Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-02-17
The Recess Question Again.
CREsco, La. Feb. 16. 1899.

ChESCO, La. EeD. 10, lS99.
Editor of PLAIN DEALER:-A letter
in the Times, and one in the PEE DEE,
on the recess question seem quite
apropos, and 1 feel sure both must
have touched a chord in every true
parental heart in Cresco. But why
ask the school board to cross the state
line to settle the question? There are
many teachers who have lett Iowa and
gone TO JOIN the ranks of Minnesota
and Dakota teachers. Some of them
have returned for reasons all their
own, and any of them will tell you that
In these states the 15 minute recess is
observed and successfully. But have
we not a far more telling evidence in
our very midstp
What is it that stands like ghoul-
ish vampire before us to-day, and sill
emily but surely and swiftly steals ros-
es from the little cheeks, and the life
sparkle from those beseeching ewes of
our darllngs?
1t is the push and worry of the pub
lie school. Prof. Ling says the time
has come when we must know many
things in order to know one thing well,
and in sense most heartily endorse
him. know our child lost her appe-
tite. know she was restless in the
still small hours God gave her for rest
and refreshment. I know our DIR. bill
increased on her account. know she
returned to me after a hard days work
at school, suffering and nervous and
crying because in her just pride and
righteous Indignation she resented the
fact that her name had been placed on
the board as a reminder that she must
stay so many minutes after school, be-
cause foresooth when outraged nature
could suffer no longer she had at last
been compelled to yield and ask per-
mission to leave the room only to find
her ensign of humiliation on the board
| before her, and to hear the uncom-
promisable decision, "You must re-
main so many minutes after school to
make up time, and you must sit per-
fectly inanimate while doing so, or
have so many minutes added to what
you have" Fancy the effect of such a
method upon child who is herself
alive to to the evils of such barbarity;
nor can we blame the tes cher for she
must comply with those iron rules al
any cost. particularly No. teacher,
who at least is always overwoked, al
though her ability cannot be question
ed. know all the above statements
only too we'll. l also know that Iecho
the thoughts of many parent in Cresco
| know | have served in the public
schools Of Iowa, Minnesota and Dako-
ta, and iamiliarized myself fairly
with Nebraska school laws, yet | must
say with wondering ones of old, that
in regard to the unjust and dangerous
confinement our little ones must en-
dure here in school, never saw 1t in
this wise before. know if ever an
amendment to our laws were needed
it is an action for the prevention of
cruelty to innocents, and I think
have answered to the requirement of
knowing all the above as before said
only too we'll, long before fully ar
rived at the conclusion that justifies
me in saying. "It is all wrong" l
will close by asking two questions: If
our old methods were fallible, why do
we always choose an old man before a
young one In any matter requiring
weighty consideration? OF what
earthly use is Physiology in our
schools?
A Cresco MOTHER AND TEACHER.