Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-03-15


graves, not by order of a wrathful
King. but under what is claimed to be
the finest free school system in the
world. Go into any public school and
you will see girls pallid as day lilies.
and boys with Nat chests and the
waxen skin that has been named the
school complexion. Every incentive
and stimulus is held out: dread Of
blame, love of praise, prizes. medals.
badges, the coveted flourish in the
newspapers-the strain never slackens.
Watch the long lines filing past. each
pupil carrying books-three. four five
TO be studied at night in hot rooms
by fierce, sight destroying lights.
Time was when spectacles went with
age. They are no sign of age now.
Many must wear glasses to help eyes
worn prematurely old by night work.
said a thoughtful father, My child
rem haze no child life. They are
straining up a grade talking about
examinations. When is their playtime
if not now. and what has become Of
the light hearted boys? School is
never out Even in the fields the but
terfly and the tree-tOad are turned in
to object lessons, and the grasshopper
is torn to pieces in order to be in
structive. When l was a boy, and
school let out, we were gay and free.
We studied in school time, and in play
time there was no thought of anything
but play
Said mother Two and two make
WHAT
1.-The boy hesitated.
'"'S Surely you know that two and two
make four
".Yes, mama. butsIlam trying to re-
member the process,
Process, indeed!
"A child Of nine years is required 10
define and understand such words as
these: Apochrasis. apocope. parasoge'
paraleipsis. diocrasis, synocrasls.
THESIS There are famous speakers
and writer's who never saw them.
But Mrs. Wallace does not lay the
blame entirely on those responsible
directly for the school system. She
says: Back of all. and harder than
unbending rules, is the merciless ambi-
ton of parents" She also finds that
the teacher is often victim to this
overwork as we'll as the pupil.
Constantly the question is being
brought up, Shall this or that be added
to our public schools? But who asks,
Can the scholars endure any more:
They have no protest nor petition;
they must stand like human vessels
ready to be filled to the brm with
| mixtures of facts. l plead for a chlld-
hood of the soul as well as of the body,
| for the free air the blessed sunshine.
| the moderate task ended at the school
house. This night young heads are
| leaning against their mothers. tired as
| no young things should ever he, and it
| is a sorrowful sound to hear child
waking from what might be the sunny
slumber of a light heart beating to
healthful music. to ask IN a troubled
voice, DO You think l can make the
pass grade?' 1t is said they like to go
| to school. Yes, and they would like 1t
/ twice as well if there were half as
much to learn. Many children have
known, but not one who loved study
for it's own sake. Companionship lis
what lures them
! There is reason and justice in this
! arraignment and appeal and it cannot
| fail to be productive of results. with
little likelihood that they will be
otherwise than beneficial. The pupils
| of what are considered the best and
most modern public schools of this
country are being outrageously over
| worked.
| E,r,;el, ro:lroadc ara ordarinr their