The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1922-09-21
SCHOOLS IS PROMOTERS
FROM LITERARY DIGEST

--fFUM LITERARY DIGES
How the modern school ministers It
the bodily well-being Of its students
| as well as their mental training is de-
scrihcd in the The Nations Health
| (ChicagO,) by William B. 1ttner, a
st. Louis architect. the designer OF
model school buildings in that city
and many others Not 50 long ago, Mr.
Ittner note. gymnasiums and extensive
| Fairgrounds for elementry schools
J, were considered eXtravant. out of
place. Swimming-pools and showers
in any kind of school would have stag
sered taxpayers Now gymnasiums
and showers are becoming as common
as ciaSS.Ooms. Even elementry schools
are installing, advantageous; and
any community building without
full playground accommodations Is
a back number. These, with the school
audltorlums, nature study, science lab
oratorics and gardens afford excel.
lent means for the accumulation and
dissemination of health facts we read
further:
1T is only necessary to enumerate
few of the actual health activities
of the public schools to convince even
the ultra conservative that the school
people. administrators, teachers and
parents are launching a vigorous of
fensive against the cause of physical
deterioration as well as carrying on
aggressive measures to safeguard and
promote the health of all children
Special studies are being made Of the
best lighting, heating, ventila ION, ssh.
itation and safety of schools. Whole
some, sanitary. sunny and cheerful en-.
yironments are being demanded for
work, study, and play-quarters. School.
operating schedules are beng devised
so that pupils may move about occas.
sionally. The movable type Of equip
mcnt which has freed children from the
rigid atmosphere of the old.time room
and encouraged free movement is al
other step toward better health. The
attempt to make school life more like
real living has resulted in variety
Of activities, variety Of interests
consequently, a balanced life The
daily playground and gymnasium &C
tiyities as part Of curricula, together
with the various recretional attractions
offered by the school, almost cOntinu
ously aid UNNECESSARILY in raising the |
health standard. The periodic physic.
al examinations, the special examina.
tons, and the corrective measures de. !
veloped to aid individuals to overcome |
physical deficiencies all tend to give |
to every child full and naural de-
velopment and indicate beyond a doubt
that children to-day may 60 to school
to get we'll. The preventive measures
taken for checking the spread of con-
tagiOn and DISCRIMINATING the sources
of health dangers are not only safe
guards to the school, but to the entire
community.
"All OF these activities and innumer.
able other related ones indicate at once
that there has come change in the
considerations In educa
ion. Health has become an educa,
,ional objective.
The more immediate causes for
.hange in fundamentals and vital con.
'iderations Of our public education are
'asily detected. Social and industrial
changes have forced changes in educa-
ional thought and practice. Scientific
experiments, education surveys and re.
earch have developed more scientific
ttitude toward educational procedure. c
We know that children can not learn )
lnless they are in a proper condition Il
o learn. We know that physical, men. t
al and moral health is fundamental G
n the learning process By far the c
lost pronounced cause in educational !.
Weakening has been the shock Of the
World Wars revelations. The painful t
regarding the physical de- 0
pcts Of our drafted men constituted T.
he most effective weapon in COMPEL q
1g the attention Of the entire nation O
preventive and remedial measures d
| early life. Il
Every school environment should a
a model for health. No specific Fl
art OF the school plant is more In a
lting, more stimulating to the youth a
all gaes, than large and we'll equip u
ed outdoor play-quarters. 9,
Two acres at least are required for b.
hysical education, such as ball. games G
nd the free and competitive exercises u
Health activities within the build. u
e usually includes gymnasium exer. a,
ses, physical examinations, medical at
'spections, and construction in per. to
nal and community hygiene. The !.
'ope Of these activities varies all he 4,
ay from the schools where practic- NJ
IL nil tho rnrb ic dorolo,>oJ H.. ..o | RI