CHILDREN’S BREATHING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3715, 28 December 1912, Page 3

CHILDREN’S BREATHING.

'PREVENTIVE OF DISEASE. The first need of a child is that of <t sound body, without which no brain works normally. It therefore appears to me needful that the curricula of schools should be framed with that object in view (writes Albert Visetti in the “Daily Mail”). Experiments have, I understand, been recently tried by the London County Council schools to teach child- ! ren their lessons out of doors, but the difficulty of concentrating ones attention upon purely mental work in the open air is recognised by every student. A DEPLORABLE FACT. I venture to suggest that if a system of breathing exercises be substituted, followed by some simple songs specially chosen for the purpose, excellent work could be done.

| One of the greatest preventives of disease is proper breathing, and it is a deplorable fact that very few people know how to breathe properly. The absolute control of breath is an art almost solely practised by singers and speakers. The lungs are but seldom wholly used on account of defective breathing, and, as everyone is aware, organs which fall into disuse become incapable of action and are subject to decay.

The adoption of some simple, effective method of teaching breathing and singing, with due care that no forcing be permitted, would I have no hesitation in sayng, produce grand results oil the health of the children. The practice of certain exercises in the open air daily would be of enormous value.

| FIRST LESSON IN LIFE. | The importance of training the i young cannot bo gainsaid. Habits early engrafted in children of regularity, cleanliness and order are never wthout good result, and so purely the first lesson in life should he “How to Breathe” and how to make the best use of it—when they have got it. -since the first tiling we do on entering this world is to draw breath. Although it is possible to teach breathing without singing. I advocate the study of simple singing after breathing has been mastered, for two reasons. The first is that a child will more readily apply itself to.a study which presents some definite conclusion.

To tha mind of a child breathing in itself does not assume an engrossing interest, but when there is at the end of the work some song of appropriate sentiment a new light of interest at once attaches to the preliminary breathing exercise.

The second reason is that the association with music of pure and simple design cannot fail to leave refining influence in the mind of the child who participates therein.

A LOST ART. It is curious that the people of the twentieth century do not pay more heed to the subject of breathing when we remember how ancient the practice of the right art of breathing is. In the dim ages, some 2000 years before Christ, the Chinese and Indiana cured several diseases by breathing. Buddhist priests practised the art, tho Greeks and Romans used the breathing exercise for other reasons also —as Ave learn from the beauty aucl aymetry of their statues. It was not until the Middle Ages that the art became lost . To bo of real and lasting use to mankind breathing must again he regarded seriously as an art before it can have a fair chance of assisting in ihe. war against the diseases which attack little children and.so form a menace to civilised humanity.