. The hygiene of the schoolroom. e supported by theseat just as it is supported by ones feet while is impossible, however, if cramped or stooping posi-tions are taken, as that throws the centre of gravity for-ward to the right or left, as the case may be. When aperson sits erect, this centre of gravity is directly overthe spinal column, and the head itself is supported andbalanced by the muscles of the neck. But all this ischanged by any forward movement, for then the centreof gravity of the head moves forward out of its naturalposition, and the head must therefore be supported a


. The hygiene of the schoolroom. e supported by theseat just as it is supported by ones feet while is impossible, however, if cramped or stooping posi-tions are taken, as that throws the centre of gravity for-ward to the right or left, as the case may be. When aperson sits erect, this centre of gravity is directly overthe spinal column, and the head itself is supported andbalanced by the muscles of the neck. But all this ischanged by any forward movement, for then the centreof gravity of the head moves forward out of its naturalposition, and the head must therefore be supported andbalanced by the help of a strong tension of the muscles ofthe back of the neck. When the muscles which supportthe head become tired, the head droops at once into anunnatural position and the shoulders become stooped. * The normal reading distance, measured from the pupils eye to the book, should befourteen inches ; children who show any considerable variation from the normal shouldbe looked upon as near-sighted or FIG. 5. Illustrates a very common fault in school furniture, a too high seat. Thechild is unable to rest the limbs on the floor and leans over on the deskfor support. School Furniture. 41 The more common defects of school furniture, asenumerated by Dr. D. F. Lincoln, of Boston, are: First, the desk may be too high for the childs sittingheight, causing an excessive elevation of the shoulderof the hand which the child will write v/ith, usually theright. In attempting to get the elbow on the high desk,the shoulder is elevated, the corresponding one lowered,and the spinal column tilted. Second, the desk may be too low, causing the child tostoop forvv^ard. This causes the neck to flex upon thebody, producing interference of circulation from thehead, congestion resulting, which interferes with theeyes. This same fault causes round shoulders from thecontinued stooping to be sufficiently near the work. Third, desk too far from seat, with stoop of the body,inju


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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookpublishernewyorkbostonetcsi