Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-05-11
sCAQQ! CHILDREN JOIN
GREAT HEALTH CRUSADE
100000 Boys aud Girls Enlist in
Fight Against Prcvcntablc
Disease.
AWARD DEGREES OF CHIvALRY
Success OF Movement Due Interest
Aroused by Introducing Elements
Of Play and Romance in Practice
of Hygiene.

NEW YORK. May 10 tSpeciaD.-
With their liyes pledged TO the pur-
suit OF good health more than 5000, 900
school children throughout America
have been enrolled in the Modern
Health Crusade, ease-prevention
movement which is being developed in
the public schools of the country under
tho auspices of the National Tubercu-
losis Association and the Junior Red
Cross. II was announced by Charles
NJ dc Forest, crusader executive at
The former orsanizat,ons headquarters
mere.
State in the Union Mir. de Forest said.
The health creed OF the crusade has
become part of the school program
in thousands Of schools. both rural and
in the. curricula of parochial and pri-
waite schools
system Taught Tcuchcrs.
Among the larger cities where the
movement has been adopted in all or
part of the elementary schools, he said.
are Baltimore. Birmingham. Cleveland,
Dallas. indianapolis. Kansas City. Min
neapolis. Newark. New Orleans, New
York. Philadelphia. Providence. Port
s. T. or Wn Ssaf prs ana N,enaea eor
elementary grades. the crusade has
been taken up by number of high
schools and in some States the sys-
tenn is being taught also to student
teachers in normal schools.
Enlistment in the movement involves
something like passing a physical
At least two weeks follow daily
health program The child who lives
up to 10 per cent OF the crusaders
fifteen weeks becomes successvely a
page. squire. knight and knight ban
neret in health chiralry. In health
tournam ents participated in by whole
classes and schools the crusaders go
"a adjusting for germs
The health chores, performance Of
which each child is put on his honor
10 record on a special card over his
own signature, are as follows::
Must Record Chores.
Il washed my hands be fore each
meal today; I washed not only my face.
my hnEernails today; tried today to
Keep fingers pencils and everything
Inat might be unelean out OF my mouth
and nose; drank a glass of water be-
fore each meal and before going 10
ped and drank no tea. coffee or other
INJURIOUS, , drinks today; l brushed my
IN the evening today: took ten or
more slow deep breaths OF fresh air
t s / PLAYED outdoors. or with win
iooay: was in bed ten hours or more
iast night and kept my windows open:
! sried today to ST; UP and stand
20 toiIet and each need of my body al
KS regular time: tried today to Keen
Eesl ana cheerful constantly and to he
helpful to others 7 took full batb an
caGn day Of the week that is checked.
me success OF the movement. ac-
'o.dinE TO its leaders is due 10 the
interest In health aroused in the child
rem by introducing the elements Of
play and romance in the practice of
hygiene. and hy definite program with
tangible rewards. So eagerly have the
children in certain sections OF the
country taken TO the daily "chore"
idea that toothbrush shortage is re-
ported in Pennsylvania Wisconsin
Iowa and Oklahoma.
Movement Grows.
Growth OF the movement is indicated
BY membership figures from States
leading in the crusade movement as
follows: Texas, $4,000; Minnesota
:5o.ooc; Iowa. 10000 Oklahoma, l75.-
900; Oregon. $4,000; Idaho. oa.55T: Utah
:e.oco; Kansas. 100. 600: Arkansas rs.
900; Alabama. $4,000; Wisconsin. la7
eco: Pennsylvania, 10000: Maryland
5000 South Carolina, @1,6oo; District
"f Colu mbia. $4,000: Rhode Island. 2S,-
600. and New Hampshire. 5000.
The health crusade movement is no,
confined to America alone: notwith-
standing the war the idea has spread
20 foreign countries and enlstments
have been reported from China. Corea
Canada. Cuba and France. MIR, De
Forest said