Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1897-03-26
A letter from Oingmsns.


March s2nd 1897
THE PIKE COUNTY PREss; -" G" has
struck the Keynote After reading his or
her, comments in a late issue Of the PRESS
on the condition OF some Of the schools In
Delaware, think it peculiarly appropri-
ate to enter protest against the indiffer
ence shown by some Of our mis- (pardon
the lapsus lingun) directors in their re
gard, or rather disregard, Of the comfort
and health Of the pupils OF those schools
which are denied the patent furniture. In
Coles, particularly, the furniture, (God
save the mark) is in a horrible condition.
1t is not only In a dilapidated state, but
delles and violates all-known laws Of gravi-
tation. The desks pitch to frightful de
gree toward the scholars, while the board,
or shelf they sit on, attached to the desk
behind elevate their knees heavenward
TO use these desks pupils are compelled to
sit on the edge Of these shelves, they are so
far apart. In fact, in many cases the pu-
pill has to stand In order to use the desk.
The writer has heard, time and again,
grown people say that they felt as tired as
though they had toiled hard all day after
sitting two hours on these shelves attend
ing Sunday meeting. Then what torture
must the school children endure especially
the smaller ones whose feet dangle six OF
seven inches from the floor, six hours
day and five days in week If a child
must take its chances Of becoming a ply
slcal wreck for the sake Of the develop
ment Of its intellectual powers the sooner
the schools are abandoned the better. and
allow our children to grow up robust and
healthy. Oh, ye healers of the mind and
body, think of It OF the contradictory
and conflicting elements that have entered
some of our schools; pupil with work
on physiology in one hand and hygiene in
the other sitting in an unnatural and
painful position on ashelf, that should be
relegated to the woodpile, studying how to
make and keep that mind and body in a
healthful condition.
These propositions, which destroy each
other, are inconsistent and should be ban
ished from the school room. Which shall it
be ? Hygiene or the old lumber
! have it from an indisputable source
that at II recent school meeting one Of the
board of directors moved that patent seats
be put in the schools that are now without
Them but meeting with no support what
ever the motion fell flat for the want Of
concurrence. Why such humane motion
should have been frowned upon is beyond
all comprehension. All honor to the man
who made that motion.
Some one has said: Il would like to see
some men punished during one school
term as the dear little children are pun
ished, then think they would look more
to the comfort and health Of the children +"
l appeal to the directors, and citizens, to o,
make The school room surroundings com
Portable and cheerful for your dear chill
dreL's sake if you would have them be
come healthy and Intelligent men and wo-
men
Gentlemen directors, the eyes of the
world, (no, mean part OF Dolaware) are
upon you. Rise and be equal to the oc-
casion; make one supreme effort to accom-
plsh this needful reform; eyenif you have
to take heroic measures and bond the
township to the tune Of twenty or thirty
dollars. Ifyou do not get your need Of
praise now, never mind, future genera
tions viii understand and appreciate your
heroism, and give you deathless fame.
DIGNATOR
(The PRESS is pleased to receive COM
munications like the above. w hen the
people become actively interested in re-
forms and Improvement, and make their
sentiments known through the papers, the
leaven viii soon work the community up
to the level Of forcing officials 10 heed their
requests. The Pass was instituted in
part to carry out this mission, to censure
when deserved to criticise when proper, TO
commend when meritcd and TO give to All
a fair and Impartial hearing. .-EDIToR)