The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1862-03-14
HOURS OF STUDY.

n very remarkable pamphlet has recently
made its appearance in England, containing
| statements of facts that ought to command the
attention of the civilized world. The pamphlet
is written by L. Chadwick, Esq, G. b., and
| published pursuant to an address of the House
| of Lords. The subject of this pamphlet is edu-
cation, and it is devoted to the discussion ol
| three matters-the organization of schools, the
hours of study, and physical training. Our at
tention has been arrested by Mr.. Chadwick's
statement of facts in connection with the sec
ond of these three subjects-thc hours of study
Struck by the frightful disproportion be-
tween the powers of childish attention and the
length of school hours, he has directed questions
son, head master of the Training College of
Glasgow, states that the limits of voluntary and
and intelligent attention are, with children of
from to I years of age, about Is minutes !;
from I to 10 years of age, about 20 minutes !;
from 10 to II years of age, about So minutes !;
u to 1G orlS years Of age, about so minutes !;
and continues, Il have repeatedly obtained Il
bright voluntary attention from each of these
classes, for 5 or 10 or Is minutes more, but
observed it was always at the expense of the
succeeding lesson"
The Rev. j. a. Morrison, Rectorof the same
College, speaking on the same subject, says =
81 will undertake to teach one hundred chill
dren, in three hours a day, as much as they can
by possibility receive; and hold it to be an AK
ION in education, that no lesson has been given
until it has been received; as soon, therefore, as
the receiving powerof the children sexhausted,
anything given is useless; nay, injurious, mas
much as you thereby weaken instead of strength
ening the receiving power. This ought to be
first principle in education. l doubt it is sell
dom acted on"
The truth OF these pregnant remarks is made
more evident by the testimony of all competent
witnesses. We respectfully submit to all school
commissioners, teachers and parents who may
read these statements, that they arc not of a
character to be glanced at and tossed aside,
but are worthy of being thought of and acted up
on. From Carlylc's pictures of German schools
there is no doubt that in both those countries
there is lamentable want of understanding on
the part of scholars of the subjects which they
attempt TO learn. The matter is still worse in
France and Austria, and il is prominent vice
which prevades the whole American system of
education.
Our failure to secure an understanding of the
things which we try to teach is, doubtless, in
part owing to the fact that we cndeavor to teach
too much in Il given time, but it is also in part
attributable to the circumstances thatwe waste
more than three fourths of the time trying to I'M
part ideas when the mind of the pupil is not in
condition to receive them.
This journal has therefore advocated the prac-
tce of having recesses in schools of ten or fif-
teen minutes every hour, but, from the expert
ence of the oldest and ablest teachers in Great
Britain, it seems that the reccsses ought to be
granted even to the oldest scholars, as often as
once in half an hour. A teacher might as well !
expend his efforts upon carved wooden images
of children as upon scholars after their minds |
are tired out.-,Scicnhfc A,Rej7can.