Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-02-16


To the Continental traveller, coming to
the United States merely as an interested
observer, three facts in the life and train
ing of children fasten, as he has often
declared, his attention. First, that dur
ing nine months of the year they have
too much to do, and during three too
little. Secondly, that during the nine
months they seem to be absolved from
every human and cultivating duty, their
whole family circle giving itself up to the
hasty feeding of their bodies and to the
scurry evidently deemed necessary to the
requirement of the studies which, like a
black fog, loom up before them and above
them from September until July, incapable
of being shaken OFF, and yet impossible to
wholly penetrate. Thirdly, that 'educa-
ton" seems to mean plan which the in
structor fits upon each child, rather than
the educing from within of the child 5
own powers.
Is this an unfair estimate by the for
eigner? If so, why then does he invara-
bly, receive this impression? Surely not be-
cause he looks for it, for it is Numerically
opposed to everything to which he is ac-
customed at home. He does not even at
first comprehend what his eyes and ears
tell him: but when he does, he makes up
his mind that he must regard Americans as
material in their tastes, illogical in their
educational views, and impervious to the
laws of beauty. We know that this is not
in every case nor in every community true.
But is there, then, no foundation for the
Europeans impression?
There is curious law of life, upon
which, doubtless, the old saw, at is al
ways darkest Just before dawn" is found
ed, namely, that the defects of a plan
show most startlingly just at the moment
when the germ of the new growth, hidden
back of them, is about to burst its letters,
flower into view, and with one bound
scatter the old shell into oblivion. And
this is true in great degree of art and its
power upon the busy, eager, intelligent
people of the United States at this mo-
ment.
1t is unfortunate that the season in pub
lie schools lasts from September to July.
1t is one month too early in the autumn,
and one month too late in the spring But
already many parents, teachers, and stu
dents are protesting against it, and finding
comparatively little opposition to their pro-
test from the city governments, councils,
and boards. The day is, without doubt,
therefore, fast approaching when that Gus
tom will be changed. Less easy of solu-
ton, however, is the next question What
and how much should be required of chill
dren during the nine months, and how lit
tie during the three? Let educational in
spectors and theorists think out that prob
lem, remembering that no child was ever
really refreshed by total lack OF daily du-
ties or by absolute freedom at any period
of existence. Every human being, save in
illness, has obligations, heavy or light
but still obligations-to perform; the Chile
| should have his little ones in summer a.
well as in winter. 1t is not for laymen tC
say how this should be arranged; but thai
it could be accomplished is true, and thu
time is fast approaching when the boards
must consider the necessity of summer du
ties seriously if they would not have thu
long vacation days become the breeding
time of vice and lawlessness or of menta
generalization which no nine months o
mental discipline OF moral regulations
however filled they might be with studio
in both, can bliterate.-Huper'S Bdzdr