Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-22
TOO MUCH LEARNING,
Parents of Many Children Complain
of the Present Methods of
Education.
SAY THEY ARE CROWDED TOO FAST.
Juveniles of Rather Tender Age Wrestling
With Physiology, as a Matter
of CompulsiOn.
SAYTHEY ARE CROWDED TOO FAST.
SOME PUPILS ORDERED OUT OF SCHOOL.
What Ee-Kruwn Physicians of the City Fave to Say Or
the subjsct

OF tuuNOblOu lOllO"SO III bGS P0pAAS sNAOSAS
OF the city.
Scores of parents assert that their chill
dren Of tender age are SO burdened down
with studies, some OF them beyond their
wears, that they are unequal to the constant
mental strain.
One thing that causes more dissatisfaction
than ali others is the compulsory study of
physiology and hygiene by children from
10 y years Of age. A great many people
are also to be found who declare that the
younger scholars are generally overbur-
dened, the chief aim being to hurry them
through as rapidly as possible.
DR.. a. j. Davis, of East Liberty, who
has given this subject considerable thought,
said Yesterday: This question is one
that certainly needs some consideration.
During the present winter l have ordered
four pupils out of the public schools in
this part of the city for the reason
that they could not stand the tasks i'm
po7ed on them. They were breaking down
undes the strain.
Rushed TO Prepare for High School
zone of them was a child l. years of age
being fitted for the High School. Her
parents said that if she continued at school
she would be fitted for the advancement
next year. told them she had better wait
two. or even three years, than to go on at
the cost Of her physical health.
"The trouble is, they take up more studies
than they are equal to, and are rushed
through at break-ueck speed. 1 will not
saw this is true of all pupils but it is too
often the case. am more or less familiar
with the Lincoln, Highland and Liberty
schools in this part OF the city. and 1 hear
complaints from parents daily. So far as
the High School is concerned, nv opinion
is that 1t is the worst of the lot for incom-
Pleteness. So far as the study of physiology
bv mere hildren is concerned 1 regard that
as wor;. than waste oftime. The standards
Of education are doubtless excellent, but the
meth,.i of teaching are wrong in my esti-
nation
Testimony of One of the Parents.
: gentleman who has a 10-vear-old
daughter tending the Lincoln school ex-
pressed himself very freely as did other
parents in that part of the city, but the use
of names was declined. as it might be to the
disadvantage Of their children at school. The
gentleman in question said:
My daughter mas as studies geography,
physiology drawing, mental arithmetic gram
mar and spelling She has from five to ten
problems in arithmetic which she must remem-
ber, and be able TO analyze each day. Just
before school closes for the day the teacher
anaiyzes example on ;he blackboard, and
this form must be followed. Now here
example, and about an average: An army of
I1,UG0 men met one of 5000 men in battle. The
first army lost 5000 men, and the other LOCO.
How much excess has the former now over the
latter? If 1000 men now desert from the
former Ia the latter, how does it leave the
armies% Now, this is not difficult problem.
but take the whole lesson in connection with
other studies and together they become a
burden.
Teaching Physiology to Infants.
'Afy chief objection, however is to the study
OF physiology. Here are some sample ques-
tions: How do We breathe?' Here is the an
swer: When we breathe the diaphragm moves
down and the sides of the chest move out and
the air rushes in to fill up the space Then the
diaphragm moves up, the sides close In and the
air Is forced ont
"Q-pescribe the trachea' A-'The trachea
or wIndpipe, is 4 tube four or five inches long
and nearly an inch WIDE 1t is made of Is or 20
rings of cartilage. 1t reaches from the throat
to the lungs, and is always OPEN -
They are also asked to describe the lungs
and heart. with their functions; iournev
through the blood starting at the heart, with
observations along the route; the flesh muscles
tenGons and so on, through the list. Many of
these questions are difficult. though primary in
their nature and 10 compel q child TO memor-
iZe FIVE or SIX OF them each day is too much
In drawing they are required to hustle along
over terms that wopld stagger the ordinary
citizen. 1 not complaining about these
studies. They are necessary TO an ordinary ed
ucatiou. but I do not think they should be
forced upon children when they have real
understanding of them.
Backed Up by His Seighbors.
Several of my neighbors are fully as loud in
their complaints as 1 am. called on Superin-
tendeuJ LucRey once and he said it was never
the intention 20 have these questions memoir
ized by small children. As for mental aritn-
rneic he expressed it his opinion that it might
rs well be thrown out entirely, but they are be-
2ug taught according TO the same old plan at
Dr. J. Il. Murdoch was asked what he thought
Of 5hc present method of educating mere chill
dren in the more advanced studies. particularly
physiology and hygene. He said in his opinion
shS all nonsense, as these pupils were en-
tirely too young to be benefited by uch studies
lie said sGme of the methods OF education in
PIIrsburg were queer 20 him. high authorities
declaring that spelling was an unnecessary
branch of study.
DR.. FosIeT. OF Wylie avenue, was met lust as
he was leaving his office on an important call.
He had but moment TO spare, but SAID he be-
lieved the introduction of new studies for chIl.
dTen of tender age was being overdone He
saId he would have more TO say on the subject
IN the future.
Squandering Time and Energy.
Dr. Warner, of Wylie avenue said the study
chiefly complained of should not be taken uu
by little children at all. whether it was in a
primary or an advanced form. 1t was an es
sen;ial to an education. but pupils should be
well advanced in years before they began it as
they were merely squandering time and energy
Or. J. a. Mckelyy, 4 member of the Central
Board of Education, was asked what he thought
about making jhe study of the branches ir
question compulsory particularly in the case OF
the younger pupils. lie smiled broadly, and
replied: That is subject upon which
/ positively refuse to express an opinion at she
present time. 1t is cOmpulsory-and that ends
il. There is one thing, however. People will
always be found to complain about the public
schools. The board has graded the depart
ments to the best of its ability Some of the
principals may make unreasonable departures
which cause complaints. The study of physi
ology is divided into branches according TO the
departments"
"Do You favor the introduction of the study
into the pubic schools ?"
"As remarked before, l will not express ar
opinion on that question"
Another gentleman suggested that censor
should be appointed to visit each school every
two weeks Tor the purpose of inspecting tho
studies and TO apply the brakes as to quantity
quality and grade. il found necessary or ad
VisablG.
SWEEUIY DID NOT ARRIVE,