The Four Epochs of Woman's Life; A Study in Hygiene — John Shaqi
The Four Epochs of Woman's Life; A Study in HygieneGalbraith, Anna M. (Anna Mary)
Science
The Four Epochs of Woman's Life; A Study in Hygiene
Galbraith, Anna M. (Anna Mary)
Women -- Health and hygiene
Another method for undermining the healthy tone of the nervous system
is the intricate dances taught very young children and then placing
them on public exhibition, where they are wrought up to the highest
pitch. From a purely medical standpoint, children under eight years of
age should not be allowed to take dancing lessons. After this age a
moderate amount of dancing in a well-ventilated room is good exercise.
Children's parties belong in the same category, and, on account of the
injurious effects on the nervous system, should be tabooed. They are
too exciting, and cause an overstimulation of the nervous system and a
precocious childhood and puberty.
Instead of rearing an oversensitive hot - house plant that must be
fragile in the extreme, strive to rear a sturdy plant that can hold
its own amid the storms. The child should spend as much of its life as
possible in the open air, and in the warm months live out-of-doors.
City children should be taken to the seashore or country to spend
several months every summer. Together with outdoor sports, gymnastics
adapted to the age of the child should be begun early and continued
throughout life. Good muscular development is attended with good
digestion and a well-balanced nervous system.
Until after the twelfth year there should be absolutely no difference
between the physical, mental, or industrial education of girls and
boys. And, still further, they should be encouraged to have their
sports together; this will improve the girls physically and broaden
them mentally, and will do a great deal to take the rough edges off
the boys. After this age it will be wise to allow slight barriers to
grow up, without calling the attention of any one to the fact, that
will cause the companionship to be less free and unrestrained.
Age for Going to School.-- Although the child may be allowed to go to
kindergarten long before this time, it should not be allowed to enter
the school-room before eight years of age. And from eight to twelve
years, not more than four hours a day should be spent in study. After
this time it may be put down more closely to intellectual work; but no
more mental work should be required than will enable the girl to enter
college at eighteen. And eighteen years of age is as young as any girl
should be allowed to go to college; after this age the mind is more
matured and acquires knowledge more easily than before, while the
development of the body is less rapid. The physical system has become
more stable. The literature indulged in by girls under eighteen years
of age should be most carefully selected.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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