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Physical Labor for Students
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neglect to exercise their muscles.... If the intellectual would to some
extent share the burden of the laboring class, and thus strengthen
the muscles, the laboring class might do less, and devote a portion
of their time to mental and moral culture. Those of sedentary and
literary habits should take physical exercise, even if they have no
need to labor as far as means are concerned. Health should be a
sufficient inducement to lead them to unite physical with mental
labor.
Moral, intellectual, and physical culture should be combined
in order to have well-developed, well-balanced men and women.
Some are qualified to exercise great intellectual strength, while
others are inclined to love and enjoy physical labor. Both of these
classes should seek to improve where they are deficient, that they
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may present to God their entire being, a living sacrifice, holy and
acceptable to Him, which is their reasonable service....
Those who are content to devote their lives to physical labor, and
leave others to do the thinking for them, while they simply carry out
what other brains have planned, will have strength of muscle, but
feeble intellects. Their influence for good is small in comparison
with what it might be if they would use their brains as well as their
muscles. This class fall more readily if attacked by disease, because
the system is not vitalized by the electrical force of the brain to
resist disease. Men who have good physical powers should educate
themselves to think as well as to act, and not depend upon others to
be brains for them.
Work Not Degrading
It is a popular error with a large class to regard work as degrading;
therefore young men are very anxious to educate themselves to
become teachers, clerks, merchants, lawyers, and to occupy almost
any position that does not require physical labor. Young women
regard housework as belittling. And although the physical exercise
required to perform household labor, if not too severe, is calculated
to promote health, yet they seek for an education that will fit them to
become teachers or clerks, or they learn some trade that will confine
them indoors to sedentary employment....