Extreme and long-continued fatigue is hostile to the development and welfare of
any nervous system, and especially to that of children. Not only does overfatigue
hinder growth, but it also results in the formation of certain toxins, or poisons, in
the organism, which are particularly harmful to nervous tissue. It is these fatigue
toxins that account for many of the nervous and mental disorders which
accompany breakdowns from overwork. On the whole, the evil effects from
mental overstrain are more to be feared than from physical overstrain.
The Effects of Worry.—There is, perhaps, no greater foe to brain growth and
efficiency than the nervous and worn-out condition which comes from loss of
sleep or from worry. Experiments in the psychological laboratories have shown
that nerve cells shrivel up and lose their vitality under loss of sleep. Let this go
on for any considerable length of time, and the loss is irreparable; for the cells
can never recuperate. This is especially true in the case of children or young
people. Many school boys and girls, indeed many college students, are making
slow progress in their studies not because they are mentally slow or inefficient,
not even chiefly because they lose time that should be put on their lessons, but
because they are incapacitating their brains for good service through late hours
and the consequent loss of sleep. Add to this condition that of worry, which
often accompanies it from the fact of failure in lessons, and a naturally good and
well-organized nervous system is sure to fail. Worry, from whatever cause,
should be avoided as one would avoid poison, if we would bring ourselves to the
highest degree of efficiency. Not only does worry temporarily unfit the mind for
its best work, but its evil results are permanent, since the mind is left with a
poorly developed or undone nervous system through which to work, even after
the cause for worry has been removed and the worry itself has ceased.
Not only should each individual seek to control the causes of worry in his own
life, but the home and the school should force upon childhood as few causes for
worry as may be. Children's worry over fears of the dark, over sickness and
death, over prospective but delayed punishment, over the thousand and one real
or imaginary troubles of childhood, should be eliminated so far as possible.
School examinations that prey on the peace of mind, threats of failure of
promotion, all nagging and sarcasm, and whatever else may cause continued
pain or worry to sensitive minds should be barred from our schoolroom methods
and practice. The price we force the child to pay for results through their use is
too great for them to be tolerated. We must seek a better way.
The Factors in Good Nutrition.—For the best nutrition there is necessity first
of all plenty of nourishing and healthful food. Science and experience have both