254 NATURE STUDY REVIEW [7:9— Dec, 1911 



of prevention. This instruction is being given in the schools of 

 649 of the cities replying to the inquiry previously referred to. 



This instruction generally covers the extent of the dis- 

 ease, so that the child is impressed with its importance ; second, 

 with its nature, emphasizing especially the fact that a lower 

 vitality means a fertile soil for the germ ; third, the way in 

 which the germ itself is communicated from the sick to the 

 well ; and fourth, the measures necessary to secure control over 

 the disease. 



Another educational factor of prime importance is the 

 school nurse. She is the connecting link between the school and 

 the home. Her duties bring her in contact with the family and 

 with the neighborhood. Thus she has a splendid opportunity 

 for disseminating information about the principles of right 

 living, sanitation and hygiene. 



In this present day and age the authorities are coming 

 to recognize their responsibility for the health of the children. 

 School authorities in particular are recognizing this respon- 

 sibility and acting upon it. By insisting that a child attend 

 school for a certain number of hours each day and for a cer- 

 tain number of years the school authorities place themselves 

 in a position where they can at least morally be held to account. 

 When parents surrender a child to their keeping they have a 

 right to expect the child to be returned to them at the ex- 

 piration of his school life in as good condition as he was at 

 first. 



Hygiene as a Sixth Grade Subject 



C. F. Phipps. 

 The University of Chicago, the School of Education. 



Health teaching is often divided into two factors : (a) 

 hygiene — the healthful conduct of the individual; (b) sanita- 

 tion — the maintenance of an environment favorable to human 

 health. Instruction in hygiene should have as its aim "a 

 healthier, happier and more useful life," but too often this 

 aim is neglected. The public as yet is not fully awake to the 

 importance of more and better instruction in hygiene, and 

 for this reason the subject has not received the at- 



