The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-03-21


One of the greatest evils in our public
school system at this time, is that which |
comes from " examining" or overworking |
the minds Of young children in our
schools. We published, approvingly, some
time ago, a communication from Miss Van
Lew, our excellent townswoman, on this
subject, aud have since noticed many arti-
Giles in the public press of the country taxi
ing substantially the ground occupied by
her. 1t is impossible, in our judgment, to
| achieve the ends of wise education by
making physical weaklings of the boys and
girls in our public schools. To force
heightened and numerous lessons into their
brains at the expense of the physical exer-
else they SO much need, is manifestly an
erroneous education. Keeping young pupils
diligently at work five or six hours
day upon their lessons in the school-room,
and then requiring of them two or three
hours study at home, is imposing task
upon their mental organization which it is
manifestly incapable of bearing. You may
turn out young prodigies by it, but they will
never be anything else than young prodigies;
for forcing the minds of the young beyond
their natural growth, is as certain to stunt
them in the end as the same process is to
stunt the growth of a plant or tree when
forced into a premature and unnatural con-
dition of development. The New York
Times takes up the cudgel in favor of the
overtasked and overworked children in our
public schools as follows:
Instances are not uncommon of children suf-
fering under that malady which ought to belong
alone to that period of life when the vital powers
, sleeplessness. Extraordinary nervous disorders
are also appearing among our little one, and
evidently a foundation has been laid for worse
disorders in later life. The physique of the
whole nation is apparently injured by this ex'
) eessive brain-work in childhood. And the extra
ordinary development in the last few years of va
rious forms of merry disorder among persons OF
| m allure age, such as the powerlessness of the
. | voluntary muscles. and various kinds of brain
diseases and paralysis, are the fitting results OF
e the careessness shown generation since in the
= treatment of childhood. If we only had more
s truly scientific medical profession, our physi.
= clans would not alone confne themselves TO thu
u cure of these diseases, but would seek to trace
them to their legitimate causes in the bad habits
taught to children, or In the over-work demand
= ed OF them. GH ia lM
Il This is no doubt truthful statement Of thu
d evils attendant upon cramming," as it i
IS technically called, in our public schools
g Mr.. Chadwick, distinguished English ed
L ucationist and sanitarian, after many care
u full experiments and much observation
It urges that The time of study for children j
j. school should be lessened fully one-hall
II The Times also adds, that ''one Of the great
II est philosophers Of this day, Mr.. Darwin.
te said to have accomplished his amazing re
q suits in an average Of less than three hour
j work per day." We happen to kno'
IL that four hours a day Of continuous writin
/. upon newspaper is more Of strain tina
le one man in five can cleverly stand tn
" year in and out. Let us begin reform
Of this respect in our public schools, remem
bering the old nursery adage that a
e. work and no play makes Jack adult boy.