Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-05-13
NASHVILLE TENN. THURSDAY, MAY lS, 1875.
SOCIAL SCIENCE.
Interesting Discussion on the
Hygiene of Schools.

Much Mental Eating
-VentilatIOn-Gymn Health
OmeeE in Every school.
DETROIT, May 12.-This morning the
Association divided into sections on the
variOusltOpics to be discussed. In the health
conference a paper was read by DR.. d. +.
Lincoln, of Boston, on the subject of the
injurious effect of school life on the ner-
vOus system. 1t was full of interesting in
formation. DR.. Lincoln first examined the
subject of muscular training as a branch of
education and arrived at the conclusion
that while it is most essential to the
highest type Of education, it may be over
done and become almost useless. Happi-
ness is essential to the bodily health of the
scholar. Happiness is supplemented by an
interest in their tasks and sometimes even
produced by such interest. On the other
hand OVerwork produces pain, lassitude and
a train of evils. Petty restrictions in
school burden the life of a student, make
him discOntented, less manly and
reliant. There must not be an excess in
the quantity of work. Frequent recesses
should be granted. Long, unbroken ses-
sions strain the body and mind of the
scholar. Lessons studied at home have
the single objection of being carried too
late into the night. Dr. Lincoln depre-
Gated the use of tea and coffee by children.
He gave an exhaustive statement of the
views of 4 gentleman with whom be had
cOrTesponded On The subject Of lighting,
heating and
VentIIating school Rooms.
He stated that the almost universal testi-
mOny of teachers, doctors and scientists
in this branch was that school rooms are
not properly ventilated.
The paper was then discussed by the
members. Prof Putnam, of the Normal
School at Ypsilanti, commenting
ON the statement of Dr. Lincoln
that students should not be permitted to
become anxious over their work, asked
whether any mental work could be accom-
plished without producing anxiety, and
whether the ill-temper manifested BY schOl-
ars does not generally arise from
OVer-Eating
and Indigestion rather than from school
work? The answer to this was, that inter-
est is necessary, but when it becomes so
intense as to be called anxiety, it should be
checked, for then it is injurious. There
must be some tension TO the bow, but there
is a point Of pressure beyond which some
cord will snap. To the latter question DR..
Lincoln said unhesitatingly, yes.
Rev. DR.. Goodwin, of Saginaw, had dis
covered in his own family too great anxiety
was manifested by children over their les
sons.
Jas. NJ. Barnard, of Boston, made some
remarks on the
Physical Perfection
Of scholars, which is, he said. a sinequi non
in the matter of education. He referred to |
eminent European writers on this subject, |
which has not been considered IN this |
country.
Mr.. Doty, Superintendent Of the public |
schools of DETROIT, repudiated the |
idea that schoas are poorly ven
tilaied. The homes Of most of the /
children are much less heathful than /
schOOl-roOms. The doctors charged this /
thing indiscriminately and severely, with
out sufficient investigation. We must not /
vault from particular cases to general p-in-
ciples. He remarked incidentally that he /
had never seen a reason to vary the method /
of instruction in school exercises, on ac-
count Of difference in intellect between
male and female students.
Mr.. Lincoln replied to Mr.. Doiy. main
tanning the correctness Of the Outcry Of The
doctors against the imperfect ventilation of
A paper Of Jas. J. Putnam, of Boston, on
the subject OF
Gymnastics
in public schools was then read, dis
cussing at considerable length, rs TO the
most preferable system Of exercises and the
practical objections % their immediate in
PRODUCTION into the schools. Il was a
strong argument for the introduction of
some kind Of light gymnastics into every
institution in the land. Il
was as essential as the books themselves.
lie could not sufficiently urge that more
be paid to this branch Of educa-
tiOn. Gymnastics should be graded and
keep pace with the advancement of scholars.
In the debate that followed this paper,
Alr. DOty expressed the hope that
A Health Onfeer
would before long be appointed to look
after the welfare Of the scOOOls and deter
mine questions that a physician was
fitted to decide He believed
that the experiment of the introduction of
military drill into high schools, which had
been tried successfully in Detroit, would
be equally beneficial in other schools, and
would be more conducive to the prOduc-
tiOn of soldiers than the military drill in
more advanced institutions. He would
say to inventors that the invention Of an
system Of ventilation is a ne
cessity of the age.
Gamaliel Bradford. of Boston, read pa
per on the Financial Policy Of England