The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-06-23

cN ,titf ilfOken-OyNn mentb CONSTITUTIONS
or middle ageT-the rash act of suicide, and
litAel1 Of the sad wrecks Of our lunatic asy-
lnms. But unfortunately the public mind
nee'is instruction upon this point and, in
pursuing, our daily avocations rs physi-
clans. having ever In view the fact that the
highest office of our calling Is to prevent
disease, we must supply this instruction.
Especially should we ifEpress the impor-
tant fact that yast Injury may be done in
youth which does not show It's effects until
adult age the bad seed sowii IN the school
house onlybears fruit In after years It may
he long In ripening, but ripen II will, for
in mind rs in morals, the ',wild oats of
youth are wonderfully certain crop, how
ever long may be the time between seed
time and harvest. fs.in
These considerations, together with the
fact that our system of public Instruction
has been pursued but comparatively a few
years, will explain why have no statistics
TO give In regard 70 health, development
aud longevity as affected by the course of
study. 4Io
The third section of your resolution
makes II my duty to offer practical sngges-
tions for the remedy or prevention OF the
evils of the system. There are but two
courses open to selection either lengthen
The time Tor the course, or reduce the num-
Der of studies. The former deem im-l
practicable, or Mt least uDadvlsable; our
schools are designed for the children Of the
mass of the people and should be conducted
upon the principle of the greatest good to
the greatest number. BY far the larger
portion allow 10 their children now all the
time for schooling which can possibly be
spared; TO demand more years of them
would be TO deprive them of complete
conrse; complete In regard 20 those
branches which are of most practical value
IN everyday life, We must accept, then,
the other alternative and reduce the'num-
Der of studies; let the course be complete
one so fnr as IL goes, but let the ground
over which II goes be restricted. Know Il
would be difficult to select which studies
should be abandoned; one need not go far
to find an advocate for each one now ON the
list who would maintain II to be indis-
pensable, yet the pruning knife must be ap-
Piled let the studies be selected in refer
cnce to their use in daily life, and those
wlrp are fortunate enough to be able, or
who have the desire to pursue a more ex-
tended course, pursue 1t elsewhere after
graduation at the public schools.
by this means alone can we prevent in
jury t61bur children and the defeat of the
very objects for which the system was
established.
| Now, in making these remarks, no refec-
tion Is intended upon those having charge
Of our schools and laying out this course of
lf
them at lies In the spirit Of the age. Every
thing with us Is driven ut the highest rate
of speed, and education is subjected to the
same pressure. loung men are placed in
positions of trnstand responsibility, serious
cares of business thrust upon them before
Their bodies are grown or their minds ma
tnreil; young women enter society, take
part In its duties and partake of its frivoli-
ties at an earlier age than in any other
country la the world. a H hri
The vicious system has grown up to be
the custom until the demand Is virtually
made upon those having charge of the ed
ucation OF the young for n completed etlu-
cation mt a very early period, and the de-
sire to make 1t rs thorough as possible is a
very natural one, and has led gradually TO
the increase of the number and extent of
the studies. Here again, we must educate
the public mind; II 1t would have the solid
timber and majestic size of the oak, IL must
wait long years for its growth it must
learn that, however desirable 1t may be 10
see children acquire much learning, u few
branches thoroughly mastered Is better
education than many but partially Learned !;
and 1t must act upon the truth that the
period of youth, as of life itself is limited.
and places an insurmountable boundary TO
human effort.
| have one other suggestion to make
which would mitigate the evils of the sys-
TEN rs at present conducted, and which
would be advantageous under any circum-
stances. ! allude to the introduction of a
thorough and systematic course of gymnas-
tic exercises. Such course is in opera
tion in the schools of several of the larger
cities Of our State: have heard strong
testimony as TO the benefits resulting from
1t, and shall look with interest for the re-
ports of the committees upon the schools
of those cities. do not need any further
evidence for my own conviction of its util-
ity and benefit. have myself been wit
ness of them. In the Cooper Female Semi
nary, of our city, such a course has been
pursued during the past year, and the adj
mirable effect OF the training, in developing
aud strengthening the physical system,
was witnessed by many Of our citizens in
an exhibition given by the pupils few
evenings ago. But further than this,
have seen the most decided benefit to the
health of young ladies under my care in that
institution, which could only be attributed
TO the thorough and regular exercise thus
maintained. IL is the girls of our public
schools who need these gymnastic exer-
cises NEST; with the formal manners ofcity
life, and the restrictions to body and limbs
of fashionable clothing, their muscular
system can never be developed and the
health must suffer, without some such plan
as this. ~ f.ti TT
/ have no record TO make concerning
evils other than those arising from over
mental exertion; certainly, there are none
of very great magnitude. In fulfilling my
duty rs your committee, | have not over
looked the condition of the buildings, as 10
warming and ventilation, and as to the ca
pacity OF the rooms for the number ofl
scholars IN them. improvements could be
suggested, and are in some instances de-
manded; but believe every effort Is made
TO keep our educational machinery up TO
the enlargiDg wants OF a growing city, and
in regard to everything likely TO promote
the comfort and progress of the scholars "A
spirit ofenllghtened liberality prevails.
have found 1t my duty 10 indicate evils
in our system Of public school instruction
rs the source ofmuch of the early failure,
aud entire wreck of mental power which
is seen, probably,wth greater frequency In
our country than In any other ofthe world.
! should not do justice did not call atten-
Lion to the fact that there arc other causes
at work among the children of our cities
quite as certain To sap the foundations of
mental strength rs any over-work they
may do In school. 1 allude to the kinri OIL
reading which is so much In the hands oil
the present generation. Dime Novels" and
II certain class of weekly papers, which, to
the miiHgt tfrf to- "a.