Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1920-11-19

ones share Of responsibility in the
work of the world and to cooperate
in plans for mutual bcttcrment.
they take long step forward in
good citizenship. When they strive
to promote Il Happy Childhood the
World Over The samA result is
accomplished.
When the school boys and girls
OF America provide clothing. food
and educational advantages for
little refugees in Europe by aid of
the machinery SET up by the Junior
Red Cross. they gel Il clearer view
Of their own national advantages
and their debt to the world.
When the Junior Rcd Gross cs-
tabliSheS Il chain OF correspond
cncc between the school children
Of the United States and their little
frindS across the sea. il develops
Il Worldwide outlook. fraught with
great future possibilities for the
children. their nations and the
world.
To give children the opportunity
Of Learning by doing is the gen
cral aim of the Junior Red Cross"
Such organizations as Parent
Teachers Associations, Modern
Health Crusade and the Junior
Red Cross. arc just as essential in
the life of the country children as
they are for those in the city. and
! would be quite untrue to my pro-
fcssional oath and vision if | failed
through this report to plead the
cause Of the rural child.
Mrs. Rug Ruth Dodd, supervisor of
Public Health Nursing in South Caro-
lima, wrote recently on the subject of
Rural Child Welfare in such a way
that l want to quote it, in the hope
that 1t may stimulate deeper inter
est IN the plans l have in mind for the
III part: 'ln beginning the great work
Of child conservation some years ago,
the city seemed the logical point of
attack: The most pressing necd APP
peared to be in those large centcrs Of
consested population, where children
ca, with never glimpse of blue sky
or growing thing, with never a breath
OF GODS pure air, with food grown
stale, where parents must toll in the
endless grind Of factory or crowded
for themselves. Why give a thought
to the child of rural districts? Had
he not space in which TO grow and
develop unhampercd? Planted here in
natures own playground, with free
a9m OF NIL and valley: with sunshine
untaintcd from crowded humanity,
with food fresh grown from the soil.
never deprived Of mothers care. WHY
should he not grow straight of bones,
strong OF muscle, broad of chest? The
mere mention OF mountain maid or
rustic youth, calls forth a vision OF
laughing childhood, with glowing
check and sparkling eye, with rounded
ilmb and active strength. Is it not
natures plan that this child of the
open should, automatically, grow into
colossal ,sclf-complaccncy, child wei
iarc workers and rural parents have
been content, alike. 10 permit these
activities to be concentrated almost
exclusively upon the city child.
Ihe war has given us n new view
of draft reflections has aroused us 10
me necessity for redoubled efforts In
child conservation. BY this | do NOT
mean merely the saving of chiIdrcn's
lives. We must concern ourselves
more with Improving the health OF
handicaps of childhood thar produce
a dwarfcd and defective manhood.
The revelations Of the draft have shown
us again that the greatest percentage of
GcicctS comes. not from the cities, but
I Ip%n III me ,d rural districts. BY all the
absurdity:: And yet, we arc confront
cd with figures, the accuracy of which
cannot be questioned. The rural child
is THEORETICALLY the most robust. in
reality the most poorly developers; the
rural child is potentially the best fed,
III reality the most poorly nourishcd'
ana Why this paradoxicaI condition I?
Nhen surrounded by nature with ali
the elements essential TO INC perfect
ing Of n healthy childhood, why shouIo
the rural child not excel?
THANKS to the vigilance of child
welfare welfare workers, the city mother has
been warned of the unfavorabIc sur
roundings Of her child. She has been
Taught how To combat these Influences.
WI, with paEenial and infant welfare cen
clinics and mothers clubs, with the
expert advice Of physicians and nurse
the baby nurse, the tuberculosis
nurse. the school nurse. the visiting
nurse-shc has been given that fund
OF knowledge which will enable her
things which he needs.
inc rural mother has been un-
touched by such educational work.
Living isolated, she has not the advaII-
tage o. mlnsiIng with groups Of moin-
crs. We find the sanitary conditions
OF rural homes many times unspcak-
able. The ny. in houses unscrecncd.
is holding high carnival, swarmins
over the baby and tainting his food.
The purity Of spring water has been
contaminated by drainage from un-
sanitary closet, pig pen and stable.
to utilize the playground which nati,re
has .providcd for him. He tolls in the
fields during the summer months.
During the school session he has an
endless chain of morning and eve
ming chores. and his body, instead of