The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-02-16
From the Ira>burch Standard.
Three Hours school a Day."

Mn. EDIToR This is a subject upon
which cool deal has been said of late, and
many of our leading educational men have
taken ground in favor of the plan. As am
writing. have before me an article in a late
paper (Vt. Chronicle. JAN l5.) on the top
IL, "What binders Progress" closing with a
flourish in favor of Three hours school a
dav."
| would beg leave, though at the risk Of
the imputation of urroq1nce in differing from
wiser men, and even of being oppo>cd to pro-
gress. to advance a few ideas against the pro-
posed system; and in doing SO, | will refer
briefly to a few things which have been ad
vanccd as arguments in favor of it.
The main drift of what has been said in
favor of this plan. so far as have observed,
amounts to about this Too mnch time, it is
ronte nde,l, is now spent in intellectual train
ing at least directly. More time and atten-
ton should be devoted 20 physical training
than ran be, with six hours school Il day
Scholars wou.:, on the whole, really make
better progress with less time spent in the
school room. Now cannot but regard these
propositions as, at best. Meor@icni ossump-
'ions and much doubt whether the expert
ence of the majority Of practical teachers
would not be against them
We are ready TO admit that the Southern
practice of ten hours a day is a pernicious cx-
IRENE. Too much time NAV. uu,loubtcdlv
be spent in the school room. but it does not
follow. as a matter Of course, that the six
hours is too much. Boys and girls. as gen
cral thing, are more inclined 10 physical than
70 intellectual exercise. and | hardly think
that one we'll acquainted with common school.
generally. can be OF the opinion that a. a
qrnerdl thing. scholars do not have enough
of physical exercise. The majority Of >chol
ars are children of farmers and mechanics
and aside from the labor which thew ma,
have to perform at home. have to 90 from
half mile to a mile and half to school -
Are such children in danger of being injured
by spending six hours dav, with the u>ua
rece>>es and intermission, in properly con
,truc:cd schoo-room Are six hours an,
more than such children ought to spend. am
meN spend under school room discipline?
One veteran in the cause writing in favo,
! Of three hours SAYS Scholars need tn,
rest of the time for Minlinq about what the,
have learned, &c. While this /. very 900,
in theory. nv venerable friends exycrienr,
has greatly differed from mine. AMI think
from that Of teachers generally, if he >uppo
SEES that with BOYS and girls, that idea can b,
practically realized. Bows AMI girls gene
rally ito not. and. under any arrangement
will not think much about their studies ok
ccpt while actually engaged in them; and il
We expect them TO learn. we must, for th
time being. make it their business t. learn
would rot have it otherwise "One thin
At a time. When scholars study, that Shoul
be their whole employment: and when the
work or play. then work or pa
should have their undivided attention.
have no sympathy with the absent minded
halfway work. always seen when one under
takes to do two or three things at a ,jmr.-
AS to the assumption that more real adv.uc,
ment would he made with only three hc,:r
than is now made in sin; it is ONLY nrcrS>ar
to say that until it can be clearly shown TIA
six hours time is too murh the assertion N
der consideration could be OF no weirht
the article referred to at thc romn.nremrr
ct this communication. the writer iistanc.
" the vast Influence Of very small amou,
Of Sabbath school instruction As an una
swerablc argument" WHO. with a 1.-THE +,
Election and comparison of the two ti.in,
dO' not see that this unauswrrab,c arur
mrnt Is no argument at all The prrmi>
is essentially 4 tallay; and were it Other
wise, the cases are not IN any tanLihle r,
s?ect. parallel | venture the assertion III,
Independently Of the t.m'lysl nd the chur,.l
Sabbath schools do rot exert a vast intls
. encc. and. repeat. there is no force VIVA
ever in the comparison.
intended. when commenced this articl
to refer TO few fundamental objections
the Three hours plan" but see that ha,
| already taken suiliricat space for one wcel
With your leave, shall resume the suhic,
in some future number. y TEACHER.