National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-10-07

TIE exact average number of hours which
can prOftably and BEAUTIFULLY be devoted to
study by children at school is Just now at
tracing more than ordinary attention and dis
cussiOn. Parents are naturally anxious that
their little ones should advance rapidly in their
studies, and they also take pardonable pride in
their proficiency. But they should also reflect
that overWOrk or forced growth is as bad for
the physical brain as for vegetation. Exotics
are proverbiaIly shOrt-liyed. As babes require
milk for physical nOurishment, on account of
the delicate tenderness of their digestive or
CARNATIONS, so also do the young minds require
scholastic teaching within their comprehension
and hours adapted to their physiological ca
pacity. Upon this subject the Philadelphia
NORTH AIaeTiodH justly says, that 'the child is
to be led from point 10 point, halting long
enough to take all the bearings and fix certain
impressions upon the tablets Of memory. As
regards the term of daily study, experienced
teachers are best qualified, perhaps, TO decide.
Every ObserVant teacher knows, none better,
that the moment falling OFF in interest is OBJ
servable all progress ceases. The child may
sit out the session, but it will not have adj
vanccd step from the moment it became un-
ahlt " IN It's dblGul4Dh uIlOu IuG buhllGS5 OF
the school. Just as yawn in the midst of
sermon shows that no amount of preaching
can profit the yawner on that occasion, rest
Iessness in a child at school practically closes
its receptive faculties for the time"
As it is not usual to urge the child to eat
more when by trifling with the contents of its
plate it denotes the satisfaction of its appetite
or to keep it awake when its dropping eyelids
show that it is overcome with sleep, or to lull
its faculties to repose when it awakens in the
freshness of the morning fully invigorated
BY sleep, neither should we enforce study be-
yond the healthfuI capacity of the mind as in
dictated by nature. The same Journal con-
tinues: ''Not five men in thousand can give six
hours to mental accumulation each day for
any considerable period of time, and retain
health. Yet in full view Of this fact we Or
dain six hours per diem of study for growing
children. Happy, indeed, may We hold our
selves if our children do not bring their work
home with them in addition. We doubt If
even four hours is not something too much,
for an immense deal of useless lumber may be
gathered up by a smart boy or girl in four
hours. II the practical educators of the
world were TO settle the hours of study we
suspect more would declare for one session of
three hours than for either more or fewer. 1t
is not difficult 20 fix the attention of children
for three hours. For the true teacher takes
counsel of nature, and introduces variety not
known TO the rubrics Of education.
Perhaps the session might begin at ten and
close at one. But human nature follows the
sun. Sleep is most refreshing before mid
night, for it gives lifes daily fever its natural
course So healthy spirits rise until the sun
reaches meridian, and subside tnencefoTward
until midnight. This, of course, relates to
natural living, to which all law should con-
form.r