The evening times., 1899-04-17
TOO MUCH WORK FOR
SCHOOL CHILDREN
Complaining Letter Addressed
to th6AuthOfities.
Writer Claims That Pupils are En-
slaved by Study.
Contends That the District Educa.
tiOnaI system IL Somewhere
Mt Fault.

Complaints. II is said, are emanatins
from various quarters regarding the ex-
cessive study required OF scholars in the
public schools toward the close of the
| schccl year The sessions of the schools
will be brought to- close in about two
| months and the work that the children
have yet to do is said to be almost as great
in volume as that done by them during tic
entire session thus far.
Ii has been the custom for years, t is
said, to crowd on the studies during the
last two months of the term until 1t is al
most physical fmpossibility for the chill
dren to stand. the strain They often Dreak
down toward the end of the session and
keep at their books only through compll-
SIGN. 1t is alleged that after the close of
the schools many Of the children are UNIT
for anything for long time and the im-
mense amount OF brain work they have
forced en- them during the last two
months Of tine session is held responsible
for this.
Typhoid and brain fevers are of frequent
occurrence at this season and the germs
thrive in the systems that have been run
down by too close application TO studies.
No explanation has been given for this
overorowded condition of the latter part
Of the school curriculum. The school ;rus-
tees know nothing OF it and would be g,;lc
TO get information on the subject. The
matter will be brought to their attention
at the next meeting through letter which
has been addressed to them.
The writer OF the letter states that she
has been an observer Of the methods of the
schools for a long time and is able TO cite
several instances where the children were
actually forced to work beyond their
capacity. In one instance, the writer states,
child was compelled to work at her les
sons from the time she arrived home after
the closing of the afternoon session of the
school till eleven O'Clock at night. and
then the lessons were not finished, and the
pupil was compelled TO rise at five in the
morning TO complete them. The writer
deplores this state of affairs and wants TO
know what can be done to stop what she
styles an outrage"
This sort oil thing has been going on
for long time the writer states, and
this year it is worse than ever. The
studies in the lower grades are much more
contining than ever before and the time
consumed in the work at home has taken
away entirely the pupils respite for recre-
alton.
1t has been contended that school is the
place for recitation not study" the letter
states, but this is entirely out of keeping
with the new system of education in vogue
in the various schools in the District Of
Columbia. The children are being forced
beyond their capacity in the hurry to get
them into state of mental perfection.
Year after year the school is closed
the children are stricken down vita dis
eases for which the physicians are at loss
to determine the cause, says the writer.
THE germs of these diseases are culti-
waited in the school room where the child
is compelled TO work necessarily to keep
up with the programme. This system OF
mapping out the years course and then
going slowly early in the session is per-
nicious and does not encourage healthy or
rapid education. 1t is ell right, no doutt.
for a plan TO be proposed fer the course.
but II is not right when at the end of the
year that plan is not more than half car
Iied out to compel the child to do a weeks
work in day. The work that is forced
on the child today is appalling and / co
not think there are a dozen grown persons
in the ordinary walks of life who coud
do it at all. 1t is to be hoped that your
board will take some action in this case
The school authorities state that they
have made strenuous efforts TO keep the
rating of the schools in the District of Co.
lumbia as high as it has been in years
gone by, and it is necessary TO thus lay
out the course beforehand.
Gen. George H. Harries, of the school
board, was approached on the subject to-
day, but he could say nothing. The mat
ter was one that would be brought 20 the
attention of the board, he said, and he
hoped that it would be brought out in its
proper light. II is left entirely with the
authorities in direct charge of the schools
as to what course of studies should be pur-
sued, and unless it was brought to The
attention of the board, as it will pe at
their next meeting. they would have no
iairi icfi In ha Daa