SCHOOL CHILDRENS’ POSTURE.

Evening Star, Issue 21518, 16 September 1933, Page 17

SCHOOL CHILDRENS’ POSTURE.

TO THE EDITOR, Sir, —Allow me a few lines in an endeavour to draw attention to what appears to me to be an evil which should be rectified. 1 recently had occasion to call at the class room of one of our Dunedin schools. The pupils were writing. Parents seldom trouble to peep in, but I venture to say that many parents would be shocked to see the attitude permitted the children. Subsequent observation convinced me that the class to which 1 have referred are not the only unfortunates. Other schools aro just as lax. 1 was at once struck with the fact that not one child was sitting properly whilst writing. Faces were almost touching the desk, backs hunched, with rounded shoulders, necks bent, beads strained downwards, chests cramped, and eyes—well, just imagine the eyes and what is to become ol them. How can intellects be developed in such an attitude? They are being retarded. Of what use is it to give the children physical exorcises, provide hygienic accommodation, indulge them in sports, etc., when for a great pan of their time they are being diligently trained for hunchbacks? Unfortunately the attitude seems to be one that people naturally drop into when writing studiously, and it must be checked so that correqjt posture becomes habit. The elementary importance of correct and healthy posture in the child, in brain, nerve, and physical development, is evidently lost sight of to-day. .It is a sin to allow the child to spoil its natural chances by the handicap of unsightly and unhealthy attitudes Almost every department of the child’s and man’s progress and welfare in after life is affected by it. Notice how in life the person with good physique, carriage, deportment, a presence, and consequent vitality, walks away with the honours, whilst' another, perhaps more learned, but lacking these attributes, fails to impress and remains mediocre or less. I should like the opportunity of com paring the work of the class I first saw with that of a class from whom correct posture (particularly when writing) is insisted on. I have little doubt of the result. Teachers should bear in mind that if they permit the style 1 am denouncing they seriously handicap their own efforts to pet results from their pupils at examination time; to say nothing of being guilty of developing in (ho child a devastating habit which unless corrected, will affect the child