The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-05-04
Gih!egateLtflqe3!n5leEf,r:.
PARTON ON PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
A Plea for YcniIatlon.

800 ASA
To the last number oil the Public Sc'lOO
Journal Mr.. James Parton contributes thI
following sensible communication:
~ have often thought if were cmpe
ror Of New York, and had . hundret
millions OF dollars 10 Gxpend upon IL
moral and spiritual improvement, woulC
spend tue whole 10 building bridges over
our two rivers, tunnels under them, ,an(
underground railroads up and down tlTt
island, 50 rs to enable the wOrkingmar
and family to get out or their crammet
and reeking tenement House, and enjoy Z
lair share Of the only cheap luxuries in thu
universe and space. Luxuries? Alas
No; they are necessaries. Human beings
require certain number Of cubic fee
each, IN order to 1.-Two a proper life; ant
high virtue becomes impossible when tht
atmosphere hos reached d certain degree
ofimphrity. - ~ ~ o ~.
"No people need reminding Of tht
physical conditions Of welfare 50 much as
we do. Upon the shores'Of this continent
land, every year, thousands Of parent
who, In their youth, had no opportunity
oEgctting knowledge But, catching SCOT
the spirit Of their new country, and per
ceivipS the power which comes of the
possession Of knowledge, they resolve that
their children shall have the advantages
or education at any cost Its most
commemorate resolution. And yet, sucE
parents, ignorant Of the laws OF health
and without experience Of their own ID
the acquisition 6l knowledge, are almost
sure to urge their children 70 an injurious
excess Of mental labor. tAlI around me ]
see lovely children who arc victims o.
their parents unenlightened ambition. Al
school from nitie 10 two Or three; then
perhaps, piano and dancing till dark; and
In the evening, study TIT nine or ten
What a massacre Of the innocents Is this
Even on Sunday they lave no rest. What
Is rest to Q schoolboy? It's mol to 60 ,tC
school.
"Nothing saves some children from
utter destruction, but their ceaseless re.
bellion against our murderous require.
mCnts. They will not sit still in Ill
ventilated rooms! They viii not learn
those long lessons out Of SCHOOL,, They
will coax excuses and holidays from their
mothers. We compel them to disobey
and mishave in order ID save their lives
"Our children arc the victims OF several
distinct and powerful ambitions. Theii
parents, first OF all, are ambitious that
they should rank high in their school
the teachers are properly ambitious that
the school should rank high in the dis.
trict; the trustees are ambitious that tue
schools under their charge should be dis
tinguishCd in the school system Of the
State. The State authorities naturally
desire that the State should be hbnora'
bly, spoken Of for the excellence Of IL
schools. And, unfortunately, tile stand.
ard by which scholars md schools arG
Judged Is one that takes no account OF the
body. II apupil wins the prize, both he
and his teacher are held to have been
successful, though the poor child goes to
take his plaCo In the world, o bent, dys
peptic wretch, devoid Of Yivacity and
vigor, and passes his lie in hireling ser
vice to robust, victorious ignoramus.
ut Is for you, my dear editor unknown
to stand between these cooperating ambi'
tons and the tender brain and body o.
childhood, and give the children Of Ameri,
CO chance to grow. The chief business
Of childhood Is to grow says the noble
author Of three Hours SChoola Day,
d book would like to have put into the
hand Of every teacher and parent In the
country. ~ u p
"Are you reading the new translation
Of Plato, by Professor Jbwetl? Have
YOU noticed how the Greeks exilted In
physical excellence! In the very frs
dialogue, there is a passage Of singular
beauty and interest, throwing light OF
this point, The noble youth Charmides
Is introduced 10 us as one In whom excel
lence Of character was rendered glorioW
and captivating by aperfect form and
face.
"When saw him coming in,' says
Socrates, i must admit that | was quite
astonished at his beauty and statute; all
the world seem 10 be enamered Of HIM
anazement and confusion reigned when
lie entered, and a troop Of lovers followed
him.
"Another Of the company remarks,
You would think nothing Of his face Il
YOU could see his naked form; he Is abso'
lutely perfect Another testified that he
is as fair and good within rs he is with
out 81. " "
1--WE must never he content with the
public schools until there Is nothing ID
them to hinder the formation Of such
youths as those which Socrates loved
noble souls, in bodies beautiful, graceful,
and strong. We must have spacious
Fairgrounds, good system Of Bodily ex.
ercise, perfect ventilation, three hours
book a day, five hours attendance nj
school, one lesson TO be learned at home,
no headwork on Sunday for those who
have enough during the week; and sing
ing, swimming, drawing, dancing, march
ing, and light gymnastics, q part Of thI
routine ofevery school.