Many invalid teachers.-Reasons.

CHAPTER XII.

TEACHER'S CARE OF HIS HEALTH.

No employment is more wearing to the constitution than the business of teaching. So many men falter in this employment from ill health, and so many are deterred from entering it, because they have witnessed the early decay and premature old age of those who have before pursued it; so many are still engaged in it who almost literally "drag their slow length along,' groaning under complicated forms of disease and loss of spirits, which they know not how to tolerate or cure,-that it has become a serious inquiry among the more intelligent of the profession, "Cannot something be known and practised on this subject, which shall remove the evils complained of?" Is it absolutely necessary that teachers shall be dyspeptics and invalids? Must devotion to a calling so useful, be attended with a penalty so dreadful?

A careful survey of the facts, by more than one philanthropist, has led to the conclusion, that the loss of health is not a necessary attendant upon the teacher of the young. It is believed, indeed, that the confine ment from the air and sunlight, and the engrossing

Laws of health should be studied.-Effect of a change of employment.

nature of his pursuits, have a strong tendency to bring on an irritability of the nervous system, a depression of spirits, and a prostration of the digestive functions; but it is also believed, that, by following strictly and systematically the known laws of health, this tendency may be successfully resisted, and the teacher's life. and usefulness very much prolonged. The importance of the subject, and a desire to render this volume as useful as possible, has induced me to ask leave to transfer to its pages, with slight abbreviation, the very judicious and carefully written chapter on "HealthExercise-Diet," contained in the "School and the Schoolmaster," from the gifted pen of George B. Emerson, Esq., of Boston,-one of the most enlightened educators of the present age.

HEALTH-EXERCISE-DIET

"The teacher should have perfect health. It may seem almost superfluous to dwell here upon what is admitted to be so essential to all persons; but it becomes necessary, from the fact that nearly all those who engage in teaching, leave other and more active employments to enter upon their new calling. By this change, and by the substitution of a more sedentary life within-doors, for a life of activity abroad, the whole habit of the body is changed, and the health will inevitably suffer, unless precautions be taken which have never before been necessary. To all

Exercise.-Teacher specially needs it.-Walking.-How?

such persons-to all, especially, who are entering upon the work of teaching with a view of making it their occupation through life, a knowledge of the laws of health is of the utmost importance, and to such this chapter is addressed. I shall speak of these laws briefly, under the heads of Exercise, Air, Sleep, Food, and Dress.

"EXERCISE. So intimate is the connection between the various parts of our compound nature, that the faculties of the mind cannot be naturally, fully, and -effectually exercised, without the health of the body. And the first law of health is, that which imposes. the necessity of exercise.

"The teacher cannot be well without exercise, and usually a great deal of it. No other pursuit requires so much,-no other is so exhausting to the nerves; and exercise, air, cheerfulness, and sunshine, are necessary to keep them in health. Most other pursuits give exercise of body, sunshine, and air, in the very performance of the duties that belong to them. This shuts us up from all.

"One of the best, as one of the most natural modes of exercise, is walking. To give all the good effects of which it is susceptible, a walk must be taken either in pleasant company, or, if alone, with pleasant thoughts; or, still better, with some agreeable end in view, such as gathering plants, or minerals, or observing other natural objects. Many a broken constitution has been built up, and many a valuable life saved and prolonged, by such a love

President Hitchcock.-Riding on horseback.-Garden.

of some branch of natural history as has led to snatch every opportunity for a walk, with the interest of a delightful study,

'Where living things, and things inanimato

Do speak, at Heaven's command, to eye and ear.'

The distinguished geologist of Massachusetts, Presi dent Hitchcock, was once, when teacher of a school, reduced to so low a state by disease of the nerves, which took the ugly shape of dyspepsy, that he seemed to be hurrying rapidly towards the grave. Fortunately, he became interested in mineralogy, and this gave him a strong motive to spend all his leisure time in the open air, and to take long circuits in every direction. He forgot that he was pursuing health, in the deeper interest of science; and thus, aided by some other changes in his habits, but not in his pursuits, he gradually recovered the perfect health which has enabled him to do so much for science, and for the honor of his native State.

"Riding on horseback is one of the best modes of exercise possible for a sedentary person. It leads to an erect posture, throws open the chest, gives a aller breathing, and exercises the muscles of the arms and upper part of the frame.

In weakness of the digestive organs its efficacy is remarkable.

"A garden furnishes many excellent forms of exercise, and the numerous labors of a farm would

Farm labor.-Rowing.-Sawing and splitting wood.-Warren Colburn.

give every variety, if the teacher could be in a situ ation to avail himself of them. This is not often

the case. When accessible, the rake, the pitchfork, moderately used, cannot be too highly recommended. A garden is within the reach of most teachers in the country. It has the advantage of supplying exercise suited to every degree of strength, and of being filled with objects gratifying to the eye and the taste. The flower-garden and shrubbery commend themselves to the female teacher. Το derive every advantage from them, she must be willing to follow the example often set by the ladies of England, and use the hoe, the rake, the pruning-hook, and the grafting knife, with her own hands.

"Rowing, when practicable, is a most healthful exercise. It gives play to every muscle and bone in the frame. When the river is frozen, skating may take the place of rowing; and it is an excellent substitute. Driving a chaise or a sleigh, is a healthful exercise, if sufficient precaution be used to guard against the current which is always felt, as it is produced by the motion of the vehicle, even in still air.

Sawing and splitting wood form a valuable exercise, particularly important for those who have left an active life for the occupation of teaching.

"Exercise should be taken in the early part of the day. Warren Colburn, the author of the Arithmetic, whose sagacity in common things was as remarkable