Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-08-14
Physical Culture.

Our public schools are now in the
midst of their long summer vacation.
The weary teachers are recuperating
their lost energies in fields and amid the
quiet grandeur Of the woods and noun
tains, while the merry voices of the chill
dren are heard in gleeful sport in the
streets and about the pleasant homes,
made joyous by their presence.
The school system of our State has al
ready engrossed much time of many of
our best citizens, and has been manifest
ly improved in its methods of imparting
instruction as well as in its influence upon
the health and physical development of
its pupils. The practice of sitting over
a school-desk, for three hours at time,
especially when the hours of recreation
at home are occupied in studying long
lessons, cannot always have beneficial
effect upon the proper training and
healthy growth of the physical structure
of the scholar. We often see children
of strong constitutions gradually, but
perceptibly, waste away and lose their
elasticity under the confinement and
mental labor of long term of school,
where they are placed under the high
pressure of this fast intellectual age.
We favor the long vacation, and we
would have them frequent, too, so long
as the present system of crowding the
mind and memory in school hours, and
during the school session., is to be adhered
to. We believe that children are placed
at school too young, and are kept there
too constantly, while their physique be-
ing developed, and their young minds
are first beginning the exercise of judg-
ment and reason. We are led to think,
from our observation of schools, that for
child under twelve years old, all
over three hours per day, upon an aver
age, scholars are kept in school, is
absolutely hurtful to them, not only in
destroying their animation, but also in
injuring health, and bringing on listless
want of attention, entirely incompatible
with the reception of new IDEAS We
hope to live to see the schools in this
country conducted in such manner that
the rising generation will have a child
hood. That the development and train
ing of the body, will keep pace with that
of the mind, when no neuralgia will be
a product of the school room, and the
mental culture there obtained can be
made available in future years in promot-
ing the happiness and pleasure of life, as
well as contributing to business success,
and general usefulness.
We cannot close this article without
saying one word in commendation of a
scheme to be organized in this town
about the first of next month. One Of
the most successful teachers of the State
will take charge Of a class of boys, and
instruct them in the course of study, that
he considers most beneficial to prepare
them for business or to pursue a higher
course of study, in the higher schools or
universities of the country. Physical
training will be blended with mental cul-
ture. The boys of this class win be
dressed in uniform, and habits of the
most scrupulous neatness formed. The
physical cultivation win include thor
ough drill in military tactics and the
gymnasium, as well as in the manly
sports and athletic exercises, which de-
velop and strengthen the physical man
and establish robust health,
This enterprise will not in any way
act in opposition to the public school
system of the town, but will be in the
utmost harmony with it, and from this