Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-12-30
f rederic Easkim' s Letter


Warrington, D. c., Dec. 2S.-
Health, says the federal bureau Of
education. 10 largely = matter Of
habit.
This statement was not bulletin
cd % . sensation. In fact, 1t pass
cd almost unnoticed. Al today the
hum Of IN airplsne attracts almost
no attention. 50 does . declaration
like this, coming from the govern
mental agency that has most to do
With the education Of young Amer
lea, pass without notice. Yet two
decades ago the theory that health
10 . habit would have received NO
moro credence than one that . ma
chine weighing two tons would rise
In the air and hy.
Everywhere, continues the bu-
reau, there 10 . demand for instruc-
tors who can teach health. To
those teachers who are ambitious,
who want to get ahead in their call
fngs, the great opportunity lies in
q capacity to stimulate q belief in
health. to create an attitude Of mind
favorable to health.
The bureau holds that the nation
has experienced an awakening as
to the value Of health. has come to
the belief that health can be taught.
It believes that In the past and the
present generation there were and
are people with the habit Of illness
that the illness idea was so per-
sistently dinned into them that they
we're branded with it for life. Now
the program is to be changed and
the schools are to be the medium.
The bureau Of education has re-
Gently printed four bulletins and
three charts on this idea. There is
one entitled Make Health Habits
Automatic in YOUTH" one on the
Summer Health and Play School,
one on "Diet for the School Child "
one entitled Wanted: Teachers to
Enlist for Child Health Service
They may be bought for five cents
each from the superintendent Of
documents, Washington, D. c.
1.-THE children Of the country
over 25,00O,000 strong" says the
last named of these bulletins, "who
represent our nations future. are
endangered. The physical impair
ment Of the coming generation IL
one Of the most disastrous by-prod-
ucts Of tho great war, and one
whose after-efiects. once establish.
ed, can never be undone. The end
ing of the war does not end thi.
danger. These after-efiects can
however, be prevented, and thu
teachers Of the country can make
q big contribution to this work Of
prevention. 1t demands immediate
activity. Hence this call to you TO,
service.
"You may be the teacher of I
rural school. in charge of q squat
Of perhaps only twenty Of the crea
tors Of our future. Or you may b
a superintendent. responsible fol
twenty regiments Of children. Ii
any case. you will have an oppor
tunity this year. in connection witt
their health, which may never re
| cur in the history OF the country
A little energy, wisely applied a
this time Of crisis, will accomplish
great results. Your opportunity /!
one which only you can develop"
| Then the bureau proceeds to out
line the new gospel and the meth
cd that should be followed in it
preaching. 1t says that the teach
ing should be positive and not neg
alive. The command, Thou shall
not" shall be changed to Tho,
shalt" 1t shall not be said, Don
fail to brush your teeth. because 1
you do they will decay, fill you
system with poison and spoil you
digestion" On the contrary. tn
advice shall be. Brush your teeth
enjoy the feeling Of q fresh. cleal
mouth, let them glisten when yoI
smile, let them do efficient team
work with your stomach, that 20,
may enjoy strength"
The child shall not be told no
to get its feet wet for fear it viii
catch its death Of cold, but to weai
its rubbers that 1t may be stronl
and healthy. It shall not be toll
not to eat certain food for fear o
the tummy ache. but 10 eat certail
other food that It may be husk.
enough to play basketball. AM
have a good time in the world. TIL
"don'ts" all along the line whicl
suggest illness and weakness an
calamity shall give way to positiv
commands which suggest, Away
happiness and Joy and health. tn
new health fact that Is thus com
ing into ofncial recognition is tina
continuous suggestion has its Of
feet on the well-beipg Of the indi