Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-11-18
:. CRAMMING =,


The small degree of thought gwen h. p7rsnt.
n many instances to the physical well-oeing
Of their children Is illustrated by the difficulty
experienced by the Philadelphia Controllers of
Public Schools in enforcing A saluta-v rala
toroldding the pupils from taking home thslr
-'asS-noCSs Tor hone study. The rule v-as
adopted after careful examination OF the
"hOlt SUBJECT By COMMITTEES made III Of
uuaiS competent men. Il was intended %
promote both The Mental advancement aud the
BODILY health OF he children. Yet very soon
aiter It's adoption there we've symptoms of op-
POSITION 10 Al On the part Of some of 'ha school
OLhcers and teachers, and even by parent; ana
II was found that The Tuis was evaded by some
pupils whose parents or guarila1s bought
books for them 10 use At home. O;har parents
became dissatisfied with this state Of things
supposiDg that the pupils using the surrsp-
utioUsly obtained books would gain an sdyan-
tage ever their own children. The opponents
OF the rule are eudeavoring u have il resciuded,
bot have not succeeded thus TAR and the Lstyrr
oI that city, IN q thoughtful a tiele, urges that
II shall Eavea tair and impartial trial. That
paper says.
No labor IS so exhausting as prolonged
mental nhCr- II tells with killing effect on
strong men and healthy women. How much
more severe IT must be on Young children n
ttt Is no Argument To prove. SIX hours IN the
tiOSe COZ finement of the classroom, over weary
'iSh Work, breathing half-pOiSonsd air, with
three, four, five OF six hours more after school.
mas sent many a little one to the grave, and
planted The seeds OF lifelong disease in the
bodies OF thousands of others. There is no
room for doubt about his. But il parents are
willing 10 risk or overlook this fearful aspect
CT ne case for the sake OF ed ucaung their chill
Cren. they should weigh well that other point
apparently more mateTisi 10 them, that mem
CriAne, OF examining til vOung memory
win unimpOrtant details, forgotten in a few
months, weeks, or even days, is not edyccting
their children The very LIE OF this rule il
mat II requires that the children shall be 1uytt
N The schools SO that they shall un,ssrst1ad in
stead 81 being made mere machines 70 get by
neart ana repeat what is in the text book,
speaking what is set down for them, but which
they do not cOmpTehe nd W. have seen this
uter ant OF comprehension OF the subject on
me psrt OF the most advanced pupils of one of
The best Grammar Schools IN he city demon
sirated beyond all dispute oy a Director under
The oil system. Better that ne children should
under tdud. and have their mental faculties
cuInFatrd by knowing the essential things
tully, than that they should b. able - repeat
from memory all the facts, dates, events and
beurss In all the CyclOVJtias"
We should be glad TO sea such rule as that
above referred to adopted by our School Trus-
tees. Ne doubt if the s'cranmI of schoo!
children To their physical detrimant IS prac-
ueed IN any other city in the Union 70 the
extent that IL Il IL Washington. THIS comes
from he fact that 80 many yOuu :. inexperl-
encec, and IN many cases n 'udiC ious. tea bars
gre employed 1t Is net in our Grammar
schools presided over ny OLD aud iuIicious
teachers, where the terrible overwhelming i,
done thai sends the pupils home after six
hours task-wors in the vitiated air OF 3 school
room, with lessons al Ott~d tLrm recurring
from tlT'f &, fire BoairS sIrf .tuYy This is the
TnerCiless Gnd urderCus stiEj SIT DO IN fo- the
little ones by ambitious young teachers bsat
on making good display on examination
day. Ii Is really TO be hoped that our
Trustees who have entered upon their
duties with good 1eal Of zeal. will de-
wise some means Of breaking up The system OF
over-tas king. let them also put an imperative
veto upon the senseless, alth-destroyIng
modes OF punishment devised by some OF the
teachers, such as compelling the pupil 70 write
word missed over and over many thousands
OF times after school hours and in the time al
lotted 70 recreation. There should u d only ba
no tasks beyond school hours, but no combining
pIniShments detrimental TO health outsid. of
those hours. These punishnents are not con-
heretofore have endeavCrsd 20 break them I'D
but Intellectually. The httle folks sadly need
some sympathizng Hood 10 sing Song OF
the SchoOlbOy in their behalf:
WoTk-work-work.
Till The BRAN begins 70 swim.
Work-wcrk-work,
Till the eyes are heavy and dim,
Theme, and problem, and rule,
Rule. and problem. aud theme,
Till over the lessons / tall asleep
And puzzle them out in my dream.