, 1881-07-01
GROWTH AND EDUCATION.

A recent conversation with a parent
has convinced me of the Importance OF
calling attention to very curious phe-
nomenon in the relation of growth and
education.
For some years had occasionally no.
ticed passing fits of stupidity in some
of my best boys, for which I could not
in any way account until ''it was borne
in upon me" that these boys were all at
that time growing rapidly, and that this
mental condition was in some way de-
pendent upon their growth. Being thus
induced to observe more closely l be-
came convinced that this very absorbing
business of growth was really the cause
of the stupidity that had excited our as
tonishment and that due allowance must
be made for it.
One of the most striking instances of
this was in the case of Alfred R., whom [
have already had occasion to quote as
having shown in one instance extraordi-
nary maturity of Judgment for an imma
ture mind. Mr.. c., one of my teachers,
came to me one morning to say that Al,
who was one of our best boys, was an
swering in such foolish way that some
thing ought to done with him. Leaving
my class I went to his and found Al.
standing at the blackboard. / said;
al. what is the matter?"
al don't know, sir"
Requesting Mr.. G. to ask again one of
his questions / listened in amazement to
the foolish answer. Asking two more
questions and getting answers of the
same sort, said: MIR. c., you will be
so kind as to ask Al. the regular .ques-
tions, but excuse him as long as he an
a. a =
SO rapidly that his brain doesn't work.
He will probably get over this in TWO or
three days"
And so it was so. He soon answered
as usual and went ON without break.
In other such cases noticed headaches
and general listlessness, which, how
ever, soon passed away, and the results
of which in boys of good character could
be readily excused.
There was, however, another phase OF
this phenomenon which it took me a
much longer time to understand and APP
preciAte.
Quite a number of years ago had in
my school boy named Alfred Y. For
some time after entering the school he
did very well in his studies, although he
was always full of fun. Gradually. how
ever, he became more and more lazy,
and all my exhortations had no effect
upon him. This went ON for about a
year. When he came back the next fall
TO begin his studies, said TO him:
Al. il you are not going to work
more than last year, IL seems hardly
worth while to begin"
''Well, sir. L think shall do better. "
Very we'll; you can try"
he did try, and succeeded perfectly
giving no trouble, and doing ali his
work in very satisfactory manner.
The next case, some years after, was
that Of Harry T., very good fellow,
who shot mp and spread out in n Won
tlarfui way. but Who got so intolerably
lazy that nothing would move him. All
the Efforts OF his iatheF At home and my
selfat scho0l foF whole year produced
90 little effect that the next fall / said
o. him also that it wns not worth while
togo on unless he could do better. He
aaid ls couid. and he did. In that next
year he fid much more than he had done
IN the tgo preceding years. When he left
school aud went down town he displayed
the sane energy. and has continued to
show it ever since.
The next cass. that Of Harry ", wa
stiil mors striking. Not being able
g. ih1uee him - work ~ school. his
father ana myseif agreed that il vas bet,
tsr D. remove him. His father trlcd tC
inssresf hin IN business. but without
-sccess. Thsrs vss nothing vicious OF
di-aEreealls ahout him. but = terrible
antsunt 6f iaestiA. lie did not wish d
do EsytlifnR az all Tie vas utterly in
dispsse4 - aay exertion Of mind oi
t-uly fis father seat him ~ n sort OF
saFsroaFEn arouaa Caps Horn To Sau
Ffznelsao. Esen this Aid not cure HIM
Vixen hs returaesi he vas Just as indif
tsrsat anst slngEizh a. before. A few
EsoHtha. afieF be retnrncd, suddenly ons
mafniEG. ha vent d0Wn town. found d
Fslers ss cirFk I'M . house of good stand
sha. shsi hss l-sen there hard AZ work
ever sincs. EettinF dowu o. his work in
shs HssFnihs by eight o'clock. working
steadily Hntil 9 r. A., and blows up
say eas 81 his yoahg friends that he
mertz Eao haz ugt yot settled down To
sszsaa smFsuymsnt.
liersniiy Mr. T. the very able literary
slttaF Gf one % eur foremost Journals,
slAie.t illat. when a gro5ing boy, he
f-s4sa8 ffoni thn grammar school to the
high schpol, making particularly good
skEninAtIen- So0E AiterWanl in the
hssA schooi be broke down utterly in
hia a1u.liss. He sas not able 10 answer
in say rcasnasbls way the questions
asked HIN. Sn nneh vas his teacher
eEssperasci ai tbs Niupidlity that hs
threstsAsA D. thrash him. Young r.
4aIl - him.
well, ser, I'm not st TO be here. Tue
b.esi shing c4n do Il b. so back 10 the
ersmmaF srhuoi.
He ala 40. and had good easy time
fhsra for aboai thres months, being sc
faniliaf with shat vas there required
thst htsis 90 20 mental exertion was
nscssaaFy. As The end Of that time be