The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-06-23
r II II or n
State Medical Society Of Ohio,
PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF DAYTON.
ny pRlA Q. REEVE.

ing III ble systcm ot Pubic scftOOt lhstfuC-
tion of the city of Dayton, would respect
fully report as follows:
There are in the city Of Dayton s0ll per
sons under twenty-Onc years of age, ac-
cording 20 the last State enumeration.
Ofthese 30S2 are enrolled as scholars,
and are in HRre or less constant attendance
at the pubffB Schools '' 81
There are 1900 children attending other
schools in the city, nearly all Of them child
rem belonging TO certain religious sects,
which prefer to support schools exclusively
under their own control. 4N
There are seven public school buildings
In the city built especially for the purpose,
and one rented building, all having several
stories and rooms for the different depart
ments.
The number of teachers Is fifty-eight,
four of them being special teachers for
writing, music, French aud German.
The schools are graded according to the
proficiency of the pupils. Each district has
its primary, Junior and senior departments;
the pupil passes from one to the other ms he
advances IN proficiency. There is no spec
ilied time for each department; the senior
occupies generally, two and n half years.
Having gone through this, aud having
passed Il successful examination, the pupil
passes into the Central High School, where
n course of study is pursued, arranged for
IOuF YtdFh, ftIlu DlitltauD vi fuit nlHntT
branches. When this course is completed,
he or she may be said TO be well prepared
for any of the ordinary callilgs of life.
With the exception of Greek he Is prepared
to enter college, while he Possesses knowl-
edge Of many branches not required of
candidates for collegiate course--among
Them are natural and mental philosophy,
chemistry, botany, anatomy and physiOlO-
gy, with either French or German, ut op-
tiOn. -
With this preliminary statement of facts.
proceed 10 consider tire iirst and second
sections of your resolution which call upon
me TO report upon the requirements of the
system as to length and character of stud
les, the time of st,idy inand out of school,
and the time for recreation, with the con
dition of health OF the pupils, their deyel-
opment and longevity as affected by them.
The point to arrive at is, whether the ll-
pills are mentally oyer-worked and to siIch
4 degree AZ TO injurc their health. In try
ing TO arrive at d conclusion upon this point,
| confess TO having experienced no little
embarrassment; found the testimony eX-
ceedingly conflicting and contradictory.
Generally those Interested in the manage
ment of the schools, the teachers and 9TH
ers, found laboring under the conviction
that the scholars were not oyer-taxed as TO
their studies, while on the other hand many
intelligent parents were of quite the con
trary opinion and some made serious com
plaint. knew that the matter had not
escaped the attention of intelligent gentle
men connected with the school board and
that they had striven to avoid any evils of
this kind; l knew, too, that parents are
sometimes unreasonable and make COM
plant when there is no just cause. Under
these circumstances ! was forced to collect
further testimony from other sources.
My own experience as u physician has
n
of those who believe the children over
worked; seeing in the course of the year
families in all parts of thecity and among
all classes of people the instances in which
illness has resulted from over-work mt
school have been rare; occasionally have
felt compelled to advise n temporary re-
moval from school or very great restric-
tion of studies the patients being ugiver-
sally girls at an age when severe draft is
made upon the vital powers for the estab-
lishment of new aud important function.
1t would not do, however, to rely upon
such experience; it would be a sad state of
affairs were our schools so conducted that
medical aid for oyer-worked brains was
very frequently required, because great
and irreparable mischief may have been
done to the child's mental powers before
that step Is necessary, and because for every
one thus brought to notice, there win be
dozens, or perhaps scores impaired in minor
degree, but still seriously, and who will
only show in after years the evil effects of
faulty system.
| turned, next, to the course of studies
which the pupils are required to pursue as
laid down by the School Board and fur
nished for the guidance of teachers. I'M
fortunately found it of such character as
to bear heavily against the system, and of
such strength as to be shaken by no cross
examination. | introduce here the sehed-
MIA a ln mn ua1 hxt
boys and girls, of from twelve TO fifteen
years of age:
JuNIoR.-Spelling and defining; Reading
and defining; Written Arithmetic; Mental
Arithmetic Geography United States His
tory Vocal Music; Writing; Drawing.
SENIoR.-Spelling and defining; Reading
and defining; Written Arithmetic; Mental
Arithmetic; Geography; Grammar; Decla-
nation Composition History of the United
states; Writing Drawing; Vocal Music
To say that such n course of study is OBJ
jectionable would be 10 far undersfate the
truth; it Is absolutely certain that to pnr-
sue 1t is to oyer-taX the mental powers and
produce disease. There are In the former
year six, and In the latter no less than
eight studies requiring preparation TO be
carried on at one time. Moreover, t must
be stated that English composition Is TO be
hereafter daily, instead of an occasional,
exercise. The hours OF study rs laid down
bV the School Board are three and one
fourth hours in the forenoon, with fifteen
minutes recess, and three hours in the af-
ternoon, with the same interval The
teachers whom have consulted are unani-
nous in the opinion that scholars cannot
prepare all their lessons during school
hours, but must occupy more or less of the
time at home. To limited portion of the
time away from school being occupied IN
preparing for school, there would seem 10
be no objection, especially during the long
winter evenings, but that the hours of rec-.
reation be wholly, or anywhere near wholly,
taken up IN this way cannot but end IN dis
aster, aud should be most earnestly pro-
tested against. / consider all debate Of
this question unnecessary because the pur-
suit of eight studies at once, each of them
requiring considerable mental effort, with
any profit resulting, or without producing
disease, is an impossibllity, and we chal-
lenge any person who doubts il 10 make n
trial even with advantages of matured
powers and disciplined mind ia his favor,
In the course at the High School. no
more than four studies are pursued at once.
and during portion Of the time but three.
They are studies which require, however
greater effort 10 carry on thnn those In the
district schools, and when there are four,
al ~ Loo