The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-03-14
THE SCHOOLS.
Some Practical Points Made.

To the Editor Of the Press:
1t has been interesting and at times instruc-
tive to read the articles in reference to our
schools which have appeared in the PRESS from
time to time. Some of these evidently have
been written by persons who have but little
practical knowledge upon the subject. They
have been mere effusions-an airing of vague
ideas. The writer has refrsined from entering
the arena as a contributor, for the reason first,
that he has felt that the subject was SO vast
and comprehensive, that it should be treated
by those who have had the greatest practical
experience in school matters, and secondly, he
is not in the habit of writing for the press
But, Mr.. Editor, if you will allow me space. l
will dilate little upon recent article which
appeared in your columns in reference to the
position in writing and the materials for the
same, since, as I shall show 1 have had practi-
cal experience in these matters for over seven
years. The newness given to the oblique posi-
ton of the body and copy book to the desk in
writing would seem to indicate that it was the
results of recent observations and discussions.
This will appear little curious to those who
have had practical experience in teaching PEN
manship, since by this test it will be found in
most cases that this position will be the best
one, whatever position may have been adopted
at first. I was taught this position more than
twenty years ago by the now Honorable John
p Swasey of Canton, and for seven years as a
teacher in Oxford, Androscoggin and Cumber-
land counties,i in public and private schools, and
as teacher of penmaDship in Hebron Academy,
Westbrook and Gorham Seminaries I taught
this position of the body and copy-book in
writing. AS principal of the City Reform
School for Boys of Boston, not only taught
this position in my own department but 1 in
| sisted upon its being carried out by the teach.
ers in the several departments under my
charge. By the request of the Supervisor of
| the Schools of this county, when that officer
was in existence, / gave lectures at teachers
| meetings in which insisted that not only the
| oblique position of the body and copy book to
| the desk in writing was the best one, in most
cases. but that light surface with dark ma
| terials was better than dark surface with
| light materials to use in writing, and advised
| that teachers buy blank book paper and lead
pencils to use instead of using states and slate
pencils, since the paper and pencil would not
only assist the pupil to learn to write with the
much more agreeable, especially to those who
had weak eyes. AS pupil of Mr.. Shaylor's
in the excellent Portland Business College
conducted by Mr.. Gray, and knowledge of
| the fact that he was pupil OF Platt Il. Spen-
Ger, the originator of the now beautiful system
| of penmanship, distinctly American, and my
acquaintance with other distinguished teachers
of penmanship, l am prepared to state that
Mr.. Shaylor stands without superior in the
department to which he is specially devoted,
l aud 10 4n tn Innx - J.
My observations while abroad, especially as
member of The Seventh International Medical
Congress held in London, the largest gathering
| of medical men ever known, men from all
parts of the civilized world, leads me to think
| that tie Americans, IL not far superior, are at
least abreast with any other nation in practical
matters, SO that it is not very essentia; to know
what they are saying elsewhere upon these SUBJ
| jects since the conditions are somewhat differ
ent from ours. There has been considerable
written of late in regard to the effects of faulty
positions of the body at school upon the spinal
column, and it is urged that the body is not in
frequently kept in an incorrect position for a
long time and thus disease OF the spine is in.
, duced. 1t is true that in some schools the
desks are i'll adapted to the child and improve
ments can and will probably be made, bnt the
teacher of experience knows well how. hard il
is TO keep pupil in any position very long al
, time, even long enough in many cases for the
committee to inspect shem. So that although
it is not denied that disease of the spine is no
infreqnen9y induced by faulty position O.
the body, it must be admitted that the disease
is often the result constitutional condition
which might have developed into spinal af
lection or some other disease, under other ant
different conditions. Our school commtte,
| have been assaled in various ways. 1t is no
proposed to defend them for they are capabl,
of doing that themselves. They have a deli
cate and difficult task 10 perform and probabl,
have done what they thought best, withou
| money or price and therefore it seems hard I,
; censure them. There is only on,
4 thing more that will be consideret
' and that is the Leigh type, which
I is used in he primary departments Thi
type, to state it mildly, is doing good deal o
injury to the eyes of The children and teachers
q who use it. Two years ago, procured two 0
these books and put them in the hands o
parties who knew nothing about the type an,
asked them to read the articles to the children
. Upon asking them sometime after how the.
liked the books the first remark was that tn,
= print made their eyes ache in reading it al
though in ordinary reading they never ha'
any trouble Several teachers have consulte'
me in regard to their eyes, in whom the diff
Guilty was induced by the use OF this type
L They are required to print this type Oh blacl
a boards daily, distinct enough to be seen at
distance, aud these black boards are often be
tween two windows The color of the blacl
l. board has tendency to cause the pupil of tn
4 eye to oilate, while the lateral rays of brigh
light from the windows together with CONVEX
gence and accommodation of the eye, tend t
contract the pupil, thus two antagonistic con