Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1900-12-27
BRAINS OF CHILDREN.
seientino Investinatisns whieh shsw
THAT Chiidrsn shouId Nst ne sent
70 schooI Before They Are Eight

II
The brains Of children are 1t present
the subject Of anxious study by the ap-
thorities Of the District ol Columbia,
who are trying in this way to reach
satisfactory oonclusions as 70 the age
at which young folks ought 10 begin
70 go TO school II IL beginning 20 be
thought that schooling may perhaps
be started too early for the health and
welfare Of the little ones, and this idea
seems plausible when IL n considered
that infants Of six years are compelled
20 seek book-learninR at the public
cost IN the District Of Columbia and
In Wyoming, while mere prattiers Of
four are allowed 20 take advantage Of
educational opportunities in Connsoti-
cut, Wisconsin and Oregon, ~ their
parents 30 desire. In 10 other states
of the union the minimum age Of vol
untary attendance II FIVE years.
Light 10 thrown upon this Interest,"
ing subject, says Rene Bache, In the 81.
Louis Globe-Democrat, by a study Of
the growth and Developments Of ths
mind organ IN children. In this line
the most Important worh has been
done by DR.. w. W. johnson, q disttn-
guished physician of Washington, who
calls attention 70 the fact that the hu-
man brain attains practically its fun
weight when the individual IL only
about eight years Of age. Az birth the
brain weighs approximately . pound,
but It's development is 30 rapid thatlas
the end Of the first year IL would tip
the scales at az pounds. Atfour years
Il has reached nearly three pounds, but
from that time on ita growth IL COM
paratively slow. Attaining to what is
70 ell intents and purposes ita full siEe
At eight years, Il does not alter appre-
ciably after 10 years, and after "a years
Il begins 70 diminish slowly but stead
fly in avoirdupois.
These facts. obviously, have a very
important bearing upon questions Of
school training. 30 far as brain de-
velopment is concerned. the hrst eight
years are by far the most important
Of q child's life. the main growth Of
the organ taking place during that Pc
Rod. II II evident that the stature at
tained eventually By the mind depends
largely upon the perfection Of brain
growth during this epoch. DR.. john
son urges that education ought not 70
begin during this period Of brain
growth, and that children that are
sent to school before they are sigAt
years of age are threatened With -
fious injury. Also, he contends, In view
OF the facts above stated regarding
brain development, instruction during
the Arst years should not be too sxact-
ing or too stimulating, Prscocity
ought TO be checked, furthermore, ana
not tostered.
The first eight years are the most Inn
portant Of child's life. for the reason
mentioned, and Il "a urged that school
education ought not to begin until this
period IL about over. But II still re-
mains to be determined how many
hours daily should be given by the child
10 study. II has not been ascertained
definitely whether the child IL helped OF
hindered by competition, and . good
many other questions in this same line
remain unanswered. One thing deemed
certain is that school children. gen
orally speaking, in this country and
elsewhere, are overlooked. There are
100000 pupils in the public schools
Of the United States, and IL goes With
out saying that some Of them are much
feebler mentally and physically than
Others. Nevertheless, the pace IL set
by the capacity of the stronger and
smarter ones, and all are forced along
together-alwAys TO the dstrimsnt OF
the weaker and less clever.
In each generation there - . small
percentage Of children who are IN ad-
vance of their fellows, showing ex-
traordinhry brightness at an early age.
For some time past IL has been ques-
toned whether such symptoms are
signs of normal or abnormal condi-
tionH, and whether the precocious IN
FAINT iE above or below the average IN
prospect Of eventual growth and de-
Vebpment. Df. johnston says tnAb
such children, as a rule, are Of inferior
physical development. They are apt 20
Be troubled with nervous disorders,
are thin-blooded, have small Gppetitea,
are easily tired, aud, when they are At
tacked by illness, are much mofs apt 70
die than ordinary children. In child
quick intellect, vivaclty, unusual power
Of memoriEing and vivid iIaAsinatisa
are very attractive qualities And .
source Of pride TO parents, but IN real
ity they are signs OF an abnormal state
Of the nerve eenters. They are likely
} 10 mean that the nervous syEtem IL be-
, ing developed too fast, and that II VIII
be exhausted at an early age, In ma
ture precocity is a sign Of interiority
: II proof Of this IL desired enc may
point 20 the negro infant. which ip III
early years is far superior to the white
child Of like age in mental develop
3 ment. But after that time the white
= child passes the negro very rapidly
and henceforth there 10 no comparison
between them. Travellers In Equa
torial Africa have described the petiv,
: piclkaninnies as "absurdly precOcioua.
q The more perfect the organism th'
a slower Its development, Is one Of thi
s-siAs Of animal creation-
The Hermit's Chance.
Enterprising Agent--Say, old man
for the trihing sum OF six dollars
can fix up your cave with electri
u lights aud bells.
where There's a WIN.
Where there's a Will there's Away
1 fFkfaarr.. nnflT