Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-10-22
Physical Training Of Children.

In late issue of the Chronicle aud Sentinel
over tho initials Of W. s. NJ, writer offers tho
following very iudicous remarks. No subjectcan
properly claim moro serious and anxious consids-
Iations than the ono here brought u notice.
The subject IL which propose to allude on this
occasion, is one which claims our most serious con-
sideration. am Sure Of cnlisting the attention Of
the tender and rational mother, while shall en-
desvor, briefly to point out u serious evil in the
prevailing system Of Physical Education. w
The moro ! reflect upon tho situstion Of moth
or, tho more am struck with the extent Of her
powers the inestimable value Of her services, and
the unlimited influence which she exerts over her
children. In the language oflove. womon are call
cd Angels; but this is y weak compliment; they
approach neare, to our idea Of Deity, land wish
not TO bc considered irreverent.) for woman not
only creates, hut Sustans tho creation. and holds
in her hnnd its destiny. Every man is what his
mother has made him, aud to her is he Indebted
for the greatest blessing in life, healthy and Wig
orous constitution.
But while | thus speak Of the dignity Of female
character. it must DO bornc in mind that by the
term mother; do not mean simply woman. but
it is she who faithfully discharges the sacred ef
fees of parcnt--shc whose chief concern 10 tho
well being Of her offspring. and who feels all her
cares amply repaid by its physical and mental
growth and activity No subsequent endeavors
can remedy or correct tho evils occasioned by
mothcrs ncgligcncc. and tho skill Of the physician
's excrtcd in vain to repair what she, through ig-
norance or inattcntion. may have unfortunately
blasted.
Thousands Of children die eycry year. the vic-
tins OF disease contracted ut schools, and tho
health and constitution Of still greater numbers
nrc irrctrievnbly ruined by tho depraved example
Of their older associates.
nm aware TINT children nre fond Of 'runniug
Wild" aud require tho most watchful caro- to keep
them out Of mischief; but will any mother urge
n yhv N ahnn n \
were. in stocks, that restless activity which iS
wisely designed by unture to promote their physi'
cal and mental and | may add, moral weltareY-
Will ehc, from wish to herself trouble, or to
gain time for other business OF infinitely less i'm
r"rtancc. send her little prate,s to school, under
the silly prctcnce lpardon the cxpresson) of"kccp-
ing tl.em ont of harms way" Ii is highly im-
proper that child should be one of tho failures Of
school room. In tho midst Of noxious cmanation.
IL may hc, for the siS nr seven hours dny which
should bc spent in tho open air nnd cheerful OK
crcse. Should it bc mid that children aro sent To
school prcmaturely, from becoming zeal for
their early improvement. ] need only rcpy TINT
learning, however desirable, is too dearly bought
which is obtained u, tho expense of tho consttu-
tion. Besides, the mind cannot be well cultiya-
ted in such manner.
Confinement aud bad air are not lcss injurious
to the mind than to the body; and nothing No ef-
fccualy retaids tho growth Of the intelligent ia-
your child to school in its nurses arms and you
will either make him nm idiot or give him such an
unconquerable disgust for books that whom he ~
tains u that age when he should lie deeply inter
csted in tho pursuits Of knowledge, he prefers RI
thcr TO luxurinte in Incidence than in the cnltiva
tion Of his mind Or heart This is not more idle
spcculatinn--n is truth, and the force OF 1t will
he appreciated by every parent Of experience and
discriminating Judgment.
Until u child has arrived At his eighth or tenth
year. Il should prefer the lattor,) he should be
taught nt home Perhaps tho best book he could
study is the great volume Of Nature This is legi-
bic at every age, and is gratifying to child ns
to an ndult: nny, more 20. 1t ab,unds with the
most delightful mud ncedful information, aud its
equally conducive to health. pleasure, knowledge
and good morals. would not DO 80 prcsumptuons
as 10 deny itnt children may be beneiicnly in
tructed in their infancy. On the contrary, ] am
OF the opinion thai az child cannot he too young
10 learn, his mind should be put under proper
training az he can know amothers voice--a mo-
thcrs love- for it is the mother alone who can com.
prchcnd the physical and mental requirements OF
her child. Some Of our most esteemed and valued
citizens are indebted. f,r their earlier intellectual
advantages to the assuous care Of nm affectionate
mother.
But il child must be sent to school before he
has learned I" appreciate instruction ana before
he is physically fit to endure the fatigue Of study,
send him where be -hnl not be confined longer
than three hours day to a teacher who knows
how 10 govern without the rod This ought to
suffice the most exncting parent
The early morning hours should be passed at
play. Those Of the afternoon nt rest, for the sys-
tern, in children, perhaps more so than adults. re-
quires repose from the labor which hearty din
ncr has imposed upon their ltt!c stomachs.
A thousand absurdities present themselves to
my mind in reference to the prevailing mode of cd
ucation, but must forbear extending these desul-
tory remarks for fear of trespassng the patience
of the reader, if | should be 80 fortunate rs to
have ONE Georgia Temperance CRUSADER.