WHAT EXERCISE TO TAKE DAILY
value of an erect position in school-hours, whether the pupil be standing or sitting; and by inculcating the value of this, would soon find that these efforts were being rewarded by making many a crooked girl or boy straight; and so lessening their chance of having either delicate throats or weak lungs. And one thing more, namely, taking long, slow, deep breaths in through the nose. Care should be taken that the school chairs have broad and comfortable seats; and that the pupil never sits on a half of the seat, or on the edge of it; but far back and on the whole of it; and never with crossed legs—a fruitful cause of curvature of the spine. This apparently small matter will assist marvellously in forming the habit of an erect position while sitting.
The teacher's opportunity to work marked and permanent physical benefit to every pupil under her charge, by daily and steadily following up most or either of the above exercises; or of some substantially equivalent; can scarcely be over-estimated. The exercises strengthen the postures, whether sitting or standing. When a teacher insists on having her children erect for six hours out of the twenty-four; and makes plain to each one the value of being straight; and the self-respect it tends directly to encourage; there need be no great fear that the remaining waking-hours will make any child crooked. It is in school generally that the mischief of warping and crooking is done; and hence there, of all places, would be the most appropriate place for the undoing of it. They should also be told to sleep with the neck well back, and, as far as possible, with the mouth closed.
Dumb-bells of but a pound each have been mentioned here so far. Such would be fitting for pupils under ten years of age. For all older pupils the same work with two-pound bells will prove generally vigorous enough;
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