HEALTH OF CHILDREN.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 June 1920, Page 9

HEALTH OF CHILDREN.

FOUNDATION OF NATIONAL W'ELLv BEING. The value of children is becoming more generally appreciated, and many minds are thinking and many pens are writing on matters connected with their present 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 the 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 I well-being depends on national health."

Therefore those who are concerned with national education turn their attention first of all to the things that have .to do with the health of tlie 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 GOOD REASONS. Why this sudden rise to importance of the health aspect of education? There are many reasons, only a few of which can be introduced here. First may bo put the happiness of the individual. Thers can be no happiness without health, and the happiness—that is, the welfare—of the people is the object of all government, and equally so of all real education.

Second, the usefulness of the individual. All ave members of a community in which each has to bear his part to the best of his ability; and none can do his best if his 'body is enfeebled 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 lie is puny or weak—in a nation, as in an army, the sick are a hindrance instead of a help. Therefore, sickness must be minimised by attention to the health of the nation's young people. 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 due 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 healthy and vigorous are much less likely to fall into vice and crime than 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 tlie modern student of educational problems devotes his first attention to the health condition of his pupils.

ESSENTIAL CONSIDERATIONS. In this connection certain points must especially be taken into account. The first is the home life and surroundings of the pupils. Attention to this is rather a new feature in this country, and it is being approached by tentative steps. It is also complicated with the political issue of the housing question—indeed, it ought to form one of the most- important elements in the housing question. But even now we have gone the length, in our town areas, of having school nurse? to. follow up school medical inspection; in other ways we liavo made an appreciable beginning. It only needs that the educational authorities should come to a working agreement with the Public Health authorities, and this aspect of national well-being will receive the attention it deserves.

The chief things that need attention are: hygienic conditions of home and school; sufficient playing-spaces fov children and young people; instruction in the feeding and clothing of young children: the regulation of child labor, and, what is of equal importance, of children's amusements, for the right use of leisure is one of the most important elements in right living. Given due attention to these, there would lie far less liability to disease and debility than we have been accustomed to, and the invigorated and brightened and enlightened lives of many of the less fortunately placed of our young people would more than repay, by their increased social usefulness, the expenditure incurred in their behalf. The nation cannot all'ord to spoil young citizens .in the making, any more than it can all'ord 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 first condition of its development is sound physical health.