The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-28
CHILD STUDY SECTION
Elects Officers and Discusses Several
Important Questions.

At the joint session Of the elementary
and child study sections, held yesterday
at the Central Presbyterian church, the
following officers were elected: President,
A w. Rankin, of Minneapolis; secretary
and treasurer, Supt E. G. Adams, of
Mortified; director for three years, Mrs.
Mary Hunt, of st. Paul The following
nominating committee was appointed: DR..
Baker, of Sherburne; Superintendent w.
f. f. Sellick, of Austin, and Miss Mary
l.. Gelman, Of Minneapolis.
IF drawing, reading, writing and such
studies are dangerous for the child of
seven,' remarked Mrs. J. F. Johnson, of
Mankato, rather plaintiYely yesterday at
the Joint session of the elementary and
child study sections, land if the state of
Minnesota insists, as it does, that the
child Of seven must attend school, will
somebody please say what should be done
with the child?"
For the theories advanced during the
discussion had all been somewhat icono-
elastic as regards the present system
of educating the children under seven.
Some Of the Laws Of the Development
of the Nervous System Considered In
Their Relation to School Work was the
entire subject discussed.
Miss Isabel Lawrence, of st. Cloud,
opened the discussion. 1.-The beautiful
theory Of the symmetrical development Of
the child has been destroyed by modern
science" announced the speaker and
She quoted Prof. Donaldson's deduction
that all growth is opsided-accented now
on this side and now on that. Miss Law
renee noted the following important stages
In the development Of the child's nervous
system. The beginnings Of development
of the fundamental nervous system are
mainly before the age Of two.
The beginning of development Of the
accessory nervous system is mainly be-
tween the ages of two and fourteen.
Neither fingers nor eyes are ready for
delicate work from five to seven, the ear
" school age. From two to fourteen is
the period for the main development Of
sense cells. After fourteen occurs the
main growth Of association fbers.
Miss Sarah c. Brooks, of st. Paul, spoke
briefly on What Is the Proper School
Work for Children Under Seven?" Mss
Brooks thought that the teaching of writ
ing and drawing called into exacting play
muscles that should at that age rest. In
structing a child in the natural way by
stories and pictures was sufficient, she
thought, until he was over seven
In discussing drawing Mrs johnson
thought it mistake to place an object
before the child and have him draw it
as it is rather than as he sees it. 1t had
an injurious effect on the nervous sys-
lSiil, COHIp6llILS ID6 CHI q to do that which
was unnatural to him.
when You consider the matter" re-
marked DR.. Magnusson, Of St Cloud, ARE
not books and desks themselves funda-
mentally wrong, for the child is forced
to accept them as inevitable, and the
constrafnt is unnatural"
1 would abolish schools entirely until
the child is ten years DID," announced
Supt. Parr, and he was loudly applauded
Supt. S. j. Race, of Redwood Falls, crit
icised the present system of lighting the
school room while the child Is under
seven," he said, tits real physical en-
vironment is even more important than
it's mental growth. The lighting Of the
school room has not received the atten
ton it deserves
Supt. Parr thought there were other de-
fects besides the present method of light
ing the school room. ''I want to utter
protest" he said, against the modern
school desk. The sooner 1t is out the
BETTER"
When asked what he would substitute,
the superintendent explained that it
would be a desk that could be raised and
lowered to conform to the height of the
pupil, also a seat that could be raised
and lowered. and so arranged that 1t
could be turned to suit any position
After the adjournment of the joint ses-
sion the child study section held a bfiaf
business meeting.