HEALTH OF CHILDREN.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3489, 18 May 1920, Page 6

HEALTH OF CHILDREN.

FOUNDATION OF “NATIONAL , WELL-BEING. A . ___....... V_ The value of children is beom".ns more generally appreciated, and man; minds are thinking and many pen: are ‘writing on matters connected witl their pnesent conditions and’ future prospects. Naturally, when the subject of‘ education receives any serious consideration_. the first aspect of it that demands attention is the physical basis on which all the other features of education depend. In other words, the first consideration is that of the health of th children. This fact cannot be‘ too often‘ or too strongly stated, and the plainest, simplest, truest way of stating it is in the formula that should be Written in gold in every school and home in -the -land: “National well-being depends on national health.” Tllercfore those who -are concerned with national education turn their attention first of all to""t_he things that have to do with the health of the children. This was not always so—— it was not so until very lately.‘ Up till a few years ago the first thing thought of was the achieving of the three R’s—and the things ‘necessary to “making a living.” Times are changing, and while the three R-’s are still of high importance yet ‘health takes precedence, and “living” counts for more than “making a living.” It is found that a proper regard for the -health of children makes the acquisition of the three R.’s an easy matter, and largely helps in the removing of other difficulties. FOUR GrOOD_ REASON-S. .'Why this -sudden rise to import-‘ ance of the health aspect of educa*tion "l'l‘here are many reasons, only a few of which can be introduced here. First may be put. the} happiness of the individual. There j can be no happiness without health, and the happiness——that is, ;t.he wel-{ fare-of the people is the object of all _government., and equally so of all‘ real education. 1 Second, the usefulness of the indi--vidual. All are members of -a com-i munity in which each’ has to bear his part to the best of his ability, and none can do his best if his body is enfeeblcd or his intellect and will debilitated by bad health. Moreover, each has to produce his share of the national dividend,’ and he cannot do it if he is- puny or weak——in a nation, as in an army, the sick are a. hindrance instead of a help. Therefore, sickness. must be first minimised by attention to the healfii of the nationis young _people. ‘ T N Third, for the sake of economy, Sickness is one of the most wasteful of national follies.‘ It can be very largely eliminated at relatively small expense, and in the process a large army of men and women will be rendered fit and capable of doing their full share of the nation’s work and Taking their part in the nation ‘s life——they will become assets instead of liabilities. Fourth, the reduction of crime. It is‘ found that those who grow up licalthy and vigorous are mucll less likely to fall into ci'ifile'tilan those of feeble physique and consequent low mentality. Physical health, mental health. moral health, these are all ‘closely related and interwoven, but the physical health ‘is the foundation of. the other two. Hence it is that the modern student of. educational problems devotes his first attention to the health conditions of his pupils. «ESSENTIAI; CONSIDERATION ‘ln this connection certain points must especially be taken into account. The first is the home life and surroundings of the pupils. Attention to thisis rather a new feature "in this count;-_v. unil it is being approached by tezitnrive steps. I 1; is also complicated wiith the political issue of 'the housing question—~iudeed, it ought to‘ form one of the most important. elements in the housing question. But even now we have gone the «length, in our areas, of having school 3m.ll'SOS to follow up school medical pilglspottion; mid in other ways we have made an appreciable beginning. It _only needs that the ‘educational antlroritics should come to 3 Wm-king agreeinent with the Public Health authorities, and this aspec; of nation:ll well-beizig ‘will receive the utmn. tion it tlC>‘C']".'f?S.

The_chief things that need attention are: hygienic conditions of home‘ and .<.r-i:'on‘._-; sufi‘icienst- playing-spaces for children and young ‘people; in-‘ -liruction in the feeding and clothing. of young children; the regulation of‘ child labour, mid, what is of equal} imfiortanee,‘ of children’s amusements,i for the right use of leisure is one of the most impoiftzinitiieflements in right living. Given due attention ‘no these, there would be for less" liability to disease and debility than _we have been nccustomedwo, and the invigorat.ed_- and brightened and enlightened lives of ruuuy’ of the less fortunate-'l_-v'pizl(‘°t'l-‘-*o_f our young people‘ would more than repay, by ‘their’ increased social usefulness,‘ fhe’”expénditure in-

curred in their behalf. The nation cannot aiford to spoil young citizens in the making, any more than it can afford to allow its fields and farms to be overrun with noxious weeds. No national asset is?‘ so well worth developing as that-, embodied in the young people, and the firs? condition of its development is sound physical health. _ .‘