Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-08
Morning Session.

Morning. Session.
The second day of the conference was
with larger attendance than that of the
first day.
The session was called to order by Rev.
S. III. Campbell. After devotional exer-
cises the body was addressed by the chair
man upon the subject of the sanitary con-
dition of the state and tho objects of the
meeting.
HYGIENE IN SCHOOLS.
Hon. D. L. KeihIe, state superintendent,
read well prepared and exhaustive paper
upon "What of Hygiene, and how ought it
to be taught in the public schools?"
The speaker stated in the state of Min
nesota there were at present some 100000
pupils in the public schools, and what
should be taught is that which will impress
upon the mind of the pupil not only the
principles of hygiene as laid down in the
text books, but the necessity of becoming
a close observer of ones self, and the i'm
portance of applying the principles taught
in the text books SO as to produce the ends
desired.
sHATTUCK SCHOOL.
The next paper was read by Rev. James
Dobbin, rector of Shattuck school, in Fari-
bault, upon THE Results of Physical
Training in Shattuck school," and was lis
tened to with great attention. It was
review of the course of study followed at
cfi irti0 VIII ob 1,a &c
and he advanced the theory that not only
should the mind be subjected to thorough
training, bnt a physical training judicious-
~ carried on should be introduced, thus
developing the youth into perfect men
mentally and physically. By this system
care must be taken not to strain or over
work any part Of the physical makeup,
but it should be carried on under compe-
tent teachers who will see that every part
of the body is perfectly developed, thus
making men who in after life are compe-
tent to fill positions that they never could
hope to attain otherwise, and who will be
blessed with more perfect health than 9th
erwise would be expected.
DANGERS.
The next paper was upon "The Dangers,
Mental, Moral and Physical, Incident to
our Present School Education" byProf. L..
B. Sperry, of Carleton college, Mortified.
He said: sIt is admitted that one cannot
have sound mind in an unsound body.
The best method of training, moral and
physical, is that which from the first tends
towards the one end in view. The great
fault is in commencing the education in
the wrong place, or the attempt to develop
some one part of the human organization
to the detriment of the general develop
ment. One danger to true development is
found in the impure air in schools, and in
the too extensive mental studies which in
terfered with the physical Development of
the body by proper exercise. Then, too,
there is often found tendency to cram
the mind with more than it can care for,
thus by over exertion stunning its growth.
Morality also should receive more attep-
tion.'
PHYSICAL EDUCATION.
Prof. Jerome Allen, of the State Normal
school at st. Cloud, next read an able essay
upon the physical Education and Culture
in Schools" He believed that toe many
people in this country in the present age
are prone to cultivate mental athletics and
physical imbeciles. In former ages in
Oriental countries physical athletics were
looked upon as the perfection of manhood.
What we desire now is to combine the two
and produce the highest possible stage of
physical, mental and moral development.
SCHOOL GRADING.
S. 3. Walker, of Minneapolis, contributed
alengthy paper upon the 'sInfuence of Our
Present System of School Grading upon
the Health of our Pupils, by an Excessive
and Injurious Competition In the alb
sence of the essayist the paper was read by
Dr.. W. 81. Leonard, of Minneapolis. The
following is quotation:
1t was claimed that the present system
of education was detrimental to the best
interests of the pupils advancement, from
the necessity of devoting too many hours
each day and too close application to their
books In order to keep up with the rapid
advancement of the classes. This high
pressure system, by its close confinement,
and steady application of the mind, with
lack of physical exercise, tends towards the
production of immature men and women.
The necessary over-work in order to gain
the desired standing in the schools, and
the impure air breathed in the crowded
school-room is largely instrumental in pro-
| ducing disease, either present, or, from the
impaired state of the constitution, making
disease more readily contracted in the
future.
The balance of the forenoon session was
devoted to a spirited discussion, which was
participated in by nearly all present. The
teachers seemed to gain the floor the
oftenest and to discuss matters pertaining
exclusively to education rather than any
| thing sanitary, and after the discussion
had taken this form for a time one of the
physicians rose to point of order, stating
simply the objects of the conference, thus
ending the sslittle war of words"
afternoon Session.
The first paper read at this session was
an elaborate essay upon
"a PLEA FOR FRESH AIR AND BxRRc1sE,"
by the Rev. DR.. D. G. John, president of
Hamline university, and the following are
pertinent extractss
have somewhere read that man is an
air breathing animal-that in his lungs
there are about 6OO,OOO,OOO apartments
which have, or ought to have, uninterrupt-
II