The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1874-02-19
VOL LUNIE XIII

seribel stadis. la tbe Junior department.
To this The mother objected, oa tho
ground that lbe gigl had already a. many
Studies As the state st hcr health would
permit her to pcrsuo with safety. The
direction, Of the school thoreupoa ordered
the chlds expulsion, aud the teachen
with soma exercise Of force, sgcc,ed hcr
from The building Subsequently the
father sought to have bcr rc-admit,rd.
bat toe trustees refused compliance, uu,
less she undertook the prescribed stud,
Upon this Sac father appealed 10 tha
court, aud AFTER some delay, thc jury,
uHdcr The direction OF the Judge, found a
verdict for the plaintiff, and awarded
$50 damages Tor trespass on the part ct
lha teacher.
Ia BIS instructions 90 the jury, lbc
Judge took the common-sense view TINT
while public schoul directors may prc.
scribe course Of study. aud make al
ngce-saryiregulgliou. for tie government
nfsebolars parents and eumdians, 81.
natural Custodiaus. SIZE ut bbrN 20 make
choice of whatever studlps of thu pre-.
scribed course they prefer their children
or wards TO pursue. II was luimatcd,
however, that no child had a right Do rc-
jecl any study from mere caprice or per
vcr>tty
Win this restriction, we think the de-
ejsioH will commend itself 10 the Judge
ment Of every intelligent parcut. The
tendency IN our day Is to force children
10 attempt the mastery Of far too luauy
studies. They are required to undertake
80 much, that with the utmost diligence
they eau do nothing well, while The effort
to accomplish all has cost many prom
/ lsing scholar health, il not life itself
Thus, with the best intentions Ia the
world, our schools are often made, thro'
| the mistaken zeal of their officers, nurser-
les Of pretentious ignorance aud ill.healDh
rather than-as they ought 10 he--of roe
bust physical and intellectual devclope-
meut, In arranging systems of study,
teachers aud sChool-boards should be
guided, not by the ability OF an utelli.
gent scholar to achieve given task in
given time, but by that Of the average
scholar to work day by day, without
mental or physical oyer-straining, Asa
rule, American children need restriction
rather than stimulation In mental activity
aud more encouragement in the educa-
ton of the physical powers. Especially
is this true iu the case Of girls, who are
apt TO grow up slender, delicate, morbid.
| ly intellectual creatures, furnished with
smattering of many 'ologies,' but thoro'-
Iy untitled for the practical duties OF ma.
teruity and everyday life. The tendency
Of school authorities is almost inevitably
towards the promotion Of this unhealthy
system Of mental forcing But the de-
cision of the Illinois Court points out
! how, and by whom, proper cnnnter-
check may be applied. Its effect Is, as
before intimated, not TO give parent or
pupil liberty to interfere arbitrarily or
eapriclously with the routine Of study In
tho public schools, but to insure
the right Of parents to guard against in
| jury to their children by the exactiou Of
more mental labor than their strength
will Justify.
The wisdom and necessity of this de-
cision are too obvious to call for extend
ed comment. This, however, may be
said in conclusion, that such rule de-
wolves upon parents duty commensu-
rate with the right affirmed. lit Is their
privilege to prevent the oyertaying Of
their children's minds aud bodies, il is
, plainly their duty to see that it is not
done. The proper exercise Of prerogatiyc
would, we are quite sure, result ia the
curtaimcnt OF many fine list Of studies
in the higher grades Of our public schools.
And possibly the extension Of tho same
needtu vigilance TO private Institutions
might not be unproductiye Of beneficial
results