, 1873-12-28

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Meanwhile, wl,at are tho ohtldrcn doing ?
Tho futnro fathers and mothers Of tho nntlon,-
unhoeilng that mind grown at tho exponso Of
body Ia q curse to tho poBsoBBor, ,-n1en who.
years ago, whom our Bchool-systom wns younger,
couldn't go to the country -sol,oolhouso for moro
tlian Sir months In tho yoar, bocauso thoir town
waH too poor or too atingy to pay for
moro scliooling i" men who, IN many
md, evidently still loss Of, physiology mud
hygiene; mon who arc menlbors Of Donrda Of
Trustees, &c., not through their natural adapta-
tion rs public educators, but through tho indnl-
Fonco Of their nstghbors; mon WHO know noxt
to nothing Of tho inner workings Of tho aohools
undor tho{r charge, ,-deliboratcly 60 to work to
,"BLAuu1i2En TIE 1NNooENTs u.
by throwing upon sle,lder Children burdens from
which thoy themselves would shrink, and
with reason. They llavo fshcd through tho
to be sandwiched IN .botwoon tho substantial
bread and butter Of tho fundamental Studies !;
they have beckonotl lovingly to political econo-
my; they have asked tho oiltiro roalm Of lttera-
Which have caused tho wiseBt philosophers to 60
nBtray bavo boon made 10 tickle tito fancy Of
youths Of 15; ,whilo tho moro infantilo NOM
bors OF tho family. who ought still to DO In tho
nursery, DRESSING dolls mud cracking whips, will
learuedly dHouaa with You tho various methods
OF milking brend, tailoring. tanning, dc. Nature
10 no longor aoalod book, aud tito child Of 8
who can't distinguish tho Blamens from tho
oalyx Of flower bida fair to become q troublo-
some idiot. Tho laws OF motion are glibly COM
montod upon by Mary at 10. while Johnnie .prac-
tically illustrates the velocity Of falling bodies
by knocking Willie. down just as he Ia demon-
atra!ing centrifugal force
! on, IT rs p1T1FULl
We often find ourselves longing for tho days
when cyolopediaa and holps OF evory kind were
too remote for everyday uso, and ono had to
,"dig for Ills gold = when boys mud girls spent
hayoe uoTed e
became hungry for further knowledge, and
devourod it with avidity wheu It. came !;
when, althongh'i It may layo boon tomboyish
to play ball, lily kites row boats, climb trees,
somebody olae'e brothers, the girls often did IT.
much to their advantage to-day when the
spelling-achool was tho substitute for tho fash
ionable party Of the present tino, and the sing
-sohool the place whera 1nany lessons not in
tho books woro conued.
Not that we undervalue Inter privileges !; but
If they aro purchased ut tho cost Of mental and
physical vigor, rs they too often aro, they are
i NOT WORTH THE PRICE We FAY.
= Already tho matter of reducing school-tinlo ia
nndor consideration but what particular nd
vantage thoro ia in ohild'H learning lesson at
homo rather than at school, We fail to SOC !; and
this must DO tho oaso, for tho labor Ia not dimin
7n 1saa IN s Sa n tane tue ehdESp m TT Themselves
/ There are various questions of reform before
the people, tho labor question claiming its
ehare; but the public nevor think Of calling the
little oneR who look to them for food md shell
tor; !aborera; and VIC urge tho necessity of
looking tho thing squarely III tho faco as n nut
tor Of vital interest to tho country. II this is
done, It Heoma more than probable that " Co.
education of tho sexes" ID q matter TINT in
time will regulate itsolf,-the principal objec-
tion, physical disability tile part Of the won1-
Ill, bong removed. VARNEY WEsr.