School Hygiene - Brief Course Series In Education (1913)

Text extracted from opening pages of book: BRIEF COURSE SERIES n\? EDUCATION SCHOOL HYGIENE BY FLETCHER B. DRESSLAR, PH. D. SPECIALIST IN SCHOOL HYGIENE AND SCHOOL SANITATION UNITED STATES BUREAU OF EDUCATION THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 1913 AU rights PREFACE IT is the purpose of this book to set forth in a simple and untechnical way some of the hygienic requirements of school life, and to suggest, whenever it seems necessary, how these requirements may be put into practice No attempt has been made to treat any phase of the subject exhaustively. The purpose has been to select the most important topics, and to deal with them m a manner as simple as is consistent with the truth. It has not been written for the specialist in school hygiene, but for busy teachers, and the author hopes that it will do some small service in convincing them of the great importance of making school life wholesome and healthful, and of instructing the children, directly and indirectly, in matters relating to hygienic living in school and at home. vii CONTENTS CHAPTER I PAGE INTRODUCTORY THE MEANING OF HYGIENE AND ITS RELATION TO EDUCATION . i CHAPTER II PLAY AND PLAYGROUNDS CHAPTER III LOCATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOL BUILDINGS . 20 CHAPTER IV LIGHTING OF SCHOOLHOUSES 53 CHAPTER V SCHOOL DESKS 82 CHAPTER VI SCHOOL BATHS . 98 CHAPTER VII CONVENIENT AND SANITARY WATER SUPPLY FOR SCHOOL BUILDINGS . * . 103 CHAPTER VIII DRINKING CUPS AND DRINKING FOUNTAINS . ... 109 IK x Contents CHAPTER IX PAGE TOILETS FOR SCHOOLS . . . 118 CHAPTER X THE NEED OF PURE Am 132 CHAPTER XI VENTILATION .... ... 141 CHAPTER XII OPFN-AW SCHOOLS . . .... 173 CHAPTER XIII HLATWO OK SCHOOLROOMS 181 CHAPTER XIV HUMIDITY IN THR, SCHOOLROOM 194CHAPTER XV EYE DEFKCTS AND SCHOOL CONDITIONS 221 CHAPTER XVI THR HEARING OF SCHOOL CHILDREN . 247 CHAPTER XVII THE TEETH OF SCHOOL CHILDREN ...... 250 CHAPTER XVIII STUTTI'-RWO - 264 Contents xi CHAPTER XIX TAGS FATIGUE . 274 CHAPTER XX HYGIENE OF INSTRUCTION . 285 CHAPTER XXI THE CARE OF EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN . . . .302 CHAPTER XXII MEDICAL INSPECTION OF SCHOOL CHILDREN . . . - 313 CHAPTER XXIII HYGIENE OF SCHOOL UTENSILS AND BOOKS 336 CHAPTER XXIV CLEANING SCHOOLROOMS * 344 CHAPTER XXV QUALIFICATIONS AND DUTIES OF A SCHOOL JANITOR . . - 348 CHAPTER XXVI DISINFECTANTS . ... 359 SCHOOL HYGIENE CHAPTER I INTRODUCTORY THE MEANING OF HYGIENE AND ITS RELATION TO EDUCATION The Science, Hygiene. Hygiene is a term applied to that organized body of facts relating to the preservation of health. School Hygiene is the branch of this science which has to do with the conservation and development of the health of school children It is the business of teachers to guard and promote the health of the children committed to their care during school hours, as well as to instruct them in the various branches of a school curriculum Teachers must know what constitute healthful school conditions in order to be able to manage and to direct the children accordingly. Importance of Health and Physical Vigor. No amount of mental acumen can take the place of physical vigor. The happiness and final usefulness of the individual is limited by his ability to perform the duties of life energetically and joy ously. There can be no true and lasting culture unless it is founded upon the basis of a strong, well-balanced body and vigorous health. That intangible complex popularly known as character depends upon both mind andbody. The safest and surest way to start a child on the road to success and use fulness is to develop his body properly and to furnish him with every opportunity and condition for good health and a com plete, well-rounded physical growth. There are thousands of children in our schools to-day who would be far better con 2 School Hygiene ditioned for normal development if they were allowed to learn through play, and to develop their bodies through the exercise and freedom that nature so strenuously demands. Health is frequently confirmed or destroyed in the first years