The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-06-09
UNCLE SAM HIRES
CLOWN TO TEACH.
HEALTH TO KIDS
Che Che Was Hit of Expo
sition Conducted By
Interior Department.

Uncle Sam has employed the first
: ernmentl
He's been teaching health To the
school children Of washington during
the exposition of the Interior denart,
/. ment last week. And the thousands
OF children who crowded to hear him
/. say he's the most interesting health
teacher they have ever heard.
Che Cho was part of the exhibit
OF the bureau of education's division
OF school hygiene, which illustrated
the work being done by the Depart
ment of the Interior to interest the
! school children of America in becom-
ing healthy and strong men and won.
/, en-.
\ The bureau Of education believes
that to make health popular with chill.
eren you must make 1t interesting,
make II a game which the youngsters
+. viii enjoy, show that health is some
thing which makes you able to run
faster. swim farther. jump higher. So
IN all their pamphlets and leaflets. in
their letters and their posters, they
emphasize the fact that Health,
Z strength, joy go together, and that
happiness is the beginning as we'll as
the result OF health.
{ One way Of playing the game of
health is illustrated by the weight
chart which the bureau of education
: is sending TO schools that ask for IT,
A monthly record OF what each child
weighs and what he gains is kept by
the children themselves on this chart,
and the contest lies in their effort to
gain the proper amount, which Is half
pound a month.
But the triumph of the bureau Of
education's efforts has been Che Cho,
health clown, who can describe the
9 prosaic rules of the health game in a
way so fascinating that they seem like
real fun.
Che Cho's rules are the old ones
that mothers and teachers have been
emphasizing all along:
"a full bath oftener than once a
week.
brushing the teeth at least once
every day.
Sleeping long hours with windows
open
\ Drinking as much milk as possible
Dut no tea or cohee.
Eating some vegetables or fruit
every day.
Drinking at least four glasses of
water a day.
playing part of every day ont of
doors
''Asbowel movement every morning.
Cho Che is as likely as not to give
these rules in rhyme-for instance:
B is for Butter and
Beans and Brown Bread,
Also for Baths
Before Breakfast or Bed.
2 is the Excellent
Edible Egg,
One daily at least,
Dear children, we beg.
G is for Gaining,
As every Child could;
A half pound Month
Ia the least that he should.
Often the rules are illustrated. Cho
Cho MODS like COW. How many
drink milk?" he says, and the hands
that go up are greeted with shout
. and somersaults over the platform.
The good effects OF eating slowly are
shown by cho Cho's smile and happy
, froiics; while the results OF fast eat
ing are a trown and contortions OF
. pain.
All the vegetables which children
are likely TO meet are produced by
! Che Cho and divided into two great
piles-the good and the bad. The first
Is crowned by carrots, lettuce and
beets; the second by cucumbers, rad
ishes and peppers.
:: Eat plenty of these" advises Che
. cho, pointing to the first pile. But
I. don't eat the others. They are not
/. good for children"
How effective Cho Cho's teachings
are Is illustrated in one incident told
by the bureau OF education authori-
/; ties:
The mother of one OF the children
. who had heard Che Cho came to the
child's teacher, asking in despair:
rs there no other vegetable be-
sides spinach which will make my lit
tie boy healthy? He insists on eating
spinach with every meal, and It takes
me all day TO cook it."
Fortunately the teacher was able
to assure her that other vegetables
which require less preparation were
also good for the child, and both moth.
er and son were united in the fight for
health.
Ut IS the hope of the bureau OF edu.
cation to enlist every school child IN
the country in the health contest.
Their material Is sent only into states
IN which the school authorities desirc
1T Letters from teachers and moth.
ers for information and advice will
/. gladly be answered by the bureau IN
Washington for information and ma
: teriaI to enable their childrenito join.
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