Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-01-08
HOMEMAKERS COLUMN.
Correspondence on topics of interest tothe lAdie.
Is solicited. Address: Editor Ho1knAKkRS
CoLUnN. Oxford Democrat. Paris. Maine.
STUDYING AT HOME.
SHOULD 1T BE ABOLISHED IN CASES OF
CHILDREN?

A reform of public education which
has been effected In the Washington
schools Is Of great interest from the fact
that, owing to the peculiar form Of gov
eminent of the national capital, this re-
form was instigated not by the towns
people Of single city, but by an act OF
the United States Senate, says Harper's
Bazaar. An investigation Of the public
schools was conducted before Senate
committee, the outcome being that the
existing order of things was entirely
changed on basis of commOn-sense rs
opposed to the attenusted theories Of
pedagogy gone mad. Incident to this, q
ruling on home study has lately been
made in Washington.
Children AZ years of age and under are
forbidden to study at home. The pur-
pose Is to secure the health Of the child,
medical science having determined that
undue mental strain retards proper ply
steal development of the growing child.
In view of the apothoesis Of the child
particularly the little American child
which modern society ordains, 1t ssvors
of presumption to pipe feeble note OF
Joy that in this revulsion Of educational
sentiment against home study, the
mothers of school children are immense
ly relieved.
The only reason for sending child to
school is the physical limitation OF the
mothers ability to properly accomplish
its education. Every science pertaining
to the household, which colleges and
clubs to-day are rapidly developing,
means added strain on the mind and
body of the housewife. When, to the
burden which sanitary science, hygiene,
cooking as fine art, impose upon the
woman of family, schools send home the
children after q half-day's session, Tor
the mother to provide time, place and
supervision Of hours Of study, the ques-
ton arises, have modern mothers any
rights which little children and pro-
gression, as it progresses, are bound to
respect.
The home conveniences of the average
family do not include a school room
or even a library where the children
with their books may repair secure from
interruption. If pedagOgues think-if
school boards guess-that the average
child condemned to home study natur-
ally sits down in the bosom Of Its family
and learns its lessons eagerly, because
it loves knowledge, let the pedagogues
and the school-boards know now that
such is not the case. Right-minded
little children hate studying at home.
Put to it, they have their vengeance
upon the helpless mother, who thus Is
victimized alike by their healthy, game
loving natures and by a system of edu-
cation that is little short of cannibaiism,
so horribly does it consume the mothers
nerves, flesh and very life.
Far be 1t from the most radical thought
to encourage revolt Of mothers against
the various sciences that seek to sacri-
flee them on the altar of truth in order
that the wheels of social evolution may
run their merry round. But other school
boards that have not the intellect of the
United States Senate to guide them in
ways of common-sense and just concern
for the dues of everyday humanity will
take up the question of home study.
Then mothers clubs should work siren
uously for that measure Of household
emancipation which the abolition OF
home study means to them.