Health and cleanliness : a text book for teachers

1938-03 1938 1930s 69 pages : illustrations 16 HEALTH AND CLEANLINESS their initials in the space which followed their names. I do not suggest that the washing was always thorough, or that the entry was never improperly made; but merely that the ritual gave to the act of washing a dignity and impo...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Green, George H. (George Henry), 1881- ; Buchan, G. F. (contributor), Muir, W. A.
Institution:MCR - The Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick
Language:English
English
Published: London : Health and Cleanliness Council March 1938
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10796/2E37E2D9-2BB6-4890-BFBC-EFFA14E79F55
http://hdl.handle.net/10796/78D9BE72-14A7-4C9F-B791-5E89DC81934D
Description
Summary:1938-03 1938 1930s 69 pages : illustrations 16 HEALTH AND CLEANLINESS their initials in the space which followed their names. I do not suggest that the washing was always thorough, or that the entry was never improperly made; but merely that the ritual gave to the act of washing a dignity and importance which helped to establish it as a habit. Again, some teachers put the class books in the charge of conspicuously clean boys, thus giving cleanliness a certain prestige in the class. Dignity, prestige, and importance have an emotional significance which is of immense value in overcoming the resistance to the formation of habits of cleanliness which is usual with young children — with boys more especially. The fact, too, that the teacher gives dignity, prestige, and importance to cleanliness implies his respect for it, and so fosters in his pupils a similar respect. But no rigorous rule can be laid down as to how and when such procedures should be followed, nor regarding the form of the procedures themselves. All that can be said is that they have proved of great value in a number of instances, and that only the individual teacher can decide as to whether they will help him as they stand, or whether they can be modified to suit his needs; or, again, whether his particular circumstances make it essential for him to devise totally different methods. In some instances, marks, certificates, and even medals have been awarded as recognitions of cleanliness. Objection may reasonably be raised to such forms of approval on a number of grounds. It may be urged that cleanliness, like virtue, should be its own reward. True, but in order to appreciate virtue it must first be practised, and to appreciate what cleanliness is and what habits of cleanliness may mean, the child must first be clean and must form habits of cleanliness. And — though the teacher must decide this for himself — it is possible that, when there is obviously great resistance to the formation of habits, rewards and recognitions, notwithstanding objections to them, may bring results not otherwise attainable. They should be used with caution, so that 177/5/8/3
Physical Description:TEXT