6 Heredity and Child Culture 



now we have a world in revolt. We are living 

 in an unstable, shell-shocked age. 



It is only by starting with the child and build- 

 ing up a sound physical, mental and moral struc- 

 ture that the future manhood can carry on 

 successfully and erect a safer social structure. 

 To prepare a better world, we must provide 

 better men and women, physically, mentally and 

 morally, — and we should start with the child. 

 Broken physiques, like old sinners, are hard to 

 help or control. Many biologists believe that 

 the human race is degenerating and losing some 

 of its old stamina. 



The call of the day is for conservation, — of 

 effort, of food, of health, and, above all, of life 

 itself. But merely saving life is not enough. 

 It should be rendered strong and efficient. We 

 have recently had warnings that we must im- 

 prove our methods in handling the mental and 

 physical life of the time. A high percentage of 

 rejections for physical reasons among the young 

 men of the country, drawn by draft or volun- 

 teering in the army, — averaging one in four, — 



