Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1860-01-27
SCHOOL MATTERS.
SATURDAY TEACHING.
Walls Of brass resist not
A noble nndertaking-@no can vice
Raise any bulWark TO make good plscs
Where virtue seeks 10 cutter Fletcher

I
Where virtue seeks TO enter.-FLetcaer.
saturday Teaching2p Yes, Saturday
Teaching am 10th to resume il. 1T is not
the first time that have felt my best feelings
revolt at it, 1t soon shall be the last time -
Saturday Teaching! sFlee from the wrath to
come" aud sbun il, as tho evil and misguided
wretch shuns Justice "Flee from the wrath
to come,' for come it must, If Saturday Teach
ing is persisted in. Let us see
"a bow always bent, is never 1t for USE
Never vas wisdom and philosophy couched in
less words. The mind, ike the muscular de-
velcpnient Of man, must hare rest, Iiust have
recreation. How soon does the physical force
of youth become exhausted. The least possi-
bic exeItion, persisted in, incapacitates Is, and
brings pain th9 most excruciating, to the ex-
erted physical power. The mind partakes of
the same nature as the body. Wien exerted
to any material extent, aud the exertion main-
tanned, it becomes weak and duh, and the
matter which il is required to infuse, becomes
stale and insipid. Many persons experience
this doctrine so palpably. that they endeavor
to dispose Of all metaphysical exertions, i'm
mediately after rising in the morning. while
'.tbo head as they assert, sis clear, and not
encumbered and weakened by over taxation.
Pu. the pupil into schoolroom on Monday
morning, continue him six hours, which con-
sumes almost the entire day, at least within
two or three hours of it, and these six hours,
in connection with the labor which he has to
perform, reduces the amount cf time allowed
for recreation within The slight conpass of one
and half hours per day; let this system 90
practised until the close of the week, or Sstur
day evening, and the whole amount of tino
allowed for recreation, would be reduced to
pne, or in nine cut of every ten eases, 10 less7
than nine hours.
There is no: one man in fifty, but expert
enees more recreation than is allowed by our
system for the child. We know the playful
disposition Of youth. Ii mus, have vent, no
one will pretend to deny this; and no one will
aud happiness Happiness should b, as much
consulted il Ihe pupils behalf as health.
WHO will undeftake TO deny, that one weeks
constant attendance IN school room will ex-
hanst every faculty, and weaken the system to
susb an exteUt as TO mako visible impression.
II this can be done 10 one week, what conse-
quences will be produced by persistence in
this evla Why, peor, weak, decrepid, epaci-
ated creatures, thai, under proper drill, might
be induced to crawl through creased whistle,
are the result But says friend 10 Saturday
teaching, 81 am sure they have Sunday TO
themselves" Bah! Sunday is the Lords
Day, oni children with their parents atteud
Church or Sabbath School. thus making seven
days in week at school. Sunday is not the
day to play at ball, catcher, aud the thousand
and one other ways which youth has invented
10 pass life in the happiest mood. No wonder,
ihen,
'sThe whining schoolboy, with his satcael,
And shining morning face, creeps like snail
Unvilliugly TO school,
Out CT fourteen days, the pupil has acsual-
ly ouly one day for recreation, the alternate
Saturday. Many other rsasons might be given
on this subject, but | ouly desire to give one
more, aud shall no doubt dismiss the sub
ject ffom all further consideration. Essab-
lish the no Saturday system. and your schools
will boast Of much more regular attendance,
for then all such chores as can be shifted un-
til Saturday will be postponed until that dread
day, and relieve the schools of the great
carse, Irregular attendance, and allow, not tho
requisite time. bet much more than is now at
lowed for recreation and healthy development.
u. r. Du56orroic.
WOODBURY., Pa.