Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-04-14

4 CldhSes the OdDteS OF the SCHOOL, and
they do seem very babyish beside the
HUSKY eighth graders: still il is not
OF them that We are thinking when
we ask what the Better Babies Cam,
paign has to do with our schools-oHr
common public schools primarily. We
mean the actual babies in arms in the
! home
But we must remember that the
term does not belong solely u the
child in arms II means also the run.
about child" as Or. Woods of Teach,
ers' College calls him.
Up to six years OF age the child is
considered baby. At six he is ex-
pected 10 start to school: to change
all his modes of life for five hours a
day-to sit still for seemingly inter
minable periods Of time, to refrain
from natural expression and to con-
form to prescribed forms of express
SIGN: in fact. to do all the things he
never has done before, and not do
many Of the things he has been ac-
customed to-
What equipment does the six-year
old bring to. this trying experience? Is
the body well-deyeloped? Are the
conditions good for a really new adj
justment? Is the brain well devel-
oped and well fed? Are the eyes
strong for the unusual continued eff
fort demanded, where no opportunity
is given Tor the long-distance focus
sing of eyes used to fit butterfy-iike
from one object to another? Are the
ears keen and sensitive? Are the
teeth sound and well cared for, so
that the body receives its food prop
erly prepared?
III all first-grade pupils entered
school in perfect physical condition,
we shonld hear less about the rn-
heaithfulness OF schools In general.
Schools must, in the very nature of
things, be much different from homes,
where the average run-about child is
something of free-lance. The adj
justment must be more or less diff
cult in any case. But when we con-
slider how few of our school babies
enter without some one handicap
often with two or more-we realize
how difficult and discouraging be-
comes the problem pnt before the
teacher.
While eye defects may number 25
per cent in grade class, and ear de-
fects only whit less, the number of
little children that enter with ade-
noids or troublesome tonsils is far
greater, and those having bad teeth
are a startling majority. These de-
fects do not suddenly develop after
the child enters scneol. They have
been developing for years before then.
Malnntrition may result from bad
teeth; an insufficient or an unbal-
anced diet may help the decay of the
teeth; both combine to produce the
pitifHlly undeveloped bodies and pipe
stem arms and legs that arouse the
inspectors ire. The schools can do
but little to remedy this. The homes
must be reached Shy educative and
helpful measures. These measures
must begin with the home baby and
follow the run-about baby to school.
In one of the most up-to-date
schools in the territory zemedicai in
spector exclaimed at the skinny arms
and legs of the little people. What's
wrong?" was asked. +Underfed,p was
the reply. A little inquiry developed
the facts that some children went to
school without breakfast and many
more took no luncheon. Many first
graders even had only bread and COT
fee before leaving home. Coffee for
the babies. Not only for the school
baby, but for the run-abQpt. baby in
the home. too, presume hlk !
An astonishing number s6f school
children, even in the grades, do not
carry luncheon from home and do not
buy luncheon regularly. They eat
after they get home, and after that an
early breakfast. The school kitchens
are godsend to the average child in
the public schools.
And some way must be devised
whereby the poorest child who is at
the same time the child that needs it
most, shall be provided with whole
some food. More and more the chill
dren are feeling the appeal of the
school lunch; the teachers testify to
added power in work; and the parents
will cooperate as they are able when
once they realize that a substantial
lunch is a necessity and not luxury
or an indulgence.
The care Of the teeth must be be-
gun in infancy in the home. If we
would have our school children free
from that bane of childhood tooth
achieve must begin very early to
care for the baby teeth. Few mothers
know that upon this depends certain
phases of child develop
ment.
Eye and ear defects, unless very
marked, may not be recognized until
the child completes in the schoolroom
with other children. A child so handi-
capped has not the same chance as
his fellows. A child that cannot see
the blackboard work clearly, or that
cannot hear his teacher speak in
well-modulated tone, cannot possibly
do the same work that his better
equipped classmates do.
If the difficulty can be remedied, let
IT. ho dnua af oneo 90 that he may mt