El Nuevo mexicano., 1919-07-24

IL VIII be news to many to- hear
that the human race needs recon
~struction. From the standpoint OF
the nerve specialist, DR. Frederics
Peterson Of New York. an alienist 81
note; assures us that there Is no
doubt Of such a necessity. Speak
Ing before the National Education
association at its Pittsburg meeting,
on the subject that we use as our
title, DR.. Peterson bids us note that
he selective draft has revealed do
fects i'm an average Of nearly 30
lper cent OK our young men-the
school children of yesterday When
We ask what was the matter with
the schools Of yesterday we find
the answer, he says, IN the school
hchiiaKen on today. Through them
and on them our plans for the re-
construction OF The race must ACT
end he gives US 4 definite program
|frr CARRYING II out. Says Dt, Peter
son:
Authorities show us that there
are physical defects in rs per cent
LOT the 20,0O00Q0 schoof children Of
today, most Of them preventable and
remediable. heart and lung diseases
disorders Of hearing and vision,
n,alnutrition, diseased adenoids and
itonsilss flatfnot, weak spines. In.
perfect teethand among them I|
per cent of mental defect. The chill
dren IN country schools are worse
Off than in city schools, We are
SENDING the best we have to for
battle fields. We are retain
htg the 30 per cent OF imperfect
citizens TO leave the race OF to-
There Is such a thing as
n1~epOtence Of inferiority. II is often
said that we get what we deserve
IN the way OF government. laws and
Institutions. Since II is possible IN
our democracy for a moron to be
elected mayor Of q city and an inn
beetle to be made governor Of a vast
state, It may be easily imagined how
the smaller offices in our legisla- |
lures. county boards and city cour-
ellis overflow with the inferior and
the unfit
MILLIONS ON LIVESTOCK.
We have spent millions Of dol
lars on swine plague, foot and mouth
disease Of cattle. pine blister. chest,
nut blight, gypsy moth, chicken chot
era, and we have that animal pork
Larrel' of millions on millions Of
dollars devoted to all sorts Of trivial
and foolish explorations Of rural
and hamlets but what have
se spent on our greatest national
asset-the health of body in our
children? Body is the foHnda
hon on which mental structure must
1T is of the first importance
nat the physical foundation he
made and kept sound and strong.
The mental structure Is secondary
- that. We are spending enormous
on medical care of our IN
i ne and other detectives in institE
all over the country, and
50, 70 do what we can to-
our broken adults. This is
work. but what we spend on
preventive measures, on health edu-
u ton for our growing children, is,
indeed. small by comparison. =
In the war against ignorance wc
ave conscripted the school children
Ehey are the vast draft army Of our
Iecond line OF defense. But in what
iort of cantonments do we house
What physical drill do wei
tive them, what medical inspection
md care, what sanitation, what rs-i
nediai steps do we take to restore
hem quickly to the ranks wheh
hey are i'll?
But enough Of destructive criti
IGN. Let us turn to the idea Of
constitution or the race. Let us
TAD the old books with a new COM
'rehension. II is almost a hundred
generations ago that a teacher (Ment
wrote; The root Aof the em
ire Is the state. The root OF the
tate is 10 The family. The root of
he family Is in the individual. So !
or the peopIe-encourage them;
cad them on; rectify them, straight,
them, help them; give them
NEED STANDARD. {
WE must set up q standard. Itl
be THAT of pr. Oliver Wen
ELI Holmes. to begin the education
i a child a hundred years before
[ Is born That can be attained lu
few generations. To accomplish (
l.. we must coordinate all the or
.aniaztions now at work for the cont