The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1886-08-25
oyERwoRk IN SCHOOLS.
Evidence in Relation to tho on.II0:
poatea CompIalnt-The Trouble.

evidences In Relation to tho Oft-Ro.
pORted COmplAlut-Ths Trouble.
The president of an eastern college
has been collecting evidence in relation
to the justice OF the oft-repeated com.
plant that pupils in public schools are
generally overworked. He addressed
circulars to l5O teachers and physicians
Of observation and experience, asking
for their opinion on this subject. Only
five suggested that the work ordinarily
required Of pupils in schools was exces.
siye or beyond their ability to perform
without impniring their health. A very
considerable number, however, reported
that in their opinion very many Of the
! pupils in the public schools were injured
by the branches they pursued out Of
school. by injudicious home training,
and by what are termed "the require.
lnents Of modern society,"
Girls-Ond the complaints about over.
work in school chiefly come from girls
and their mothers-wIlo take three music
lessons a week and who practice on the
piano two hours each day are very likely
to break down. If they take dancing
lessons on Saturday, go TO parties ono
evening each week, receive callers on
stated occasions, and devote considera.
bic attention to society matters, they
genefally Lose their ylvacity and health.
Their brothers, however OF about the
same age, who do not take musidleSons,
who do not drum on the piano, who do
not entertain company in the parlor, but
who prepare the wood for tho kitchen
fire, bring in the coal, play ball, and en-.
gage in sports likely to prove somewhat
detrimental to good clothes, COME out all
right. These observing persons remark
that boys remain boys at an age when
their sisters have an ambition to be con.
sidered young ladies'. Asa consequence,
the former are generally healthy and
strong, while the latter ure siokly aud
feeble.
Tie complaints about Ov0rwork in
schools, or -overpressure, as the Eng
lish term 1t, are chiefly heard in cities
and large towns. Complaints in regard
to this matter never come from the
country. Still it is niatter Of common
obscrvutiOnt hat theadvancementismuch
rapid in country than in city schools, more
which shows that the pupils do moro
work. The country girl who prepares
breakfast for the family, walks two miles
to the schoOl.house, masters all the les.
sons assigned by her teacher, walks home
at night, and gets supper before she com.
mences her studies for the evening, does
not lose the roses on her cheeks or the
strength Of her limbs before she has
donned long dresses. II she happens to
move to the city, tho chances are that
she will find herself in advance Of the
girls Of her own age in the school she
enters.
The complaints about over work in
schools in cities como from wealthy and
fashionable families. They are most
frequently heard in relation to schools
that draw their patronage from the
avenues. The German. scandinavian,
and "country.raised" girls, whose parents
work for living, and who are Obliged
to work themselves, make no complainu
about overwork in schools, and Their
mothers arr not Obliged to consult high.
priced doctors in relation to getting them
excused from certain studies. They
carry of most Of the llonors and leave
school rosy, healthy, and strong. In ad.
dition to mastering all tho branches their
more fortunate sisters have &C.
qrtirod a they have acquired Ian.
guage new to them which they here.
after adopt as their mother tongue.
There is very little ground for the com.
plants about overwork in schools. The
ovcrpressure is produced by music.
teachers, dRncing.masters, aud doting
nammas who desire to have their
daughters prepared for Society.-ChicagO
Times.