The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-12-31

WASHINGTON, Tee. S1.,,Health'
says the federal bureau Of education.
is largely a matter of habit.
This statement was not bulletined as
a sensation. In fact 1t passed almost
unnoticed. As today the hum OF an
airplane attracts almost no attention,
80 does a declaration like this, coming
from that governmental agency which
has most 70 do with the education OF
young America, pass without notice.
Yet two decades & the theory that
health Is a habit would have received
no moro credence than one that a
machine weighing two tons would rise
into the air and fly.
Everywhere, continues the bureau,
there Ii n demand for instructors VIII
can teach health. To those teachers
who are ambitious, who wan to get
ahead In their callings. the great OPP
~portunity lies in a capacity to stimu-
late a belief in health, to create an
attitude OF mind favorable 10 health.
The bureau holds that the nation has
experienced an awakening MS to the
value of health, has come TO the be-
lief that health can be taught, 1t be-
lieves that in the past and the present
generation there we're and are many
people with the habit of il~lness-that
the illness idea was so persistently
dinned into them that they were brand
ed with II for life, Now the Program
Is to be changed and the schools are
to be the medium,
The bureau OF education has recently
printed four bulletins and three charts
on this idea. There is one entitled
Make Health Habits Automatic in
Youth" one on the Summer Health
and Play School" one on "Diet for the
School Child" one entitled Wanted:
Teachers to Enlist for Child Health Ser
vice" They may be bought for five
| rnnfS zach from the g1DarIutendant of
documents, Washington, d, G..
"The children Of the country, over
rs, 600, 900 strong" says the last named
Of these bulletins, who represent our
nations future, are endangered. The
physical impairment OF the coming gem
GRAFTON Ia one OF the most disastrous
by products Of the great war, and one
whose after effects, once established,
can never be fully undone, The end
ing OF the war does not end this dan
ger, These after effects can, however,
be prevented, and the teachers Of the
country can make a big contribution to
this work Of prevention. II demands
immediate activity, Hence this call to
you for service.
you may be the teacher of a rural
school, in charge Of q squad of perhaps
only 20 members OF the creators of our
future. or you may be a superintend-
ent. responsible for 20 regiments OF
children, In any case, q will have
an opportunity this year, in connection
with their health, which may never re-
eur in the history Of the country A
time OF crisis, viii accomplish great re-
suits. Your opportunity Is one which
only you can develop
Then the bureau proceeds to outline
the new gospel and the method that
1t says that the teaching should b,
positive and not negative. The com
mand, Thou shalt not" shall bt
changed 10 "'rhou shalt II shall not
he said, don't fail to brush your teeth
, because II you do they will decay, III
digestion" On the contrary the ad.
vice shall be Brush your teeth, enjoy
the feeling of a fresh, clean mouth
let them glisten when you smile, lei
them do efficient teamwork with YOU
stomach that YOU may enjoy strength,
The child shall not he told not &c
] get Its feet wet for fear II will catch
It's death Of cold, but to wear its rub
hers that IL may be strong and healthy
+, II shall not be told not TO eat certain
food for fear OF the tummy ache. bu
s to eat certain other food that Il ma,
he husky enough to play basketball, anC
5 have a good time in the world. Thu
"don'ts" all along the line which sug
Eest Illness and weakness and calamity
shall give way to positive command
which suggest always happiness ant
r JOY and health, The new health fac
that is thus coming into official reeog
s milton is that continuous suggestion ha
It's effect on tho well-heing of the In
I dividual. The teacher or the paren
4 who constantly suggests illness Is &C
- tuRllY intlicting illness on the child
Tho individual in any walk of life VIII,
suggests health Is exercising u healtl
influence on all his fellows,
The public health authorities ar
reading a new meaning into some o
the old stories In the physiologies.
1t was n hundred years ago that Ger
o tain scientific gentlemen In Franc
@ asked the authorities to allow them L
Y try an experiment on a criminal VIII
was condemned to death. Instead o
the guillotine, Il was given out. thi
y man was to be comfortably bled I
death, The ceremony was elaborated
n staged, The man was hlindfolded an
put to bed. His wrists were boun
and the doctors proceeded TO wha
, seemed to be the opening OF the ar
a." tories OF those wrists. As a matter @
l. fact the skin was barely scratched
:, Then warm water vas poured dow
Ill the hand TO produce the effect Of fast
"A flowing blood and the conversation WI
u about the gushing OF blood and tn
waning strength OF the victim. TIL
doctors said that his life was ehbln
IL away. They were watching him di
As a matter OF fact the man actual
ly ia die. Yet he had lost no bloc