News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-04-17
The "cranning" System.

The official record of the death of Il
young girl in Brighton. Mass. filed it
the Registrars office, gives as the cause
of death, "Primary-due to the Boston
school system of 'cramming' too much
study and brain work, duration six
months: econdary-congestlo OF the
| brain. resulting in coma, duration: thlr-
teen days" These words are an epltome
of truth as involved in the spirit winch
predominates in the pubic scno0l system
of the day. The story they tel Is a SAD
one, and, though enclosed IN DrlstlIhg
sarcasm, it is just as 1t IS severe: Inc
purpose, but. through an unwise appiica-
ton of forms and regulations. it becomes
evil in effect. Yet the banefnl results are
not wholly chargeable to the system;
parents are often more at 1aulC IMAM
teachers, and both err by too much re-
spect for popular ideas. The true end
sought for through the instrumentality
of the school. Is lost sight of in the strug-
gle to attain what is properly called an
education.
We would not circumscribe by the
smallest fraction of a diameter the extent
o. proper knowledge that each indIvld-
ual youth might reasonably gain from
the public school. Academy or college.
Our earnest hope would be that the pupil
should acquire to the utmost limit in
quantity and quality. permitted by en-
vironing circumstances. But we must
recognize the great physical fact, that all
youth are not cast in the same mould.
In the public school of to-day, especially
the advanced grades, we do not recognize
this, but on the other hand totally dis
regard it. A particular term requires
such end such work, graduated into set
prescriptions, which each pupil must
take. 70 one the appointed task is
heavy burden. exciting the nervous sys-
tenn and exhausting the natural forces
to accomplish it. To another the mastery
of the task requires but the exercise of
a reasonable aud proper iudnstry, while
a third, richer in mental and physical
strength than the others. masters the
without an effort.
If we. were to divide into certain
of equal parts a given quantity
of quicksilver, and attempt to deliver it
in a miscellaneous assortment of vessels.
what failure we should meet. Tin cans, |
glass mugs. earthern jars, pewter pots,
decorated china would serve we'll enough
for the purposes for which they were in
tended, but nothing else but the rugged |
iron flask would safely hold any con-
siderable quantity of quicksilver. But
to accomplish the popular idea of the |
public school, and graduate youth with |
the quickest possible dispatch and within
a prescribed period, we attempt TO force
the same weight of abstract knowledge |
into all sorts of receptacles. One brings |
to the ordeal an active brain. but a sensi- !
tive organism and frail body, while an
other comes with nerves of steel and ro-
bust health, and both are laden with the !
-ns h,rr A To- .pl
spurs, and each of these two pupils turn
bravely toward the goal. The weaker
one may reach the end, but health and |
happiness for a life time are the price of
success.
Borne up to the last with determine |
ton, and encouraged by popular favor,
many, alas! too many, fall by the way |
All over the land. wherever the dollhouse |
system thriyes. the yiolets OF spring and |
the SHOWS of winter cover the graves of
these victims. Every considerable COM !
nunity, our ownswith the rest, holds |
the living, who mourn these untimely |
sacrifices to the system of "cramming,"
and the end is not yet. Oh! that
parents could remember that be-
You'd the conventionalities of life they
owe most sacred duties to their off
spring-duties that are not written
in the fashion of the times, but are parts
Of those great moral obligations to which
are bound. We must educate
our children to the fullest extent that the
conditions of individual life will permit,
but i'll the fulfillment of that duty we
ought never to forget the practical end to
be attained; and that beyond the school
lies Il life to be lived out with something
Of happiness, and to the glory of God and
The betterment of Observation-Disclosures
Union.