Smyrna times., 1926-09-22
STATE SCHOOL HEALTH AIMS
Mrs. Edna Palmer Upton Outlines a
Health Plan in anti-Tuberculosis Drive

Crusade proved to be among 10000
students of Delaware schools last year
and the plans in store for this year
were outlined by Mrs. Edna Palmer
Upton, executive secretary of the Del
aware Anti-Tuberculosis Society at a
meeting held Saturday in Georgetown
attended by the public school teachers
and supervisors of Sussex county Of
the 9O7O pupils who enrolled in the
Modern Health Crusade last year,
more than 1000 of them completed the
work successfully. They received the
title of esquire" with a Squire pin.
These pupils, this fall, are taking up
the work along more rigid lines, and
upon the completion of the course, will
be entitled to the title of "Knight"
and receive a reward for the same. In
addressing the teachers and explain
ing the work, Mrs. Upton said:
CAT the beginning of the school
term, it seems fitting that each teach
er should take account of the physical
condition of her pupils. We carefully
go over the buildings, text books, and
other equipment to see that they are
in good condition for the school term.
But is it not more necessary to check
up on the child's physical condition?
A careful medical examination of all
school children would be the ideal way
to do this but in the absence of this,
the responsibility is left with the
teacher. One thing the teacher can
do, is to have all her pupils weighed
and measured, and using the govern
weight charts, she can tell whether
any Of her pupils are seriously under
weight
''The pupils enjoy knowing how
their weight compares with the aver
age for the country for their age and
height, and it gives real incentive
to those who are underweight, to try
to gain. It has been clearly demon
strated that a we'll child is easier to
teach, and learns more quickly, than
sickly child Therefore the teacher
will be directly repaid for the time
and attention she gives to her pupils
health. A good health program should
also materially aid in maintaining
good attendance record. If we can
get our school children throughout the
State to practice daily, good health
habits, we will not only cut down dis
ease, but we will have better attend
ance and better progress in our school
work. The health of the children is
a national enterprise. 1t is America 5
first line of denfense. The strength
Of nation depends on the children.
Let Us all strive to make a good rec
ord il Delaware this year.
"There are many godo methods of
teaching health, one Of these is the
modern health crusades. We believe
this health program will aid the
teachers in carrying out the health
aim. We know that children learn BY
action, and the Modern Health Cru
sade has this most fundamental basis.
The child does things He lives his
health teaching. He applies his by
giene course. Action IS the keynote.
The crusade program is unique in its
equal to the child's imagination, an
other basic instinct Of child life. The
knight, the pageantry and the pictur-
esqueness of the crusade, arouses the
C4lllQ 1ONG u lIlllkdLlOlls III ILLS sup
plies the play instinct.
"Competition and rivalry are vital
factors. Children will learn by COM
petition what they will never learn
from precept. The recognition that
the child's standpoint Is the main fac
tor Of consideration accounts for the
success Of the crusade. Activity,
pageantry, competition and awards,
these are the four great factors in the
crusade program, everyone of which
is most vital in its appeal to a child's
interest.
"It has been generally found that
where a teacher will undertake the
work with even a moderate amount of
enthusiasm, she will get results.
"Any health program to be success
full, must be living vital part of the
whole school cirriculum. 1t should be
closely tied up with the other lessons.
The stories of King Arthur and his
knights are found in the reading les
son, and give a fine background for
the health crusade. Arithmetic les
sons offer an opportunity to work on
PAOOiChlS VI PCASShI0SC Ii ealho IL
weight.
"After the chores have been care
fully discussed, the daily recording
should take only few minutes, but
the opportunity to teach fair play, ac-
curacy, neatness and loyalty should
not be overlooked. If the chores are
developed gradually; if plenty of time
is given in practicing the recording
and if the spirit of recording is work
ed up correctly, there should be little
trouble about falsifying records.
"The child does not have to do any
thing impossible to win his reward.
The chores are simple and it is not
necessary to have a perfect record.
The first year the title of "Squire"and
the Sol1ire buttons are friVan tO the