Semi=weekly graphic., 1896-12-23

F 70 wit
 passing on another domain of thought.
 But most of this has been written for teachers, and it is seldom that these articles fall into the hands of parents. They can no more afford to be ignorant of such subjects than teachers. Educational matters are not discussed in the columns of our popular magazines, and if 8 popular magazine should devote much space to such subjects it would speedily become unpopular. For this reason most parents are ignorant of the great progress that has been made in child study within the last half decade. As q natural consequence most of the schools in our section of the country are dragging along in the wake of, but far behind the more progressive communities, in the application of educational prin- ciples both as effects the physical and the mental parts of the child. For however true the old aparism may be-"As is the teacher, so is the school-it cannot be denied that the schools of a city are made by its citizens. When parents dis cover, as educationists have dis covered, that the child learns more easily, is healthier and is more cheerful under certain conditions than under others, and above all, that the pupil has some rights that have not yet been accorded him then, and not until then, will the schools of Arkansas rank among those that are worthy of notice as model institutions.
 Child study is not an educational fad, but science It is no longer an experiment. It has already brought forth wonderful results.
 The whole field cannot be tra- versed in a short article, but one important corner may be, The study of the physical child is that corner
 The teacher no longer feels that he is trespassing on the rights of the physician in such matters. Let the doctor, if necessary, apply the remedy after the teacher has found the t rouble. He will discover de- fectiye eyes. ears and nerves. Nine times out of ten ne will find the cause in the school room. An in- vestigation will show that defective eyes come from badly arranged lights and blaekboards; that defec- tive nerves come from the derange- ment of the system caused by bad ventilation, dirty school rooms, and uncomfortable desks. It is not a case for the doctor, but the archi- tect Give the teacher bright, well lighted. well ventilated, clean, and-if possible-ornamented school rooms, and if he knows his business, most of the ills that the pupil is heir to will speedily disappear.
 On entering the school the pupil should be subjected to a rigid physi- cal examination and his defects noted. In nine eases out of ten, mental failing may be traced l to physical disabilities. All first class universities and colleges now require an examination of this kind.
 Of how much more importance is 1t that teachers of secondary | schools should have the same 1nowledge of their pupils. In Ger many and in some of our own cities this innovation has brought forth marvellous results.
 Parents are becoming interested, too. What is the meaning of the mothers meeting" in our large .ities? Some cynic has asked (not a flash of wiD "ean it be that mothers are at last be- ,;nnino to fool q liftla infaroSt in he education of their children?
 With all his knowledge of small umanity. the teacher can do little iithout the help of parents. The est results cannot De obtained until l 'hild Study becomes part of he parents work, and this will not c until the education of the child is