Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-03-07

windows third, larger play grounds
or, In the absence OF these, provisions
for gymnastic and caiisthenic exer-
cises fourth, a dinner recess OF three
hours, and a double school term daily
fifth, smaller number of scholars to
teacher in the primary and grammar
schools sixth, careful removal of ex-
crenlent, and seventh, more school
space.
But the most valuable feature of
that admirable report is its discussion
OF the morbid tendencies of the school
age, and the presentation of the scien-
tiiic principles of school discipline.
under which they may be most sue
cessfully depressed or avoided, and the
author justly insists that an Informed
and inconsider.te system, is not only
promotveof numbers OF actual disor
ders, but also injuriously affects in
subtle and manifold forms the phys
ical organism, begetting thereby men
tai and moral infirmities which are
frequently ascribed to original defects
OF character. In this cursory review,
chiefly intended to attract attention to
the importance of the subject, and the
weighty suggestions of this utterance
from the State Board of Health, we
cannot afford space for such-a digest
OF its instructions as they rightly de-
serve. 1t is enough to say that the
critical age of puberty in both sexes
and the delicate susceptibility of the
nervous system from the second den
titlon to physical maturity IN connec-
ton with school discipline and study,
receive the intelligent consideration
which the practical system of the
times so frequently utterly ignore and
neglect. In this light, the generation
of squirting, stammering, sh0rtsighted-
ness, asthma, ST. Vitus dance, etc. con
yulslve disorders of various types is
presented lis results and the subjects
OF hours OF study, stimuli to exertion,
school machiue and worry are vigor-
ously discussed. The tendency oil the
machine system to undermine the in
tegrity of the sexual organs in females
especially is forcibly dwelt on, and the
propriety of the co-education OF the
sexes after the twelfth year of age is
manfully questioned. The necessity
for ventilation, properly adjusted light,
lntermlsslons of study, and judicions
alienation OF mental and physical ex-
ertion is aptly depicted. While COM
mending the public school system,
and admitting the perfection 1t has
attained in many respects, a just doubt
is expressed whether the attempt of
this complicate machine to educate
the largest possible number of chill
dren in the shoraest possible time, and
at the lest possible expcnd ture of
money, is not constantly vlolative of
the fundamental canOns of hygiene,
an tending to an entail of physical
feebleness and nervous Instability
which in subsequent generations, will
ripen Il crop of evils to which educa-
tion-great boon though it be-is not
IL sufficient sct-oti. The positions as
summed III the report in regard to over
pes are OF the system IS fortified by
clttt.uns from recent paper by an
eminent English authority, DR.. erich
ton Browne, winch are SO striking Lhat
tn observation OF DIR. Wright should
perhaps be held as something more
than advisory, indeed, should bc
formulated into law for the imperative
rule OF school management.
We are in formed .thdt the next sub
iect i'll the order OF the forthcoming
volume will be vital states and the
need of a system OF registration, rom
the pen OF the President OF the State
Board of Health. This gives assur-
ancr that it will be ably presented, and
it is to be hoped the Public Printer
can furnish it during the session OF
the General Assembly A bill for the
registration of births, marriages and
deaths is now under consideration be-
fore committee OF that body. and tie
argument OF the paper would doubtless
remove some OF the groQnd!ess u5Jec-
tions frequently urged against such il
measure, and enforce Its prOprety,
Laws requiring such records and their
car, 1ul preservation are necessary
concomitint to the civilization we 50 !
confidently boast of in this age, ana
furnish the material by which 1t may
be advanced and perfected, and the
State Board OF Health should not re-
lax It's effort until enlightened legisla-
ton in that behalf is secured.
The perusal of the paper which has
offered the text OF this article wall
serve to enhance the work OF the State
Board of Health in public estimation,
and it Is to be hoped the present Leg
islature will hold upits hands literally,
and equip it CT continued usefulness.