THE PHYSICAL EXAMINATION 19 



should be such that the child can place his fore- 

 arms upon it, almost to the elbows, without 

 leaning forward. In fact, the desk-top should 

 come far enough backward to prevent altogether 

 any undue leaning forward. 



Proper seating conditions will encourage the 

 taking of a proper seating posture, besides which 

 the child should be instructed concerning the 

 values of correct position when seated, standing, 

 or walking — a matter too frequently neglected in 

 our schools, public and private. We need not 

 take up here a discussion concerning the effects 

 of sitting too long before desks in the usual 

 school-room. We are beginning, at last, to 

 realize that the healthy normal child is a restless 

 creature, and that though the class-room gives a 

 valuable self-control, this restlessness should be 

 given fairly frequent opportunity for expression. 

 The class-room seat and desk entirely too often 

 are required to act as a straight-jacket! 



Flat-foot is another defect that may be noticed, 

 usually, at a glance. This condition is usually 

 present when there seems to be no arch to the 

 instep. This fault is often brought about by 

 muscular weakness or by bad shoes, but some- 

 times seems to appear during a period of exces- 

 sive growth. Tight, badly-shaped shoes, which 

 do not allow the foot to conform to its natural 

 shape and which restrict the natural movements 



