Exercise and Health
259
Nothing can increase the strength of the young like proper exercise of
all the muscles in useful labor
All Faculties Are Strengthened by Exercise—Children and
youth who are kept at school and confined to books cannot have sound
physical constitutions. The exercise of the brain in study, without
corresponding physical exercise, has a tendency to attract the blood to
the brain, and the circulation of the blood through the system becomes
unbalanced. The brain has too much blood, and the extremities too
little. There should be rules regulating the studies of children and
youth to certain hours, and then a portion of their time should be spent
in physical labor. And if their habits of eating, dressing, and sleeping
are in accordance with physical law, they can obtain an education
without sacrificing physical and mental health
Let children be taught, when quite young, to bear the smaller
responsibilities of life, and the faculties thus employed will strengthen
by exercise. Thus the youth may become efficient helpers in the greater
work which the Lord shall afterward call them to do....
Few have been trained to habits of industry, thoughtfulness, and
caretaking. Indolence, inaction, is the greatest curse to children of this
age. Wholesome, useful labor will be a great blessing, by promoting
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the formation of good habits and a noble character
Plan for Variety and Change in Work—The active mind and
hands of youth must have employment, and if they are not directed to
tasks that are useful, that will develop them and bless others, they will
find employment in that which will work injury to them in both body
and mind.
The youth should cheerfully share the burdens of life with their par-
ents, and by so doing preserve a clear conscience, which is positively
necessary to physical and moral health. In doing this, they should be
guarded from being taxed in the same direction for any great length
of time. If the youth are kept steadily at one kind of employment,
until the task becomes irksome, less will be accomplished than might
have been through a change of work or a season of relaxation. If the
mind is too severely taxed, it will cease to become strong and will
degenerate. By a change in the work, health and vigor may be retained.
4
The Signs of the Times, August 19, 1875
.
5
Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 83
.
6
The Review and Herald, August 13, 1881
.