Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-16
DR.. SINA STRATTON
On Healthy ChiIdren's Minds

THERE is one interesting feature OF the
L question of health in the public schools
not heretofore emphasized. which is now re-
cciving its need of attention. With the ap-
pointmcnt by DIR. Thomas r. Finegan, state
superintendent Of public instruction. of Or.
Sina Stratton as supervisor of health in
struction in the schools of the state. an i'm
pOrtant move in this direction has been
made.
Doctor Stratton's work will consist largely
Of lectures to school children throughout the
state It might best be described by the OLD
in the higher schools of 1.-THE effect of mind
over matter" In other words, the CO. ordi-
nation of mind and body.
"Thc health feature of public school work
has been largely a matter Of evolution, SAID
Doctor Stratton. 1--WE have had within
generation medical supervision, covering
gradually the whole general health of the
child dental supervision, stringent rules ana
precautions against the spread of contagious
Diseases hygiene and allied subjects and the
development Of good, healthy, virile body
through the medium of physical instruction
that is. exercise and recreatlonal activity
and general care of the body.
with the mental and physical training of
the child well cared for, or, at least, pro-
grcssivc development toward desirable
point we'll under way, there still remains the
important work of teaching the, child to
ton and growth of the other.
DO Not Realize Our Power
"Within the mind and body of every child
there exists tremendous power ior veal or
woe, both for itself and those with whom he
will come in contact in later life There IS
tremendous force straining at the leash Tor
expression, which cannot be completely sup
pressed But it must be guided II It Is to
attain it's full growth and future generations
are to benefit.
..The mower of the mind over the body is
one that is not realized by many until they
have fully matured; in fact, years after they
have reached that point in their life. But
thc trouble lies in the fact that many--in
fact. most Of us--grasp this truth only after
the full power when we mlght nave dC
yelopcd in our bodies has never been reached,
or when we find ourselves broken in health,
weddings and without that vigorous brain
power working with body surglng with
energy that enables us to surge ahead in
the world and do things.
"Our minds are marvellous organisms,
with boundless powers, able to record the
slightest impression, be it good or bad, and
capable simultaneously Of applying 1t in =
stantly to the body which it directs: Its in
| tricate workings defy complete analysis, and
| II works in such an insidious manner that
results cannot be determined until it is toe
| late to have any power over them.
'SOclOlOHlSlS nave lOhb blllCt l'NpshlH'N
| this fact, and long periods of experiment and
observation have disclosed some startling
| results. There are many features of oul
| everyday life that subtly affect the imma-
| ture impressonabe child afterward deter
| mining his course in life; in fact, his
whole life with almost mathematical GER
| taintv.
"At the time the United States entered
the world war various tests of the embryo
| soldiers revealed many interesting facts Ol
| this character. Physically and mentally
| many of them--in fact most of them-wer'
| found to be below a desirable normal. II
| then became evident that the time had come
| when the question Of proper co ordination o.
| the mind and the body SHOULD be taken VI
and stringently carried out.
More Sins of Ignorance
| successfully to fight off any insidiou
| dangers, there Is only one effective course
| That Is the development of good, sound
| active, healthy bodies and vigorous. whole
some, direct thinking and logical brains.
| almost in the nature of things, th
| greatest prophylaCtic for the insidious anC
| the unwholesome Is wholesome frankness
| The charm of mystery, fear, cOwardce am
| other undesirable elements which gain head
| way in most of us cannot exist in the sun
light of common sense and n frank, opeI
snirit of investigation and intelligence. Ii
The last analysis there are more sins com
mitted In the name Of ignorance than Of in
tention.
9'Preliminary experiments among the chill