Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1921-06-03
ASKS FOR RECESS IN SCHOOL
CONTINUED from page one)

came up in the hygiene lesson. A
young child cannlt do good work IN
school or be of tina best in DISPOSE
ton who goes to school with break
fast of coffee and doughnuts, Well
cooked oatmeal and toast and MIX
costs no more and means all the differ
ence between hearty, well child and
an i'll nourished one 1t is a well es-
tablshed fact that in public schools
where the children come II the fac
tory districts and slums that the school
lunch of a sandwich and glass of milk
make a noticeable difference in the
mental ability of the children. Can we
not start our boys and girls right
in the morning with a nourishing
breakfast?
And then the matter OF dress is
one in which the parent can aid the
school a great deal. If the child can
carry sweater to wear in case the
rooms are cool which is apt to be true
in late spring and early fall, it would
save many a cold Being careful on
cold, or stormy mornings that the
children do not arrive before S:45 when
the doors are opened. Right here be
it said the teachers are very thought
full to let in children who have been
brought in early but they do not al
ways happen along and the writer has
often seen children standing out in
wind and rain because they arrived
too early. 1t is not necessary for any
children who are within walking dis
lance to arrive before S:45.
When we have started our children
with a good nights rest, simple but
satisfying breakfast, and warmly dress
take good care of them.
There are two outstanding elements
which bring about healthful school
atmosphere-namely, fresh air, proper
ly heated, and proper sanitation-and
while easily named they are sometimes
hard to secure, especially in old build
ings which were not built with the mo-
dern types of ventilation The teach
ers in our graded school are working
under very trying conditions and we
parents fail to realize how hard it is,
often, to provide an atmosphere of
fresh warm air. In order to have good
ventilation in the rooms it is absolute
ly necessary to have recourse to open
ing windows, to changing the air en-
tirely at least once during the session.
But this means work, and when we
who pay the taxes realize the impor-
tance of ventilation and understand
the need we will do something to help
the teachers, 1t is here that we might
ask to have an outdoor recess. Many
of the children have it now during the
warm days. But is is something which
could be had with proper supervision
throughout the year on suitable days
and would mean great deal to the
health and good feelings of the chill
dren. Warm rooms do not mean
healthful rooms, and marching to the
basement and back is not sufficient
exercise for lively boys and girls who
sit for three hours in the same position
Do not always blame the teacher, par
ents, if your child comes home with a
cold and says the window was raised.
The teacher was-only trying to provide
good air with poor system
The sanitation of the building de-
ponds on the school officers. With CON
slant use, the Easements need constant |
watching and prompt repair. Chill
dren are children and usually use lit
tie judgment and any apparatus used
by them needs to be in perfect work |
ing order This can be secured only .
by some one person in the building
Immediately when conditions
are not right and for such conditions
to be remeded at once regardless Of
expense Only when we, the parents
do our part and provide the means
our teachers can do theirs
IAN we expect the best results in mat
ters relating to our children's health.
H. ELIZABETH ROSS