SCHOOL CHILDREN'S DEFECTS

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 97, 25 April 1916, Page 2

SCHOOL CHILDREN'S DEFECTS

MEDICAL INSPECTOR'S VIEWS

ADDRESS AT THE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

A very interesting address on "Physical Defects in School Children" was delivered by Dr. Elizabeth Macdonald, Medical Inspector, of Schools, yesterday at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Educational Institute. The lecturer began by saying that our ideal was perfect health. • "Consider tha rarity of perfect health. If is as rare as beauty," remarked the lecturer, who proceeded to emphasize the joy of health and fitness. "If you keep in mind,".said Dr. Macdonald, "the picture of the child who has reached the 'standard' age with a poorly developed and poorly controlled muscular system, from never ■ having been allowed to do things often enough, • having lost-the impulse towards active | exercise, having, perhaps, responded too well to the mental stimuli offered: Keep that in mind, and add indifferentlyfitting school desks, badly-hung, tight clothing, comparatively long hours of inactivity in indifferent or .cramped postures, eye-strain induced by too early and too continuous use of the immature eye. The principal defects found in school children were:—Flatfoot, faulty posture, curvature, flat-chest, pigeonchest. "What are the proposed remedies?" asked Dr. Macdonald. "Improved home and school conditions." The fact that New Zealand has the .lowest death rate in the world was alluded to, and the lecturer said that we want simple food arid fresh, air and sunlight, baths, sensible clothing, healthy activity As to school conditions, we want, more activity in infant departments. We want openair education, and education through the senses, particularly of touch ; large open-air class-rooms, with as much unoccupied floor space "as seating accommodation. We want 15 minutes'instruction and inactivity, 30 minutes' play ; reeducation of the muscular system; coordination, quiet, balanced nervous systems, self-reliant, active, composed children. No more white, frightened faces and hands folded behind the back. Acivity must be real activity. There, is too much coddling, even in schools. Play need not be too gentle or restrained. Let the children romp and shout.and be natural. As to the children in the standards,' they wanted good lighting, more play,, and more space to play in, more freedom, shorter spells of inactivity, more organised games, swimming, a systematic part of curriculum, open-air classrooms _in every school, large hall for physical work, gymnasium, and shower baths. There should be an open-air school in each centre for selected child- ' ren, and for observation and purposes of study and comparison. Dr. Macdonald advocated a system of physical education for both sexes and all ages. The Swedish system' was undoubtedly the best, though, perhaps, not perfect. We ought tc. have, said the lecturer, smaller squads of, say 40.. suitably clad, taught by teachers suitably clad. Onu hour of the five should be devoted to physical education. Special corrective classes should be formed where harm had already be done. In Wellington small classes of 12 or less had been formed in each school. ; Dr. Macdonald pointed out how hopeful physical work amongst children was. Within limits, she said, we could make ourselves fit, and we could make our children fit. "We want to realise," concluded Dr. Macdonald, "that out health tmd well-being depend on the simpler things of life—work, exercise, water, | laughter, and the love of friends, rest, food, sleep, companionship, education, and self-development." Dr. Macdonald throughout her address was frequently applauded, and at its conclusion, after several questions had been asked and answered, was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.