The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-04-22

and this applies in politics as well as In
other things.
HOURS IN THE SCHOOL ROOM.
Austin. Texas. April 2o-We are able
"a calculate almost precisely the amount
OF work any machine Is capable OF per-
forming; we know that so much fuel VIII
produce a given quantity OF steam, OF that
battery may be relied upon to generate
such measure OF electricity, but when
VIC have to deal with problems affecting
the human body and mind, experiments
often fail to produce satisfactory results.
If ia this recognized fact which led M.
pasteur and other scientists OF his class
TO make tests upon animals, noting closely
the physical changes and the active or
passive response OF the reciprocal organ.
Put when the investigation involves
psychological results, science can not &C
cent such substitutes, and therefore 1t be-
comes necessary to multiply and repeat
the lists many times before making any
deductions.
D
lie nearer our hearts than the mental and
physical training Of our children. and 1t
is encouraging to note that men of Inter-
national reputation in the scientific world
have turned to this subject and are striv-
ing by careful comparison to reach accu-
rate results, and that practical good has
already ensued from this Intelligent in
vestigation.
The vital problem to be solved may be
/ briefly stated. Ii is to arrive at the high
est mental achievement, with the least
demand upon the physical forces, and
while we fall, " we attempt to draw Ger
tain lessons from the matured and COM
plicated organization of the adult, the
simpler. undeveloped mental equipment Of
the child affords a more fruitful field for
study.
Our children are habltually required to
perform specified amount OF mental
work daily, while it is not yet determined
whether the childish brains are actually
able to fulfill the demand without suffering
lasting damage MUCH valuable research
following results:
The importance OF shorter working
hours has been demonstrated; the value OF
physical exercise, unless most iudiciously
inaulged in, rs questionable, and harm
done by inadequate sleep, or demands
upon the brain after easng are meal
rulable
Experiments With $50 pupils proved that
with half hour tasks and ten minute in
tervals, the percentage OF work was mucn
higher than wnere longer and less inter
Tupted periods were demanded. A walk OF
an hour or two hours duration dlminished
the mental efficiency as much as an hour
additional study. The rapidity with when
tasks could be performed sank TO one bird
AFTER nights ruilway Journey and CON
sequent inadequate sleep. A period Of
several hours passes between the taking oil
food ana its complete utilization in the
body, and during this time especially after
hearty meals, the mental vigor is dimin-
iShed to marked degree.
Ask any Intelligent, observant teacner n
our schools and she will Invariably testify
that her difficulties multiply during tht
afternoon session; that the amount o.
, work accomplished. In proportion to the
time, is much less than in the morning
For this happy coalition of affairs We
must thank Mother Nature, often a kinder
pbNoust u N.SSA inBluCIs tldl ourselves
1t is she who lnterposes and gives the
childish brain the one remedy whict
sometimes saves 1t from collapss-inatten-
ton. You may force child to sit still
and be quiet, but you can not force 1t L
! concentrate it's attention beyond a certain
point. Under our present system o
| teaching we set at naught many of thu
recognized laws of health. We keep OH
children at their books until 12 o'clock
; and then give them long walk, or ar
) hours energetic play, and a midday meal
as preparation for further study
In the East they are growing wiser ant
are adopting the one term school system
{ the session lasting from till 2, will
intervals Of ten minutes rest between TIL
J recitation. The results have been mos
, satisfactory to both pupils and teachers
, In the crowded east side of New York i
was found necessary 70 have two session
daily in order 10 accommodate the larg,
: number Of pupils. 1t was feared the chill
! dren would suffer by this curta!lment o
the hours Of instruction, but it was foun,
that their capacity for work was so mucl
J greater, that in these schools a highe
standard was maintained than heretofore
In the South the old system is universal,
retained, with the additional dlsadvautag
to the children, OF the debllitating effect
of sem-tropical climate.
We are, undoubtedly, growing wiser 4
these matters, and have improved upo
the methods Of our fnretathers. TIL
broad minded earnest, thoughttul educa
tor OF today is a living Illustration q
. THIS. But the sin of omission, the accuse
ton OF Indifference, is one from whicl
We OF the laity can not exonerate our
selves. and we may be sadly surprise
! hereafter to rellize our personal respon
siblllty for evils we nllrht hara ra..,n od