The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-09-02
BY NJ. v. O'SHEA.
Department of Education, Univer.
sity of Wisconsin.


1t has been found that a con-
siderable proportion OF pupils are
dull because they have defective
hearing. This may be due to ac-
foundations in the external ear,
or 1t may be due to congestion in
the n0strils.
any child whose head is stuffed
up" cannot hear with distinctness,
and IL would be a safe bet that
.-95 out of 100 such children will
be more or less dull, unresponsive,
and stupid. Such children will be
handicapped in this competition
with other children who are nor
NAL in this respect. Any parents
or teachers who have a dull child
on their hands ought certainly to
make test of the acuity of his
hearing
Sometimes peculiar facial and
bodily habits are due to inability
to hear clearly in one ear, while
the other may be normal. In such
= case the child may unconscious
ly cock his head in such a way as
to bring his good ear into line
with the voice or sound he wishes
to hear.
When any such idiosyncrasy is
observed. the parents or the teach
er ought not to delay a moment
in making a test. 1t would be
best, of course, if such a child
could be taken to a competent
physician who would examine his
ears thoroughly, and also his nasal
conditions, and who would test
keenness of hearing.
But a test can easily be
made I'm the home or In the
school by putting the child I'm
a quiet room, blindfolding
him, and noting at what dis
lance he can hear the ticking
of a watch, first with one ear
and then with the other. The
position of the watch must be
varied without the experi-
menter walking back and
forth so that the child can
hear him, or else the latter
will be influenced by sugges-
ton.
One of the important causes OF
lullness is the growth of superflu-
Gus tissue in the lower part of the
breathing passages, a sort of third
tonsil, known as adenoid tissue.
- A child who is afflicted with
adenoids always shows 1t in his
features. The mouth usually
hangs open. There is an absence
of expression In the face. At
night the child struggles for
breath, and never has quiet rest
Not once i'm a hundred cases
will such a child be thoroughly
bright and capable mentally. The
only remedy is to have the ade-
= noids removed by a competent
physician.
In some cities today, every child
is examined for adenoids, and
for enlarged tonsils, both of which
interfere with perfect respiration,
and so produce a low tone in mind
and body. This trouble is very
common among American chill
dren. In some FAMILIES every
child is afflicted with both ade-
noids and enlarged tonsils; and
unless these be removed, there
will be duIIness and even stupid
lily in every member OF such
family.
Again, extensive Investigations
have shown that cigaret smoking
among boys is very frequent
cause of dullness. In a number
of places 1t has been shown that
something like 80 per cent of the
boys who cannot do school work
are addicted to cigaret smoking.
It Is really a deadly thing for
boy anywhere from ~ to 20 years
of age 60 get into the habit of us
ing tobacco In any form.
- It acts asa narcotic which de-
presses mind and body. A wise
parent will do everything he can
TO keep his boy away from the
temptation to use tobacco.
~~~@@ ~@@ o Q . . . . .
O LONG SLEEP NEEDED BE- o
t-@ TWEEN SCHOOL DAYS 9
@ Nine or ten hours of quiet .