The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1919-12-25
HEALTH CRUSADE TO
START AT SCHOOLS
Lynden Pupils To Take Part In New
System To Introduce Routine For
Making Better Conditions

The Health Crusade" will be Of
ficially introduced into the Lynder
schools next week when the instit
utions open after the Christmas vac
alton. The movement Is directed by
Miss Eliza beth Gratz, the Red Cross
health nurse Of the county, who pre-
pared the following information con
corning the movement:
What is the Modern Health Cru.
sade?
Now that the Red Cross Chrictmas
Seal sale is over. and thousands OF
people have been told that some OF
the proceeds were for the purpose Of
introducing the Modern Health Cru
sade into the schools, this question
is constantly being asked by people
who have not children in school, OF
whose children do not attend school
where the crusade is the thing.
The question is not one of local
import: it Is a nationwide challenge.
Perhaps the query received its strOn-
gest impetus when Ellis Parker But
ler wrote recently for the Saturday
Evening Post, "A Knight Without
Reproach." But ask any child who
knows. and you will receive at frst
nothing but pity for your ignorance,
a pity soon replaced by his desire
to enlighten you.
The Modern Health Crusade is a
system of health education now being
introduced into thousands Of elemen-
tary schools, a movement in which
nearly three million Americans school
children. qualified as Crusaders by
the daily practice Of health chores,
and habits of cleanliness, are partic-
ipating.
Its purpose is the formation Of
good health habits, the enlistment OF
children in community service. and
the control of preventable disease.
Its unprecedented success is due to
the interest in health aroused in
children by the introduction Of play
and romance into the simplest sys-
tenn of hygiene.
The child who does seventy-five
per cent of the Crusaders health
chores for two, FIVE. ten and fifteen
weeks becomes successfully. page.
squire, knight and knight banneret
in chivalry. Glasses and schools as
we'll as individual children may COM
pete in health tournaments. Every
elementary school teacher in the
country can adopt the Crusade for
her pupils. 1t is largely a homework
proposition. and the teacher may
use all or a part OF the prescribed
program.
Superintendents of public instruc-
tion. school principals. teachers and
parents are loud in their praises OF
the effect upon the mind and habits
of the growing child. The child
who takes his chart home to be hung
up and scored every day. takes a
part Of the burden off his mother
who must be continually reminding
him to brush his teeth. wash his
neck and hands: in short, to keep
clean. MANY instances have been
found where the entire family re-
solved to live up to the health
charts, not only to encourage the
children, but because the rules were
simple, reasonable and definite. and
were the first which had ever been
brought to their attention.
The ceremony for creating knights
and knights bannerets at the health
were arranged by DR.. B.
]. Lloyd of the U. s. Public Health
Service, for the Crusader Knights
Of the state of Washington, when he
was stationed at Seattle.
The Modern Health Crusade will
be introduced into large number
of schools of the state this year. At
the close of the school year 1919
there were $4,000 children enrolled
It is the aim OF the Washington Tu-
berculosis Association to see as many
more crusaders at the end OF the
1920 school term.