The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-10-20
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SCHOOL PROBLEMS.

uice. our schools have been deVeloped and
improved so rapidly in the last few wears
tllat each new September brings chances in
the currlculums, deviations from older
methods, that demand actual trial before
the final advantages and disadvantages can
be nicely balanced Courses are multiulied
studies specialized, opportunities piven for
closer adaptation of school work to indi-
vldual needs; and each little chance even
when too slight to require much consider,-
tlon from the general public, yet demands
REIMBURSEMENT OF the work for an entire
year In proportion, perhaps, as the de-
hiandS on educators increase. so do the NOR
pltAltles OF parents and guardians. No
committee OF ten can be found who unite
III themselves in deepest wisdom, rhe
broadcast experience, the most fay-reachinr
aims, and who are willing to blend all this
wisdom, experience and foresight to the
duty OF deciding whether single, indi-
Vldual, commonplace boy Just entering
college shall shape his courses in the dicc-
ton OF law, medicine or general culture"
whether his brother had better take the
classical Or the scientific department. us
the oyster which is to be opened next;
whether No. 3, shall take the short cut
INTO the Latin School with the half dozen
brightest boys OF his class or plod through
three Years more OF grammar work; whether
finally, the little one shall 20 the kinder
Gartcn, the private school, or learn his let
tiers at home. No committee Of ten could
do tins, even il they were willing to try:
Tor one may put into the solution all the
knowledge attainablc OF the student : prob
able bent, the quality OF his previous work
the resources which may make Il possible
year gained something to he considered
desirable OF even necessary, and even then
one may doubt the wisdom OF the final
decision. In these September DAYS the
decisions have been made, however; and
one can only await the tests of experience
now to come, conscious all the time that
the truest tests Of all, those of life. will
not cone until the school days are over
and one is forced to face and measure
results.
Comparatively easy is it when boy or
girl shows decided taste in any direction.
1t is true that many are prcdcstincd TO
their lie work; but, still, it is easy to he
mistaken, and comparatively few children
develop sufficiently in die preparatory
schools to render the concern of their par
entS unnecessary indeed, it may be we'll
that the prrpleNtleS are not removed even
by the existence Of an unmistakablc talent.
If Il boy decides that he wants IA scientific
training that will develop his mechanical
aptitude, Shall he proceed to prepare him
self at once Ior 1t exclusively, or is it quite
as desirable that lie should 20 through the
same courses that lead to the entrance
examinations ut Harvard, for instance, thus
securing il preliminary knowledge of Greek
and Latin that will never fail him The
doubts and questions that surround the
education Of girls are even more perplex-
ing. More is usually demanded of a girl
than of IA boy. That girls are generally
more ambitious is the general testimony of
our teachers. They have fewer interests
outside OF school work to take their minds
absolutely and completely in different
direction. They have fewer opportunities
for real exercise and play. If a girl studies
music, she must keep it up" even in the
strain OF her other work She is supposed
not to neglect cntircly certain duties in
regard to the care OF her own room and
wardrobe-duticS that, in the case of boys.
are at least reduced to Il minimum To be
sure, we do know one boy who presses out
his own trousers with IA hot iron once II
week, and who strengthens the crease every
night by the help Of heavy leXcons and
other weights; but, then, it must be remem-
bered that he has been in long trousers only
since school begun, and this enthusiastic
devotion may not last!
Perhaps the most serious questions of all
alc lHoSt tildt concern Il cllllu ncdlth. 1t
is sometimes hard to draw the line between
the steady, regular, health work that
means the trucSt mental growth and the
oycrwork which leaves languor. dist.,ste
and NERVOUSNESS in its train. Careful study
OF students for several years leads to the
conviction that there is more danger of
overWork in private than in public schools
for reasons that no one need 90 far to seek
Probably, in most eases, however the
problem Is less that OF Ovcrwork than of
proper food, proper dressing, proper cxer-
else and proper rccreatlons- thoughts that
open up suggestive lines OF consideration
for which there is now no space One
thing is sure in all these qucstomings: it is
better to work on long lines. to ponder. to
examine and To compare, than to be the
feather III every wind that blows, and
compose, decomposc and rccompose" IA
child's work yearly in accordance with
each last new idea or the temporary innu-
ence OF others. The pcrplcXities themselves
only reveal the greatness of the opportuni-
ties now open on every hand. 1t is Il rood
fling that children are not all leavened
by the same yeast and baked in the same
oven at the same degree OF heat 1t is a
rood thing, too that Il certain lrurpe of