Houma Ceres. [volume] (Houma, Parish of Terrebonne, La.) 1855-18??, 1856-03-20
For the Houma Ceres.
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

rents complain that the teacners Oh OUT
schools do not keep sufficient hours. They
seem to think six hours a short time to
keep a child confined to the school room.
Now we do not wish still more to abridge
the hours now taught but we do think
the less child can be confined for educa-
tional purposes, the better for both mental
and physical development. Many cbild's
constitution has been ruined for life by the
course of education pursued in some of our
schools and colleges. Such examples are
not few isolated ones neither. they are
thousands, and should induce US to take
warning in this matter. Children while
growing need all the exercise and recrea-
ton they can get; nature requires it, and
if they are too much restrained in this re-
gard, she will have revenge. The penal.
ty, if not an early death. may be worse
a puny and sickly body, and an imbecile
mind. They may come out into the world
with, what is styled, much learning, and
occupy an honorable position in society
but totally destitute of that energy and en-
terprise that characterizes the man, and
produces all that is noble and useful.
To convince the people, that it is not the
number of hours a child is confined in
school, that determines his progress, we
shall refer him to the schools Of Boston
and Now Orleans. They are said to be
the best in the United States; yetin those
schools they teach but five hours day.
In some parts Of Germany, it is four hours /;
still their schools are called excellent.
If children could be made by their pa
rents, to study more at home, and to mix
their studies with their work or amuse.
ments, and then sent 10 school only FIVE
hours day, ! believe much more could be
accomplished, than if sent seven or eight.
In all well organized schools and cole.
ges, both North and South, there are sta
ted times for vacations, usually occupying
the most hot and sickly part Of summer /;
the session. altogether amounting to ten
months. In our public schools believe
it is t,relcc months; / see no provision to
the contrary. When a teacher takes
charge Of school he is required to teach
the whole year with little or no intermis.
sion except the national holy.days allowed
by law-through burning August and sick.
|ly September-teacher and pupils must
swelter in hot and crowded school. room.
The pupils become wearied and disguised,
and cannot study, because they need a sea-
son Of relaxation to restore their powers.
Finally the teacher becomes worn out and
enfeebled from overtasked energies. He
finds he is compelled to stop week or
two to recover his health and yet if he
consults the directors on this point, he is
reminded that he may have to deduct, that
time in applying for his pay, which is not
enough in the first instance, with the pres.
ent high prices of board, &C., to maintain
him in decency and comfort. l do not
mean here to cast any reflections on school.
directors. They are elected by the peo-
pie. and they feel it their duty to try and
please them-who cannot b. pleased.
1.-THE teacher allows his pupils holy day,
say from Christmas to New Years day, =
hue and cry is raised by the parents, that
he is neslecting his school-be is loaded
with abuses. and charged with '4ssealing"
the public money. And these Same pa
rents after making al this fuss, can if they
choose to. keeptheir own children d home
eor . month Il , time but they do not
want the teacher to stop day under NO
lcircumstance-he must be At his post year
in and year out. Under such > grinding
and irregular system. is it any wonder our
public schools do not flourish? Is il any
wonder that competent teachers cannot be
obtained, and il obtained, cannot remain I
His trials are many, and no thanks for bis
exertions and believe if Job had lived
| in our dav. and l,een = taachar AZ = na,hlic