Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1898-12-10

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faces in the average Scnool-rOom we nat
urally conclude that the treadmiil OF
school life is hard thing to follow. II
'poets are born, not made" much more
can it be said of the teacher.
When during the busy work of school
hours little ones become tired and rest
less a good teacher can quickly break
into the wearisome drudgery, and give
an intermission of, say, five minutes,
either by diverting their attention to
something pleasing,to some law OF nature,
or by narrating some fact in natural his
tory. All children are interested in ami
mails. Anything in natural history, from
an ant to an elephant, will attract and
please in a school room. Hence all
teachers should be conversant with
the habits and customs of fishes and
birds, insects and animals OF all kinds.
They will find it a wonderful help in the
education of children. Many a time
when little ones, or big ones either, for
all that, are giving signs of weariness, a
tactful teacher can command immediate
attention by telling something instruct
i've on this subject. A change OF thought
relaxes tension. Singing is an indispen-
sable aid to successful school work. If,
after prayer, comes singing, and at the
close of school singing again, with
few minutes intermission during the
day, children will not only improve in
tellectually, but physically as well.
Il
Mind reacts on the body, and anything
that retards physical growth will be
hindrance to mental development as well.
Teachers are so anxious to turn out prod
igies of intellect that instead they foist
on life stunted bodies and physical
wrecks. Before girls are twenty years
old they are under the care OF an oculist,
or, worse still, searching the daily papers
for some cure-all that will relieve them
of their aches and pains. These are all
the fruits of unwise sowing during the
growing period and the bad results OF
misguided teachers. DIR. Wylie, OF
New York, scientist and physician
of renowned ability, declares that If
American parents would devote any
thing like the care stock raisers give to
the Young animals under their charge
to the proper growth and development OF
their daughters there would be great
increase in the number of rosy-cheeked
girls, who are now the exception. He
does not hesitate to say that the Amer
lean horse receives on the average much
better treatment than the American young
woman, and by young he means from
the time that early girlhood begins till
the growing period is entirely over. The
strength of development is devoted to
the brain and physique finds expansion
as best it can. Calisthenics should not
be ignored. Pull down the windows
and Law aside books every day and let
the growing child feel that its health is
considered and new life will be infused
into the otherwise monotonous regime as
lxell- as INTO the bodies Of these chlldreIlr
Froebel did wonderful work for the
human race when he introduced the
kindergarten, but if it were prolonged
to nine years of age instead of to seven
results would have been still greater.
Parents are too anxious to have their
children go through certain course in
limited time. They may, and generally
do. finish the curriculum, but the conse-
quence is physical degeneration. After
school hours boys are generally free to
run about and treat themselves to lots OF
good fresh air and exercise, but little
girls, by custom, are condemned to stay
indoors. If during school hours their
health be uppermost in the minds OF
teachers and intellect secondary, they
will. after school is dismissed, naturally
work out the thought given them to con-
slider. Their work, instead of being irk-
some. becomes a pleasure and results are
sometimes wonderful. Again, drawing
ON blackboard or paper is a blessing in
the school-room. Children are splendid
limitators we all know, and how many
uninteresting moments can be turned
into bright sunshiny ones by the useful
art of drawing. How many artists and
architects in embryo we may have in our
class il we only know how to awake
slumbering thought. How many fine
musicians there may be in the little girls
sitting restlessly in their desks waiting
for school to let out if we establish the
pleasing art of melody among them. Let
them romp and play during yard recess,
and because they are girls don't forbid
them this necessary enjoyment. There
are many teachers in schools who would
make more progress as housekeepers and
dressmakers than as tyros i'll the school
room. Attention is being called all over
the country to the physical condition OF
school children, and it evidences the
fact that parents are awaking at last to
the conclusion that the health of their
daughters must be looked after during
the years of early childhood or else when
childhood is over there will be little or
no health to look after. 1t will have dis
appeared as quietly and as quickly as
those years themselves into the past.
The Countess of Edla, the only Aneri-
can girl who even married King, is
diving in the chateau of Contra, near
Lisbon. The Countess was originally
Elise Hensler. and was born in Boston in