Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1916-05-26
Health of Public
School Children,

The following prepared by the State
Board of Health, is worthy of careful
consideration:
AS general rule the official care
of the health of school children varies
directly with the density of the popu-
lation. At the one extreme is the
costly. well-lighted, heated and ven
tllated building of the cities, sup
piled with every sanitary necessity,
and having regular medical inspection
and visiting nurses; at the other
average rural school-house, to many
pupils difficult of access, irregular'y
heated, poorly ventilated and lighted,
with the inevitable clubhouse often
in an Unsatisfactory ard unsightly
condition, and little or no medical in
spection except during an epidemic.
Between these extremes are found all
degrees of excellence. That there
has of late years been vast i'm
provement in many, if not most of
the smaller schools, cannot be denied.
That there is room for still greater
Improvement is equally true.
Whether the solution of the problem
lies in the consolidation of school
districts with proper facilities for
transportation to and from school, or
in some other plan, must be left to
the future, each peculiar community
having It's own needs, which must be
taken in to account by the school
authorities. Even the best equipped
schools cannot overcome the damage
to the health of children wrought in
ignoranant and careless home sur
roundings, but conscientious and we'll
Informed parents largely counter
balance the sanitary inefficiency of
poorly equipped schools. Too much
responsibility for the physical and
moral welfare of the children is
placed on the school, which would
better be assumed in the homes.
Certain prime essentials to the good
health of the children include the
following:
Eigth to nine hours sleep every
night in in cool, we'll ventilat ed
room, with the window open at the
top and the bedroom door closed;
Arising in the morning in time for
a thorough cleansing of the whole
body, and comfortable breakfast,
which shoul include fruit, we'll
cooked cereal milk;
Attention to the bowels before
leaving for school. The value of
regular habits in this regard cannot
be overestimated;
A digestible and nourshing lunch.
Money given to children of this
purpose is usally spent in pies,
cakes and candies. In some COM
munities a single hot dish has been
provided for the children through
cooperation between the school board
and the parents. The effect upon the
children has been excellent;
Regulation of the hours for out
door exercise as we'll as those spent
in study; Keep at home, until they are
we'll, children showing tee slightest
signs of acute illness, for their own
sake and that of other children;
Cleansing the teeth by rinsing the
mouth every morning with little
warm water very cold or very hot
water should not be used, as it will
injure the enamel (the hard covering
of the teeth. The teeth should be
carefully brushed every morning and
every evening, using some good tooth
preparation, preferably Pebeco.
Study your child's associates.
Children at this age are as receptive
to evil as to good, and cleanliness of
mind as we'll as of body should be
taught in the home.
Cooperate with, and find out the