The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-12-14


Itthere was time when the recess in
the Wheeling Public Schools was necessary
or useful, that time is past. The writer
claims, and he will try to show, that the
recess is not only not useful, but positively
INJURIOUS 10 the schools. The understood
object Of the recess is to give the pupils a
proper amount Of exercise, and thus avoid
too close confinement. Is the recess neces.
sary TO attain this? Let US see.
All the smallest children in Division D.
from four to six rooms in each school-are
dismissed to go home ut the same
time the other part Of the
school ia dismissed for recess
Hence the smallest children do not need
the recess for they get no benefit Of it.
The next division above "D," division
&C." forming two or three rooms in each
school, 90 home in one.hAif hour after
recess. Children CT this division do not
need the recess, because they go home go
soon after recess. II the pupils OF the
other departments do not exercise during
the half dsy sessions, it can be taken in
different way, Of which way We shall pres
emily speak.
Asto the injuries resulting from the recess
as 1t is: First, it interrupts the school.
In many roo 1s at least twenty minutes are
censumsd from the time the preparation
for recess begins until the pupils are set
tied at work again. And, unless the leach
er has very good control Of her room, q
much longer time passes before good order
IL secured. In this way, time which might
have been devoted 10 instruction with
good order in the room, is as good as lost
10 attempts 10 secure order and instruct at
the same time.
Second-Nearly all the quarrels, fights,
broken arms and broken legs, plots Tor
mischief in the school room, arc results Of
the recess Then, too, there must bo rules
10 govern the pupils on the playground.
Almost every recess brings violations Of
some rule. These violations call for some
kind Of punishment. Thus great deal Of
the principals time is retdlessly taken up
in doing police work. Further, the pupils
who have tTausgreksed and been punished
are in col dition 10 make Thugs unpleas.
ant in the room during the remainder Of
the session. School property is injured
and destroyed while papils arc on the
playground more than at ny other time.
Ihird-Bad language and bad habits are
learned by pupils who otherwise would
not learn them. 1t ia IL fact, as those whose
positions enable them to observe
can testify, THAT the VOLS! boy,
the one who swears the most, lies the eabi.
eat, disobeys his teacher without concern,
will always have other boys who, away
from him, are comparatively good, IS his
followers; and soon they adopt his waya,
and themselves are looked upon by others
as quite heroes. The bad boys are leaders
in all mischief. Many boys do things that
are wrong simply because they arc led,
urged or threatened by these leader in
wrOng-doing Innocent boys ami the
smaller ONES are tynun'z.d over TO an ex-
tent that Is cruel. Some pupils dread 10
90 on the play ground on account OF the
treatment they receive.
All these things would, in great meas.
ure, be avoided, II the pupils were not
turned into the playground as they now
are.
Fourth-By The recess, and the gathering
tf the pupils in the yards at morning and
noon, the schools are rendered obnxi0us to
persons living near. Think OF il! Where
on earth do you find such yelling scream
ing, rabble, as you find in the school.yards
at morning, noon and recess? Think
again! Is this condition Of things neces-
sary? Is 1t useful? Is it necessary to send
for Eve hundred children Of various ages,
and Of all degrees Of character, into small
yard to play?
Parents, is /! beneficial to thus mix your
children? Is it uaeful for them to quarrel,
tear their clothes, iDjure school property,
fight occasionally, and by their noise
make the school a nuisance 10 tho imms-
date houses? Is it useful for the teachers
10 spend their time counteraCting the dis.
order originating on the playground?
Mothers start their children from home
neat and clean, but many Of them are any
thing but clean after a ha,f.hour's exper-
fence on the playground. Do you ask,
would we prohibit the gathering Of the
pupils on the school grounds
before school as they do now?" Ies; a
thousand times yes Nothing better could
oe done for the Wheeling schools than to
prevent the gathering so long before the
lime 10 60 into the building. 1t is not
necessary. 1t is actually hurttul. II there
were such condition Of things connected
with any other institution in the city the
whole police forcs would be called to stop
the noise and restore order. Why tolerate
it in connection with the public school?
It is false idea that it must be 80. 1t can
easily be remedied.
AS to exercise for the higher divisions :
II necessary 10 Lave any special exercise
I'VE doubt whether II ie), it can be taken
udiciously, effectively and harmlessly in
The rooms. Then away with the present
form OF recess; let tho pupils 60 10 school
at the right time and enter tho house i'm.
mediately; let them play at home, where
they can enjoy their play and ipjure no
one or no thing, and the public schools OF
Wheeling will lake on dignity they have
never possessed.
Think Of these things. OBSERVER.
| VhCeliHg, December -