Civics and HealthAllen, William H. (WIlliam Harvey)
Science
Civics and Health
Allen, William H. (WIlliam Harvey)
Hygiene; Public health
7. _Physiological age should influence school classification and school
curriculum._ On this subject the studies of Dr. C. Ward Crampton,
referred to in the chapter on Vitality Tests, are invaluable and as
convincing as they are revolutionary. Scientists accept his proof that
our present high school curriculum is ill adapted to a large proportion
of children; the "physiologically too young" drop out; only the
physiologically mature succeed. The two physiological ages should be
given different work. Children whose bodies yearn for pictures,
muscular and sense expression, should be given a chance in school for
normal development. Analysis should wait for action. Organized play and
physical training antedated physical examination in our schools. Like
the curriculum they often disregard physiological age, doing harm
instead of good. Facts as to physical condition and physiological
development would enable us to utilize the momentum of these two to
broaden school hygiene and to insure proper physical supervision. Only
good would result from adopting Leipsic's plan of having school
children examined without clothing, in the presence of parents if
parents desire. Expensive? Not so expensive as high school "mortality"
due to maladjusted curriculums that force the great majority of boys
and girls to drop out before graduation and ruin the health of a large
fraction of those who remain.
8. _Construction of school building and of curriculum so that, when
properly conducted, they shall neither produce nor aggravate physical
defects._
When the state for its own protection compels a child to go to school,
it pledges itself not to injure itself by injuring the child. Thousands
of children are now being subjected to conditions in school far more
injurious than the factory and shop conditions against which the
national and state child labor committees have aroused universal
indignation. Two illuminating studies of school buildings in New York
City were made last year by the Committee on the Physical Welfare of
School Children, and later by the Board of Education. Similar studies
should be made of every schoolroom. Whereas our discussions of
buildings and curriculum have hitherto proceeded largely from abstract
principles of light, ventilation, heating, and pedagogics, these two
reports deal with rooms, equipment, courses of study, and school habits
as they are, with obvious detrimental effects on child victims.
Numerous questions that it is practicable to answer are given in
Chapter XIV.
What and when to build can be better determined after we have learned
the what and the where of present equipment.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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