TEACHING HYGIENE

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 142, 16 June 1923, Page 14

TEACHING HYGIENE

NEW METHODS IN PARIS.

The headmistress of am infants' school in Paris, much to the ; astonishment of the education authorities, and in face of their discouragement, has adopted a novel method of teaching' hygiene, states the Parisian correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph." Much attention was devoted in the school syllabus to teaching that cleanliness is the ihasis of health, but the headmistress was soon convinced that it was useless to attempt to teach hygiene from booUs alone. During an examination, for instance, in answering the question, "When should we take baths?" a large number of pupils replied, "When we fall fll." She proposed, therefore, to install a bathroom on the school premises for practical demonstrations,. but was promptly advised by the authorities not to attempt any such revolutionary change in the curriculum. Lacking official support, she installed two baths at her own expense, and, having obtained the consent of the parents, began a course of practical hygiene by bathing tern of her pupils every morning, assisted by a pupil teacher. After a short -while she was able to report to the authorities that her class of 120 was much' healthier and brighter, than hitherto. Authority became interested so far as to send inspectors to report from time to time, but it still refused to pay for the cost of installing the baths. The headmistress applied for a small allowance for towels, btu even this was refused. Eventually, after much correspondence and discuswas allowed, on the eleai- understanding was allowed, on the clar understanding that authority could go no further with this "revolutionary" method of teaching 'cleanliness. The lessons continue, however; authority supplies wise precepts, while the headmistress furnishes from, her own resources hot water, soap, and

towels