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

A 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 E. Chadwick, Esq, c. 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 Of
three natters-the organization of schools, the
hours of study, and physical training. Our at
tention has been arrested by Mr.. Chadwick's 5
statement of facts in connection with the Sec
ond of these three subiects-thc hours of study:
''Strucl by the frrightful disproportion be-
tween the powers of childish attention and the
length of school hours, he has sdirected questions
to many distinguished teachers Mr.. Donald
son, head master of the Training College of
Glasgow, states that. the limitso of voluntary and
and intelligent attention are, with children of
from to years Of age, about Is minutes;
from Z to 10 years of age, about 20 minutes
from 10 to y years of age, about 55 minutes
u to I6 or18 years Of age, about 80 minutes
and continues, Il have repeatedly obtained a
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, Rcctorof the same
College, speaking on the same subject, says =
Il 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
iom in education, that no lesson has been given
until it has been received; as soon therefore, as
the receiving powerof the children isexhausted
anything given IS useless; nay, injurious, mas
much as you thereby weaken instead of strength
cning the receiving power. This ought to be a
FIRST principle IN ettucistioil. ,to,I,t it COL
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 are not of a
character to be glanced at and tossed aside
but are worthyof being thought of and actedup-
on. From Carlyle's pictures of German schools
there is no doubt that in both those countries
there is lamentabe 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 ii is the 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 endeavor to teach
too much in a given time, but it is also in part
attributable to the circumstances thatw waste
more than three fourths of the time trying to I'M
part ideas when the mind of the pupil is not in
a condition to receive them.
This Journal has therefore advocated the prac-
ticc 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 recessos ought to be
granted even to the oldest scholars, rs often as
once in half an hour. A teacher might as well
expcnd his efforts upon carved wooden images
of children as upon scholars after their minds
are tired out.-Scientifc Anrrican.