The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-10-11
sTAUNToN, VIRGINIA. OCTOBER Il, 1877.
Juvenile Training.


many leading newspapers have been devoted
to most humane and philanthropic object
the prime purpose of which is the protection
Of the Juvenile world from the inhuman anl
malignant exactions of the school master:
and mistresses. The fell apprehension has
suddenly seized the editorial mind, that the
youth of the country are victims to excessive
study, and that a tendency is being engraf.
ted on their plant natures which will result
in development of the intellectual organ.
ism dsproportionate to the physical, and as
a natural result we will soon be overrun with
a race of phenominally gigantic minds en-
cased in Lilliputian bodies. Now this can
not but be painfully affective to any sensi-
tive mind. The spectacle Of the American
small boy bending over and drinking in
with ravenous haste the occult lore of the
books, and revealing wildly in mathematical
calculations, while his cheeks grow feverisli
and his eyes shine with supernatural brill
lance and his ffail body dwindles and ema :
ciates, is trhly vision to becloutl che phi
lanthropic soul. His Inherent proneness to
prolonged study and his native indifference
to pastime of any description, render the
course pursued in our common schools as
we'll as academies and colleges, one of utter
and appalling destructivehess. It is high
time that some checks and restraints should
be imposed upon this wholesale sacrifice Of
our children to the names Of a false and IRA
tional pride, and society for the preven-
ton of cruelty to these gentle domesticated
animals be established 1t would be well as
countcracting Influence to the drain of in
cessant mental application, to establish in
each school a Juvenile museum under the
supervision of a genial and kindly man. Let
there be collected in this department a va
riegated assortment of tops, whirly- gigs,
merry grounds, and all those pleasing and
captivating devices which were won't to in
terest and divert the traditional small boy,
and let their origin, history, and application
be explained to him in our vernacular, and
in sprightly and enlivening manner. Cor
emblazoned band wagon and train of out
riders, zebras and ponies in lurid perspec-
tive might with propriety adorn the walls,
and some interest might be awakened in the
youthful spectators by even an exaggerated
and slightly colored description of its Won
derful exhibitions within the tent. Fire
crackers, which, very old people tell us,
were once the delight Of the small boy, are
not adapted to the boy Of to-day. The Pc
culiar hierogylphics on the package would
at once arouse a spirit OF archaeological in
quiry in his young breast and drive him in
desperate haste to the files of the New York |
Herald to review the veracious accounts of
examinations at Herculaneum and Pompeii,
and thereby open channel OF most debili-
tating and prolonged investigation. Migra-
tory committees should also be appointed to
visit the different school buildings, both city
and rural, and see that the youthful deyo-
tees to science and letters be compelled to
leave their books at the sound of the bells |
for recess and at the close of school hours. |
On occasions of military or civic professions,
where compatible, the pageantry should be
required to march by the various schools |
and the bands should perform .fortissimo,
the most sprightly and hilarious airs. In
event of these resources failing to divert our
absorbed and perishing young votaries, the |
fire department might be turned out month
ly and the hose reels located in front of the
different schools. The officers might then |
announce through the windows, that the noz-
zles were to be held by the worst scholars
in school for protracted length Of time.
These and other means are to be gravely |
considered and acted upon, for the concur
rent voices of too many newspaper sages |
tell us that the American youth, under our
pernicious systems, is rapidly becoming a
prey to the fervent and consuming desire of
Let us leave no resource I'M
tried to wean them from this witchery, and
see grow up in the place of sad-eyed and
wearicd Swans, race of stalwart and
brawny men fitted not only in mind, but in
their robust bodies for carving out the great |
destiny of this northwestern continent. i