TEACHING CHILDREN TO BREATHE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1634, 28 December 1912, Page 11

TEACHING CHILDREN TO BREATHE.

A. GREAT PREVENTIVE OF DISEASE,

Tho first need of a ohlld is that of a sound body, without whioh no brain works normally; It therefore appears to me (writes Albert Visetti m the Daily Mail") needful that the currioula of schools should bo framed With that object in view. , , Experiments have, ■I. understand, been recently tried by the London County Council schools to tench cli:lldren their lessons out of doors, but the difficulty of concentrating one's attention upon purely mental work in the open air is recognised bv overy student. ■ ~ , , I venture to suggest that .if a system of breathing exercises bo substituted, followed by some simple songs specially chosen for the purpose, excellent work could be . One of the greatest preventives of disease is proper breathing, and it is, a, deplorable fact that very few .people, know how to breathe properly. The absolute control of breath is. an art almost solely practised by singers and speakers. Ine lungs are but seldom wholly used on account of defective breathing, and, . as everyone, is aware, organs which tall into disuse become, incapable'of action and aTe subject to-decay. . .. ,• _ . : The adoption of some simple effective method of teaching breathing and singing, with due care that no forcing be permitted, would, I have .no hesitation in saying, produce grand results on tne health of the children. The practice of