“A Sound Mind in a Sound Body”: Health Education in Galician Schools at the Turn of the 19th and the 20th Century

Abstract

The 19^th century was named the century of a child. The knowledge of a child, his developmental phases, needs, and interests was expanded together with the increase in the knowledge of biology and human psychology. The child was understood as a value itself who has a right to have basic needs fulfilled as well as to get appropriate conditions of development and health care provided. In connection with it, various initiatives were undertaken in a lot of European states aiming at the creation of optimal conditions of physical and psychological development for children. Controlling children’s health condition and hygienic as well as health education became popular. New ideas also reached the territory of Galicia. The hygienic movement developed in its area, which doctors, hygienists, and teachers were involved in. They widely popularised health issues and different forms of health education of children and the youth among the Galician society. As a consequence, the children’s mortality and a morbidity rate decreased and the sanitary and hygienic conditions at schools improved.