The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-05-05
CHIL LDREN
 IN NEW Y0RK'S
 HEALTH CRUSADE

New York, May 5.---With their lives pledged to the pursuit of good health, more than 5000 GOO school children throughout America have been enrolled in the Modern Health Crusade, a dis misrepresentation movement which is being developed in the public schools of the country under. the auspices of the National Tuberculosis Association and the Junior Red Cross, it was an- nounced today by Charles M. DeFor- est, crusader executive, at the former organizations headquarters here. There are now crusaders in every state in the Union," Mr. DeForest jsaid. "The health creed of the cru sade has become a part of the school program in thousands of schools, both rural and urban. It has also c&usati
 innovations in the curicula of par ochial and private schools
 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, Kan sas City, Minneapolis, Newark, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia,
 Providence, Portland (Ore.), Seattle and Washington, D. C. While prima- rily intended for elementary grades the crusade has been taken up by a I4dilIDSi Ol IllSI SCIlOOlS ana III some states the system is being taught also to student teachers in normal schools
 Enlistment in the movement in wolves something like passing a. phys ical examination, as the recruit must for at least two weeks follow a daily ihealth program. The child who lives up to 75 per cent. of the crusaders health rules for two. five, ten and 15 weeks becomes successive1y a page, squire, knight and knight banneret in health chivalry. In health tourna- ments participated in by whole classes and schools the crusaders go a jousting for germs D
 The health chores" performance of which each child is put on his honor to record on a special card over his own signature, are as follows: T washed my hands before each
 meal today; I washed not only my face but my ears and neck and l cleaned my finger nails today; tried today to keep fingers, pencils and everything that might be unclean out | of my mouth and nose; I drank a glass of water before each meal and before going to bed, and drank no ! tea, coffee or other injurious drinks today; brushed my teeth thoroughly in the morning and in the evening | today; I took ten or more slow deep | breaths of fresh air today; played 1 outdoors, or with windows open, more than 30 minutes today; I was in bed
 10 hours or more last night and kept
 my window open; I tried today to sit
 up and stand straight, to eat slowly,
 and to attend the toilet and each need of my body at its regular time :;
 I tried today to keep neat and cheer l ful constantly and to be helpful to 1 others; I too ka full bath each day of
 the week that is checked"
 The success of the movement, ac-
 interest in health aroused in the chiI-
 dren by introducing the elements of play and romance in the practice of hygiene, and by definite program with
 tangible rewards. So eagerly have the children in certain sections of the
 country taken to the daily "chore'' idea that a toothbrush shortage is re- ported in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Iowa and Oklahoma.
 Growth of the movement is indi- cated by membership figures from
 states leading in the crusade move ment, as follows: Texas, BIO, GOO; Min
 nesota, 250, Iowa, 200, 900; Okla
 homa, 175.0OO; Oregon, 55,OOO: Idaho, 24,557; Utah, 32,000; Kansas, 100, 900; Arkansas, 2S,OoO; Alabama, 56,O00; IWisconsin, 197,COO; Pennsylvania, 15O, 1000; Maryland. 43,OOO; South Carolina 2, eco; District of Columbia, 15,OOO:
 Rhode Island, 2SOOO; and New Hamp- shire, 5000.
 The Health Crusade Movement is