The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1900-09-12
BRAINS OF CHILDREN.
seientine Investigations which shew
That Children shoaid Aos he sent
60 school before They Are Flight.

/ @"N - t"tttR - NtttthAti& ett ~ Fttnrh'
the subject OF anxious study by the au
thorities Of the District ol Columbia
who aFe trying IN this way 20 reach
satisfactory conclusions as 10 the ags
81 which young folks ought 10 begia
20 go 70 school. II IL beginning 10 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 Is considered
that infants OF six years are compelled
20 seek book-learning at the public
cost IN the District Of Columbia and
In Wyoming, while mere prattlers OF
four are allowed 20 take advantage OF
educational opportunities In Connecti-
cut. Wisconsin aud Oregon, II their
parents so desire. IN 10 other states
OF the union the minimum age OF vol-
untary attendance is five years.
Light Is thrown upon this interest,"
ing subject, says Rene Bache, In the 81.
Louis Globe-Democrat, by q study OF
the growth and development OF the
mind organ in children. In this line
the most important work has been
done by DIR. W. w. Johnson. distin-
guished physician OF Washington, who
calls attention to the fact that the hui
man brain attains practically its full
weight when the individual is only
about eight years of age. At birth the
brain weighs approximately a pound,
but Its development Is so rapid that at
the end Of the first year 1t would tip
the scales st 2h pounds. At four years
II has reached nearly three pounds, but
from that time on its growth Is COM
paratively slow. Attaining to what Ia
to all intents and purposes its full size
ut eight years, II does notalter appre-
ciably after 12 years, and after "a years
1t begins TO diminish slowly but stead
ily in avoirdupois.
These facts, obviously, have a very
important bearing upon questions of
school training. So far as brain de-
velopment Is concerned, the first eight
years are by far the most important
of child's life, the main growth Of
the organ taking place during that pc
Rod. 1t Is 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 to
begin during this period of brain
growth, and that children that are
sent TO school before they are eight
years of age are threatened with se-
-ious injury. Also, he contends, in view
of the facts above stated regarding |
brain development, instruction during
he first years should not be too exact
ny or too stimulating. Precocity
,ught to be checked, furthermore, and
rot fostered.
The first eight years are the most inn
,ortant OF a child's life, for the reason
mentioned, and it isurged tnat school
ducation ought not to begin until this
eriod is about over. But 1t still re-
mains to be determined how many
ours daily should be given BY the child
0 study. 1t has not been ascertained
efnitely whether the child Is helped or
indered by competition, and good
lany other questions in this same line
emain unanswered. One thing deemed
artain is that school children, gem
rally speaking, in this country and
are overlooked. There are
100000 pupils in the public schools
( the United States, and it goes with
ut saying that some Of them are much
,ebler mentally and physically than
thers. Nevertheless, the pace Is set
y the capacity of the stronger and
narter ones, and all are forced along
,gether-always to the detriment OF
e weaker and less clever.
In each generation there is small
Arcentage of children who are in adj
lnce of their fellows, showing ex-
aordinary brightness at an early age.
or some time past it has been ques-
oned whether such symptoms are
gns of normal or abnormal condi-
ons, and whether the precocious in
mt is above or below the average In
ospect of eventual growth and de-
lopment. DR.. Johnston says that
ch children, as a rule, are of inferior
Iysical development. They are apt to
troubled with nervous disorders,
e thin-blooded, have small appetites.
e easily tired, and. when they are at
cked by illness, are much more apt to
, than ordinary children. In a child !
ick intellect, vivacity, unusual power
memorizing and vivid imagination |.
, very attractive qualities and e
lrce Of pride to parents, but In real
they are signs of an abnormal state /.
the nerve centers. They are likely :
mean that the nervous system Is be-