The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1891-07-07

roundlngS. Ii Is during these wears that
to most children, who have any mental
activity, comes the awakening to the APP
prehension of what study means, and
the thirst Tor knowledge is felt, and then,
too, is the pressure put on by parents
and teachers to hurry the child forward
as rapidly as possible to the close of the
school period, that the business OF life
may begin. The childis own ambition,
too, is engaged, not 20 be distanced by
its fellows.
With the desire for knowledge, there is
often lack OF ability to concentrate
thought, and in the effort TO fix atten-
ton and master the task for longer hours
than the strength is equal to, signs OF
overstrain appear. The eyes ache with
slight use, dull headache is common, APP
petite becomes capricious and the child
has bilious attack, stays out OF school
for few days, rests and begins again,
fresh; 10 have the symptoms repeated
with variations until the long vacation
brings continued rest. Or the signs Of
overstrain may be limited TO sensitive
ness OF the eyes and occasional head
aches. The occulist is consulted; he
finds astigmatism, which signifies
that the eyes are not quite symmetrical,
and require q constant muscular effort to
accommodate them to each other, with
the accompanying headache as danger
signal. Glasses are prescribed and rest
with relief, but, Il the overstrain had
not been there, the astigmatism would
not have appeared. Or the remon-
STRANGE of nature may be in some other
function which should carry the same
lesson-relief from some OF the work.
This OF course means shorter daily
hours OF study and longer course. 1t
is constantly asserted that the most sue
ceSSiul students and literary men ind
six hours day OF work as much as can
proftably be INDUCED in, and this by
trained workers, in the maturity OF their
powers. Our children OF tender years,
and imperfectly developed brains, are
expected 10 do within one or two hours
of this period, Tor all their student years,
is it strange that so many Of our boys
and girls, when they come to Yale or
Harvard, Nassar or Wellesley, fall by
the way, or graduate crippled, because
when young they were handicapped by
too heavy weight? We do not serve our
domestic animals SO; they run wild and
free until they have reached adult years,
and the tender growing muscles are
spared severe labor.
am aware of the difficulty involved
in this problem. The popular idea that
children should uot waste their precious
time in play is a relic of the monkish
and puritan days when the body was
considered 2 thing TO be mortified and
kept down. 1t is coming to be looked
upon Us next TO the mind, the most mar
velous work of the Creator, & fit temple
for the Holy Ghost, and the image OF
God which dwells in each human form,
is charged with doing some worthy work
in regenerating this world. Hence how
important that the physical manifestation
of this soul should be in perfect health
for the work OF the Master. How many
an one in the heat of the day has
mourned his or her imperfect work, from
an imperfect body dating from the school
or college days.
A most important move in the right
direction is in mingling physical labor
with mental effort, and this innovation
should include girls as we'll rs boys, and
mechanics or housekeeping cares should
take the place of some OF the hours OF
study, aud not be added to them. The
results OF mechanical training will be OF
eminent practical value in forming the
hands to skilled use OF their muscles
This tr9ining, even If never needed in
practical life, Will be no Insignificant ele
ment in rounding out the general educa-
ton, Just as many studies that are moi
directly useful in life are most valuable
in training the mental faculties 10 skilled
labor.
These remarks apply TO modern edu-
cation IL civilized countries generally,
and l believe are based on sound physi-
ology They apply here with special
force, as the climate is unsuited to severe
exertion, and what would be admissible
in more bracing region would be a
mistake here. l know that many care
ful thinkers are in sympathy with this
line OF argument, and ii l have in any
degree stimulated thought or awakened
interest IN the subject, shall feel that
YOUR time has not been taken in vain.