The record-union., 1891-12-05
OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
Are the Minds of the Children Being
0Vertxed With Study2
Interviews With Persons who Are in
a Position to Know Whereof
They Speak.

uento injurious TO the pupils?
That is the question that is now agi-
tating the members of the City Board of
education.
The RECoRD-U UNION has, during the
past week, taken pains to gather consid-
cradle information on the subject, and
now presents it for the consideration Of
It's readers. A reporter was detailed TO
visit the various schools, interview the
teachers, as well as some OF the pupils,
and ascertain exactly what the condition
of affairs Is.
The result of the investigation was
some rather alarming disclosures.
WHERE THE TROUBLE LIES.
The requirements of the course are, it
IS claimed, entirely too severe upon the
children. both in the grammar schools
and high school, considering the time in
which the work has to be accomplished,
and as natural consequence the doctors
are having their hands full, treating cases
Of general debility and brain troubles in
school children.
The number of studies that must be
mastered in the limited school term is
Oelng increased from year TO year-the
minds of the children are being crammed
more and more-and unless a halt is
called soon there is no telling where it
viii all end.
Competent authorities have been heard
20 declare frequently that the rising gen
Grafton IN this part OF the continent Is not
up to the standard of the previous gener-
ation-that while they have classical edu
cations and attainments, they lack in the
practical knowledge that is so necessary in
entering into the battle of life-the strug-
gle for bread and butter. And competent
physicians do not hesitate to say that the
rising generation is not up TO the stand
ard physically. There are more old
young men and women now than ever
before, and young folk who are virtually
physical and mental wrecks.
Why is it?
The answer will be quite clear to any
one who will take the trouble to inquire
INTO what the course of study is in the
nigh school and grammar schools of Sac
rannento, and consider the time allowed
the child for its accomplishment.
TO REMEDY THE EVIL.
There are two remedies: Either the
6chool terms in these two institutions
must be extended at least a year in each;
or some of the studies will have to be
eliminated.
Which course will be decided on, is, of
course, only a matter of conjecture, and
rests entirely with the authorities, but
one or the other viii have to be adopted
and that soon.
School and five-year term in the Gram
mar Schools, it is claimed that the studies
now required could be accomplished
without injury to the child, provided no
more are added. The young minds
would not then be overtaxed, and what
IS learned would be remembered. Every
spare moment out Of school would not
then be required for study, and some
time could be devoted to physical exer-
else and indulgence in fresh air now and
hen. But as it is now, in order to keep
up with their lessons, the pupils are
compelled to go home weighted down
with books, and study constantly during
the hours they are not sleeping.
A CASE IN POINT.
Even one of the School Directors COM
planned loudly a few evenings ago be-
cause he never saw his daughter at home
that she was not pouring over her books.
lie had no doubt that it was necessary,
out he did not believe it was right nor
conducive to good health. This director
was Mr.. Sherburn, and he may be
counted on as voting for reformation of
the system.
Naturally these demands for excessive
study work more harm to the girls than
20 the boys. The girls are by nature
more studious than the male sex, and
besides, the boys will invariably desert
their studies entirely for a baseball game
or other amusement, preferring to fail at
echool-and the records will Show that
they succeed admirably in this respect as
q rule,
The evil effects of cramming the minds
of the students is more noticeable in the
high school than in the grammar schools,
although at the latter it is bad enough.
But as facts and figures are more valu-
able than mere assertions, the RECORD
UNION herewith presents some of the
information it has gathered:
superintendent Hart for Reform.
City Superintendent Albert Hart, al
though he is compelled by reason of his
position to see that the system now in
vogue is adhered to by the teachers and
carried out to the letter, is radically and
irrevokably opposed to it.
The school system in Sacramento"
said he to the RECORD UNION represent
ative, will have to be completely over
hauled. We are stunting our children
daily. But that is putting it too mild
we are really breaking them down physi-
cally and mentally by compelling them
10 accomplish too much in too short a
time. Take the nigh school, for exam
pie. The students there are being
crammed with study almost to the burst
ing point, and it is ridiculous for anybody
10 argue that even the strongest youth
can stand under the strain. In order to
keep up with the studies and recitations
demanded, the student must study for
hours and hours after school, The pace
IS too fast for their brains, and if they do
manage to get through it is at the cost of
their health and constitutions So many
studies cannot be digested in the high
school in three years. You are right
when you say that another year is needed
there. l believe so, and have believed so
Tor a long time. / would favor an addi-
ional year in the high school and an
additional year in the grammar school
that is If the present course of study is
adhered to. Ii a number of the techni-
cal, and, l might say, useless studies
were eliminated
AN ADDITIONAL YEAR
Would not be necessary, but to eliminate
anything that is included in the present
course OF study would be unfair to those
pupils who intend to enter the university
\ student who enters the State institu-
non is presumed to have been given a
5air start in these technical branches
and there you are. 1t might be aroued
that the number of students who aspire
10 enter the university does not warrant
aubjecting the balance to the rigorous
studies necessary.
Now it is fact" continued Superin-
tendent Hart, that 90 per cent. of the
children who take advantage of a nublic
school education do not ever go beyond
1he grammar school, and a similar per-
centage of those who enter the high
school do not go to the university-still
those in the grammar schools are COM
PEELED TO take the same courses as those
who are preparing for the high school,
and those in the high school must go
through the same courses as those who
aspire for university education.
Now, as so per cent. of those who en-
ter the schools do not go beyond the
grammar school, believe that school
should be the basis OF education. More
I ..r-4-