Kemp. —On the Medical Aspects of Education. xliii 
In Switzerland, there are seven or eight different sizes made to suit the 
different classes. The London School Board has adopted the following 
suggestions for its schools :— 
1. One and the same size and model of desk should be used for 
children of both sexes. 
2. The adaptation to the height of each child should be effected by 
varying the height of the seat and foot-board. 
8. The edge of the table is always to be perpendicular to that of the 
seat. 
4, No seat is to be without a back, and the top of this is always to 
be 1 inch lower than the edge of the table for boys, and 1 inch 
higher than the edge of the table for girls. 
In schools where, on the score of expense, each child cannot 
have a separate desk, four may be made to occupy one seat, and, 
to allow the two centre ones to get out without disturbing their 
neighbours, it is only necessary to intercept the back rail in the 
middle—leaving sufficient space for a child to pass out and in. 
A child should sit with the upper part of its body straight, 
the vertebral column neither twisted to the right or left, the 
shoulder-blades of the same height, these and the arms freely 
suspended on the ribs, and in no way supporting the body; the 
elbows on a level with each other; the hands and part of the 
forearm resting on the desk; the weight of the head freely 
balanced on the vertebral column, not bent forward, but only 
turned sufficiently to prevent straining of the eyes in looking at 
a book placed on its desk. 
In concluding these remarks, I must assure you that they are the con- 
clusions I have arrived at after having given the subject considerable atten- 
tion. I have had many of these points in my mind for some time past, but 
until now have lacked the courage to formulate them and make them known. 
I feel deeply the importance of the subject I am advocating, and hope what 
I have said may bring forth some practical fruit in making parents and 
teachers more alive to the fact that there are dangers, and great ones too, 
from which they ought to protect their children and pupils, and to remind 
you that all who in the face of custom or prejudice insist upon their children 
being placed under the most favourable circumstances for making them 
physically and mentally healthy, and fit to enter the struggle of life, are 
doing a lasting good, not only to the children themselves, but also to future 
generations, for it is only by producing strong and healthy children that we 
can produce strong and healthy men and women. If the time ever arrives, 
and I fear it is fast approaching, when girls and women will be subjected to 
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