The Garden Island. [volume] (Lihue, Kauai, H.T.) 1902-current, 1920-02-17
GOOD ADVICE FOR
ISLAND TEACHERS

By special arrangement DR.. Curtis
talked to the teachers on personal rec
reation at the Lihue school on Sunday
afternoon. Due to short notice and
difficulties of transportation, there
were not as many teachers present as
were expected; there were, however
a good many others, who with the
teachers, enjoyed the rare common
sense and wisdom of DR.. Curtis advice
At the close of his talk DR.. Curtis
strongly recommended the adoption,
by the teachers association, of an out
ing program, which would take them
out into the open on hikes, picnics,
nature study walks and studies every
week or so.
Acting on the suggestion, immediate
steps were taken to work out this plan,
and a special meeting of the associa-
ton was called for today at 1 o'clock.
DR.. Curtis. to the Teachers
There are four main objections
against the teaching profession from
the point of view of the teacher. 1t
makes them sick; it makes them less
attractive; they don't like it; and it
leads to arrested development
Let us look at these objections for
a few minutes this afternoon.
I. Teaching tends to undermine
;-t, tn
bear out this charge. The tubercu-
losis rate of Canada for teachers is
three times that of the normal, and
of the United States, twice. Which
is easily explained. The dust, and
close confined air of the poorly
ventilated rooms are a natural justi-
fication for tuberculosis. But the
remedy for this condition is simple
and satisfactory-to fill fill the lungs
as completely as possible by deep
breathing, and to take plenty of Wig
orous exercise in the fresh air. This
is a remedy easily applied here on
these Islands where you have mild
climate and plenty of fresh air al
ways available.
A more general ailment consequent
on teaching is nervousness in its
various forms. Teaching, under ord
idary conditions is nervous work, es-
pecially where problems Of discip-
line are involved.
! The remedy for this is again, more
open air, and more variety. More
gardening more industrial teaching,
more organized play, with frequent
changes of program that will relieve
the strain. Every 45 minutes there
should be a change, and about Is
minutes out of every hour should be
devoted to some kind of physical vo-
cation.
Another physical evil to which
teachers ere subject is anemia. You
have heard of the sleeping sickness
of Africa, where the tsetse fly infects
the victim, and he becomes more and
more anemic until he finally falls
asleep and never wakes up. In the
South they have the hookworm which
vitiates the blood so that they be-
come lstless and tired and useless.
A census OF Porto Rico showed that
80 per cent of the population was af-
fected this way.
There are physical evils to which
the teacher is specially exposed, and
against which he should fortify him
self, and fresh air and exercise are
the specifics.
2. Teaching makes people less at
tractve.. No one can afford to be-
come less attractive if she can posi-
bly, help it. Good looks is a recog-
nized asset of value in any depart.
ment of life. AS a stenographer, on
the stage, in the store, in the Office
everywhere, woman of attractive
appearance can command SIS month
more because of that advantage. And
it certainly ought to be an asset in
the teaching profession.
1t is the duty of every teacher-as
well as the privilege-to stay young
and attractive. And she can easily
do it. And the specific is just the
same as for health-fresh air4 out
door exercise. and relief from wor-
ries and strain of teaching.
A robust, active, vigorous conditi-
on of health-this is what keeps the
roses and the dimples, and the fresh
ness and vivacity of complexion and
temper, and this is what will keep
any woman young and attractive.
8. Teachers don't like the work.
If every teacher in the country were
TO fall heir to a fortune, how many of
them would keep their positions any
longer than they had to? Probably
very few. Why? Because they don't