The record-union., 1891-03-27
NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
DR.. Simmons Backs Up Or. Briggs
Against the Single Session.
More Reasons Why Students Should
Eat-Something About the Ex-
cessively Hot Days.

want to put myself on record as be-
ing heartily in accord with DIR. Briggs
and the other members Of the medical
fraternity in their opposition to the
vicious continuous session plan, which it
Is proposed to put in practice at the High
School this summer" said DR.. G. L. Sim
mons to a RECoRD-UNIoN reporter yes
terday afternoon.
''There is not very much left for me to
say in support of our theory" continued
the doctor, because DIR. Briggs covered
the subject very fully in his interview
with representative of your paper, as
published this morning.
AGITATED BEFORE.
But this subject is not exactly a new
one with the local medical men, said
the doctor. Last year, at meeting of
the Medical Society, DR.. Briggs read an
exceedingly interesting paper on School
HYGIENE and in it took occasion to Sc
yerely condemn the single session plan.
lie referred to the fact that it was injuri-
Gus in the extreme to minds in the deyel-
opmental stage, and said that although
the system was then in vogue in Sacra-
mento, 1t had been abandoned and con-
demned in almost every other city of inn
portance-both in rAis country and
abroad. DIR. Briggs paper created quite
an impression, and a committee, with
MIN as Chairman, was appointed to take
hold of the matter and present it in it's
proper light before the educational au-
thorities. But it was rather late in the
year then, and it was found that the sys-
tenn had already been established by the
Board of Education. Consequently, the
matter was held in allegiance until this
year, when it was taken up again. The
doctors 11n1nlmOIlG their at
against the continuous session, and the
committee was empowered to go ahead
and do what it could to correct the evil.
ONLY ONE SIDE TO IT.
81 can see but one side to this question,
and l am not surprised at the absence of
arguments in favor Of the continuous SeS-
sion coming from persons in position to
know whereof they speak. Of course, it
is very natural that the students and
their teachers should be in favor of the
single session, because it permits them to
get away earlier in the afternoons. If
they had their way about it, the opinions
OF the medical society would be wholly
ignored. But that doesn't mean that they
are right, by any means, and | don't be-
heve their objections will have any
weight with the members of the Board of
Education, whom, / am sure, are
all men of good, sound judgment
DIR. Briggs and myself both have sons
attending the High School, and conse-
quently we feel a personal interest in the
matter. My son, like the rest of the
students, believes that we are wrong, and
that the continuous session is good
thing-and by way of convincing me he
wants me to visit the High School and see
for myself what healthy lot of students
there are there. But that is not the point.
The injury, it is very true, would
HARDLY BE APPARENT
T,.,
after years, when the student has ma
tured and entered upon the sea of life to
look out for himself or herself. Ii is like
the story that is told about the argument
that was adduced in favor of whisky and
tobacco. An individual 100 years old was
found who admitted that during the
greater part of his life he drank exces-
sively of liquor, and kept his mouth full
OF the weed constantly. Yet that was no
argument that the use of whisky and to-
bacco will prolong everybody's life.
Some OF the opponents of the divided
session, L understand" continued Dr.
Simmons, "lay considerable stress upon
the alleged fact that during the summer
afternoons it becomes too sultry for ad-
Vantageous and comfortable study. Now,
this is no argument for the single session,
either. 1t gets no warmer here in Sacra-
mento than it does in New England.
where the continuous session is con-
1HcIc only compare
lively
FEW EXCESSIVELY HOT DAYS
During the summer in Sacramento, and
on those days school could be dismissed.
That is a matter that could be left to the
discretion OF the Principal of the school.
/ dare say, too, that there would be very
few school days lost during the year on
this account.
II was the first Secretary of the Board
of Education, and ! know that at that
time we provided for the full noon recess
for lunch at all times of the year. The
statement that the continuous session has
been in vogue in the Sacramento High
School for eighteen years is untrue. The
boys and girls who attended the schools
at the time | speak of are all men and
women now, and fine, healthy ones, too.
That is more, l dare say, than we can say
in the future for those who are now be-
ing developed under the abominable and
injurious single session."
SOME MORE AUTHORITIES.
. DR.. Simmons said that owing to the
thoroughness with which DR.. Briggs had
quoted from eminent authorities on hy-
giene, he did not deem it necessary to re-
fer to many more. Volume after volume
could be referred to in support of the
argument made by the doctor, while on
the other hand nothing could be found
advocating the single session.
THE OTHER SIDE,