civic hygiene. sex hygiene the abuse
of alcohol and the abuse OF narcotics.
the most difficult 20 treat i'm this way
is that of sex hygiene. which has re-
ceived special attention in this con-
ference. But even here the teacher
will urge | think. the same posi-
ton. In like manner alcohol. tobacco,
etc, may be discussed in relation to
those civic and social problems which
arise as the school leads the child 20
feel the responsibility which already
begins to rest upon him. Whether
in the high school or in the grades,
the obstacle that stands in the way of
instructing the child TO live according
10 a hygienic ideal is the poor prepare
tion of the teacher. Any one can
teach the average book In physiology
and hygiene. To bring the whole
school life 20 bear in the formation oi
hygienic habits and ideals of living re-
quires n teacher of at least a good high
school training supplemented by nor
NAL school course in which much OF
the work has been brought directly
TO bear upon Just this purpose.