Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-05-13
SOCIAL SCIENCE.
Second Days Session of she American
AssOcIat1Oa-"IDj DjuriOus Effect of
GchOOI.LiGe On the Nervous
System
Frequent Recesses Urged and Petty Ee.
sIFictions Ruled Oat-A Discus.
sion Full Of Interest 10 Rdu.
Gators and Scholars.

May L. u6 SSCOLu t&y =
session OF the American social science
association opened with general meet
ing, this morning, but as the various
topics to be considered necessitated sec
tiOnal meetings, those who were to par
! ticipate in the different discussions of
the day withdrew to separate rooms.
In the health conference a paper was
read by DR.. D. +. Lincoln, of Boston,
on the subject, "The injurious effect OF
school life on the nervous SYSTEM It
was full of interesting information and
| statistics. Dr.. Lincoln first examined
| the subject OF muscular training as q
! branch of education, and arrived at
! the conclusion, that while it is most
| essential to the highest type Of educa-
| ton, it may be everdOne, and become
| almost useless. Happiness is essential
to the bodily health of the scholar, and
| happiness is supplemented by interest
in tasks, and sometimes even produced
by such interest. On the other hand,
Over-wOrk produces pain, lassitude, and
train of evils. Petty restrictions in
schools burden the life of student,
make him discuntented, less manly and
reliant. There must not be an excess
in the quantity of work. Frequent
recesses should be granted. Long uu-
broken sessions stunt the body
and mind of the scholar. Lessons
studied at home have the single objec,
ton Of being carried too late in the
night. DR.. Lincoln repented the use OF
tea and coffee by children. He gave an
exhaustive statement OF the views of
gentlemen with whom he cOrresp0nded
on the subject Of lighting, heating and
ventilating schoOlTOOms. He stated
At,,A Il =
teachers, doctors and scientists in this
branch was that schOOlrOOms are not
properly ventilated.
The paper was then discussed by the
members. The president of Puma of
the normal school of Ypsilanti, COM
menting on the statement OF DR.. Lin
coin that students should not be permit
ted to become anxious over their work,
asked whether any mental work could
be accomplished without producing
anxiety, and whether the ill-temper
manifested by scholars does not general
ly arise from Over-eating and indiges-
tiOn rather than from schOOl-WoTk?
The answer to these questions was that
interest is necessary, but that when it
becomes SO intense as to be called
anxiety it should be checked, for then it
is injurious. There must be some ten
sion to the bow, but there is a point of
pressure beyond which some cords will
snap. To the latter question DR.. Lin
oOln said, unhesitatingly, ayes. Rev,
DR.. Goodman, of Saginaw, had disoOv-
cred in his own family too great anxiety
manifested by children over their les
sons"
James NJ. Barnard, OF Boston, made
some remarks on the physical perfection
of scholars, which is, he said, sine qua
non in matters educational. He referred |
to the works of eminent European writ |
ers on this subject which has not been |
considered in this country.
Mr.. Doty, superintendent of the public |
schools of Detroit, repudiated the idea |
that schools are poorly ventilated. The |
homes of most of the children are much |
less healthful than the school-rOOm. |
The doctors charged this thing indis- |
and severely. Without sutfi- |
cient investigation, We must not vault |
from particular cases to general princi- !
piles. He remarked, incidentally, that |
he had never seen reason to vary the |
method of instruction and of school ex- !
ercises on account Of difference in intel. |
lect between male and female students. |
Dr.. Lucicaln replied to Mr.. DOty's re- |
maintaining the correctness OF |
the Outcry Of the doctors against the i'm |
perfect ventilation OF school rooms.
A paper from James J. Putnam, OF |
Boston, on the subject of gymnastics |
in public schools, was then read, and |
at considerable length. 1t |
was a strong argument for the intrOduc- |
ton of some kind OF light gymnastics |
into every educational institution in the |
land, which were as essential as the |
books themselves. He could not suffi- |
GENTLY urge that more attention should .
be paid to this branch of education. |
Gymnastics should be graded, and kept |
at pace with the advance OF the schOI- |
ars.
On the debate that followed this pa
per Mr.. DOty expressed the hope that |
q health officer would before long be ap- |
pointed to look after the welfare of the /
schools and determine the question that .
q physician was especially fitted to de- /
eide. He believed that the expert |
ment OF the introduction Of military drill !
into high schools, which had been tried |
in Detroit, would be equally |
beneficial in other high schools IN the .
United States, and would be more con- /
1ucive To the production of soldiers than .
the military drill in more advanced in /
stitutiOns. He would say to inventors .
that the invention Of an automatic !
system of ventilation is q necessity of .
the age.
The State Homeopathic Medical soci- .
ETY. met at Columbus, Ohio, yesterday, /
about forty delegates being in attend /
ance. Papers were read on constipation, |
the use OF narcotics, diet, chronic infla- /.
nation Of the middle inner ear, abscess !
Of the inner ear, and inflammation Of the |
lid Of the eye.
A London dispatch announces the !
desth Of Rev. John King, who was
noted for his love Of the sports of the /.
turf, and under the assumed name of |
4 l. l. IL