The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-23
LETTERS TO EDITOR
Health Study In Schools

To the Editor of The Age. Herald:
 Why can't our schools be health first centers? Let the teachers be prepared as first aid or health instructors and daily the laws of good health be taught and practiced; then the literary work will easily and more efficiently follow as it should. Nearly all our children are half sick' with preventable diseases which, if taken in time, can be over come. No person can develop into the best physical life if he is continually puny and constantly having sickness.
 This modern civilization has deprived the most of the children of that hardy outdoor life our fore parents enjoyed and unless we replace that loss with a regu- lar daily programme, the children can not develop into the men and women needed to meet the battles of their age. Look at the weak eyes-bad throats and general nervous condition of the adults and children. Instead of so many glasses on our children, they should have large type literature and instead of "black
 boards around the room there should be "blue or green" boards so that thu eyes would not have to strain over dis nal walls for knowledge. Let us initiate nature more and place restful shades and colors before the eyes, We should have committee of the best talent and skill doctors-dentists-eye specialists, etc, to arrange such a health programme; and not just let any set of men be appointed at random to supervise the matter of ven- tilation, type and knowledge of the laws of the body and it's best treatment.
 The first day the child enters school, let is begin to learn how valuable its body is. it's needs and best care Let these lessons and health exercises be continued daily with the literary work and at high school age then the boys ana girls can study separately the art of es- tablishing and maintaining homes. Au- thorities state that at least three -fourths of crime is directly traceable to disease of some part of the body. If such health first programme can be put into daily action all over the country, then in less than 10 years our jails, prisons, slums and objectionable districts will be greatly depleted. Our camps did wonderful con structive work in their short health programme and we can do, oh, so much more with the growing child.
 We have the schools, the teachers and the daily gathering of such large num- bers of our growing population that it is a shame to waste so much time and good health, and not use the opportunities to better advantage. Just think of the child being taught to observe daily health laws and measures for 6 to years of it's most 1mpfeSSlOnaDle age. A IloSt "oIi- derful opportunity to develop into the best physical life along with the mental and moral sides. Any person is worth so much more when we'll and strong than when delicate or half sick. We have to carry their bodies around with us con- stantly from the cradle to the grave and why not be reasonable and try to learn the best treatment for them before old age and decay set on. As it is now, the child comes out of high school in a gen. eral nervous condition by too close hous- ing, over eyestrain and general debility especially is it true with our girls where they have constant stair-step climbing all through the day almost hourly. It should be just the opposite. They should come out of school built up and developed in body and mind. Let us begin at the source to correct these evils of gross ignorance and neglect and try to give the children as much consideration as we do other things as hogs, cattle, etc. Start with the child and lead up to the well-fit adult and then the mind and soul will have a fit dwelling place. Respect fully MRS. J. A. bROoho.
 Wadley, February 15. 1919.