Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-03
LOOK TO YOUR CHILDREN.
The Great Mental and Physical Strain Upon
Them at School
The Forcing System the Most Injuri-
Gus Feature Of Modern Educa-
tfon-Health Above All.

economy.
they are TO a very great extent oblivious
TO those things which formulate and de-
termine the greatest happiness In life In
less than three cent? ries they have con-
Verted a vast and primeval continent into
splendid empire; they have filled its for
ests. trnneled its mountains. brfdged its
rivers, and spread over IL a vast network
OF railroads. The expenditure of nervous
Iorce ana energy I'm these three hundred
years has been enormous. The Anglo-Saxon
came to America, a strong and robust man.
thick set, of medium height. and red-faced.
with large supply of that reserve force
we call stamina How has he come out OF
the struggle?
The American family Of English descent
wnlch mas been in this country over three
or Tour generations. shows distinct physical
deterioration. Unlike his Anglo-Saxon pro-
genitor. he is. IL not diminutive tail un-
duly tall. with little muscular development:
he still, however, is capable OF developing
considerable nervous force that which
comes Of undue stimulation. and at the ex-
pense OF the general physical economy
To BE the Best Educated.
NOW, superadded TO their splendid
achievements over natural obstacles. the
Americans aim to be the best educated
people. Whatever else an American parent
can give a child. IL seldom neglects it's
education. Its general mode OF life its as
sociauons. cleanliness. hygfenic environ
ment its reverence of sacred things. ana
Its immortal soul. may be overlooked but
generally goes 10 school. and pays
homage to the great American fetish-edu-
cation. From the date his intelligence
showed the first sign of its presence, Il
has been stimulated and wrought upon until
II is to be wondered that IL retains any sem
olance of normal vigor at manhood. Abso-
lutely forgetful OF what education strictly
means, the leading OUT of the mental
faculties, guiding and moderating them. the
reverse process is adopted. the brain is
crammec. the ambition stimulated and the
animal worked for all ii is worth
unftness for Maternity.
Coupled with this immense extension OF
our conquest over nature and its resultant
on our physical and mental growth. there
are conditions operating toward national
deterioration still more insiduous and subtle.
but none the less powerful. Leaving out OF
consideration the mad race for the ac-
quirement OF wealth and social importance.
the most vital fact is the unfitness for
maternity in a large class OF American NO.
men. who thus start their children in life
seriously handicapped; and when we reflect
how soon the child is TO be absorbed mind
and body in the task OF acquiring an cdu-
cation, can there be any wonder at its so
often proving unequal to the demand up-
on Il? ~
People must learn at some time that
nervous force is not a spontaneous though
invisible, production. Ii needs for its de-
velopment and normal operation I'm A chfld
ABUNDANT exercise in the open air a liberal
oiet, with ample time to masticate and d.
gest IT, diversion of occupation. and ten
hours OF sound sleep. Without these con-
dluons II will grow as the plant in the shade.
the corn without the sun.
The Demands of Nature.
Most unfortunately the highest educational
efforts Of children are called forth when ma
ture imperiously demands its energies for
her own wise ends-the construction of a sa-
cred and healthy body. She must maintain
the fabric as il stands. and. more than this.
she must provide for it's growth and. fur
thermore. its development Just as the
builder requires that his material be abun-s
dant and OF good quality. in order to build
well. even more peremptorily does the great
architect resent any infraction in her bin of
supplies. and IL she is denied, the work goes
from her hands with the stamp OF unworthy
upon it. Unfortunately this mark Is seen
but too often these days in the spectacles.
the braces and orthopedic apparatus worn
by children who should be overlooking with
natural resources There sometimes come
to the physician. who reflects on what ma
ture intended there should be, and what he
actually sees before him. a feeling Of irri-
table impotence over the contrast the
pain and misery seem so useless ana un-
Undeniably the radical hygfenic error OF
this generation. and especially in America
vs. the overuse of the nervous system anu
the enforced idleness Of the muscles.
The Forcing System.
The most unfortunate feature in modern
educational processes is that children are
forced. In evidence of this we note the
immense increase in distinctly school trou-
bles from the lower grades TO the last
gymnasium year, shown in the statistics
Of the city of Hamburg
IL can be said as a postulate that any
time high school student devotes to study
beyond six hours or that in which he is
practically at the schools Is a positive In
jury to him and just as IL goes beyond
this period does il increase the prospects OF
his physical downfall The time Of younger
children should be based on the above as a
maximum and study out Of school should
AS a rule the studies are too advanced
for the age of the pupil. there is too much
written work, and this by artificial light
and its character is apt 10 be too abstract.
The fact that thing has been done one
way in the past. seems the best reason why
IL should be done some other way In the
future. 1t is pitiable reading. these reports
that come to us from abroad as TO the ply
steal condition Of school children. by
Stroff reports six-tenths per cent out
of 1,41S pupils I'm St Petersburg suffering
from head ache. Among the children OF
Hamburg 81 per cent were found with un-
healthy nervous systems. In Berlin 30
children committed suicide from school
causes.
The Modern School.
President Hall says: The modern school
is now the most widely extended institution
the world has ever seen. and Il never was
extending so fast as at present. North Az
RIGA. New Zealand. Egypt ireland and many
till lately barbarous lands have developed
elaborate school systems. The Juvenile
world now goes to school and has fits brain
Initiated and tutored. and we have entirely
forgotten that men have been not only good
citizens, but great, who were in idyllic
ignorance of even the invention OF Cadmus.
Now IL this tremendous school engine. In
which everybody believes with a catholic
concensus of belief. perhaps never before
attained, is in the least degree tending TO
deteriorate mankind physically. II is bad
knowledge, which is bought at the expens.
of health, which is Wilderness or holiness
itself, is not worth what IL costs. Health
conditions. all the highest joys Of life. means
full maturity internal prosperity. May We
not reverently ask: What shall IL profit
a child IL he gain the whole world Of knowl-
edge and lose his health?"
The greatest wealth Of a state is the poe
n.