HEALTH & TEMPERANCE

Health and temperance

These books are related to the health and temperance movement which was at its peak in the late 1800s - early 1900s. During this time good health was part of a national project and books provided advice on how to live a healthy and temperate life. As time passed and technology changed, children’s radio programs with accompanying health workbooks became a feature of classrooms. The early connections made between morality and health continue to linger. Additionally, elements from the various activities utilised in workbooks can still be seen today in health education classrooms.

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BOARD OF EDUCATION (GREAT BRITAIN)
HANDBOOK OF SUGGESTIONS ON HEALTH EDUCATION FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF TEACHERS AND OTHERS CONCERNED IN THE WORK OF PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
LONDON: BOARD OF EDUCATION, 1928

This book was a Manual on Health Education to be used by teachers across the hygiene syllabus. It has two main parts, ‘Subject Matter for Health Practice and Health Talks for Young Children’ and ‘Outlines of Health Lessons for Older Children’. The author hoped that teachers would not use it prescriptively but as a guide to the ‘generally accepted principles of hygiene upon the observance of which, in the ordinary daily life of the individual, the development and maintenance of sound bodily health depends.’

NEW SOUTH WALES HEALTH WEEK COUNCIL
HEALTH BRINGS VICTORY: HEALTH, MILK AND NATIONAL FITNESS WEEK
SYDNEY: S.N., OCT. 24TH TO NOV. 1ST, 1941

Produced in the first half of the 20th century for the Executive of the ‘Twenty-First Annual Sydney Health and Milk Week Campaign’. Health Week was founded in 1921 by Professor Harvey Sutton and Dr J S Purdy ‘to focus public attention for one week in the year on matters of health’, in particular how good health relies on personal responsibility. Contains tips on how to get value out of food, as well as recipes and food advertisements. Health weeks continue to be a way that schools deliver health content.

MRS. ELLIS H. CHADWICK (1882-1928)
THE PRINCIPLES OF HEALTH AND TEMPERANCE
LONDON: SIR ISAAC PITMAN AND SONS, 1912

Esther Alice Chadwick begins her book with the Greek etymology of hygiene - hygeia. She argues that ‘by studying hygiene we learn how to prevent sickness and disease, to keep the body and mind strong and alert, and to preserve their powers as long as possible.’ She focuses on both the role of society, and of the individual. The first half contains extensive chapters on how to create personal health through selecting meat, vegetables, diets, exercise, etc. The second part of the book explores how this transforms into temperance, which for her supports the development of society.

WHITCOMBES “HEALTH NOTEBOOK” SERIES
MY NOTEBOOK OF HEALTH FOR GRADE 6 & FORM 1
MELBOURNE: WHITCOMBE & TOMBS, 1961

Record of Health was designed for children to record bodily measurements, and covered topics of health such as, fresh air, sunshine, food, clothing, exercise, rest, sleep. The food advice given is combined with basic anatomical functions. Unlike other notebooks that focused on health alone, the goal was for primary school children to achieve happiness through good health, reflecting a move away from health being confined to the body. The recording of body measurements is still a part of school programs today.

AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING COMMISSION (1933-1983)
HEALTH AND HYGIENE
SYDNEY: COMMONWEALTH OFFICE OF EDUCATION AND THE AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING COMMISSION, 1958

During the 1950s, radio programming was developed for primary school children throughout Australia to learn about health. For three terms, six units of study were broadcast weekly, covering topics such as: the body, food, national health, disease, living together and growing up. The emphasis here is on maintaining a ‘reasonable’ balance in food between ‘complete foods’ (protein), ‘balanced foods’ (fruit and vegetables) and ‘incomplete foods’ (carbohydrates and sweets).

THOMAS BRODRIBB (1836- 1923)
MANUAL OF HEALTH AND TEMPERANCE: WITH APPENDIX ON INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND AMBULANCE WORK BY J.W. SPRINGTHORPE.
MELBOURNE, EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, VICTORIA, 1901
2ND EDITION

Thomas Brodribb, a former Inspector-General of Schools and Head of the Education Department of Victoria, provided the Manual of Health as an accompaniment to lessons on health and temperance prescribed by the Victorian curriculum. The book has eight chapters, ‘air, food, drink, dwellings, clothing, exercise, rest and recreation and water’, with a focus on the role of food and how it interacts with the body, and how this is moderated by cooking.

VICTOR E. STANTON
HEALTH AND TEMPERANCE MANUAL WITH TEACHING NOTES
SYDNEY: PACKER PRESS, 1957

Compiled for The Youth Temperance Educational Council and Band of Hope Union, NSW, the manual was used to instruct children in higher grades in primary school. It followed the curriculum as outlined by the New South Wales Department of Education and provided teaching notes and experiments. Similar to Brodribb, it provided topics on hygiene, temperance and elementary first aid. Stanton hoped that it would be useful for children’s clubs and societies as well as being a general reader.