New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-13
MORNING HOURS BEST.

President Birmingham OF the Board Of Education.
said he would prefer not be quoted on the sub
5ect shorter hours for public school choren' IN
til II longer a necessary expeoient he
admitted however, that for the younger children
he considered four hours sufficiently long work
ing day If (and he laid great emphasis upon ths)
those four morning hours AND as that
is not possible under the regime Of the moment
he continued, with smile, this expression OF my
opinion cannot possibly be attributed to desire
no souirr out Of the responsibility Of the present
situation
President Birmingham agrees with most authori-
ties on the subject that after midday a childs
vital forces begin its first exuberant crea-
tive energies are somewhat spent and mental exer-
tion. especially forced has tendency to increase
nervousness
LITTLE SCIENTIFIC DATA
Dr. Grace Peckham Murray, who has made
speciality Of the chid's mental development as re-
lated 10 hygiene when asked for an opinion on the
subject said that it a matter concerning
which there was really little definite data 1t
was difficult TO generaiize. The nerve tissues.
Dr.. Murray said. the cells of the brain cortex and
their system OF hbres are the last tissues OF the
whole body attain organic perfection AS d
rule 20 per cent Of the maximum weight OF the
brain has been attained at the of seven years
while from fifteen TO twenty additional years are
required for mature development Of funcuoh-
There has been much written and spoken OF la'e
or the subject of overeduca ton said the DOCTOR
knowledge on the subject that could serve as a
working basis for any radical change mat nan
dozen children half hundred break Gown
under the present school regulations would MOI
necessarily prove either curriculum or leheth w
study hours at fault. Numbers of children break
down and have to be treated for nervous diseases
who never attended school No systematic eiioie
has ever been made except in a limited numoer VI
isolated cases TO determine the amount or Hehlai
exertion normal at any specified age
Much shorter school hours prevail in the United
States than in any Of the countries though as
steady mental application is required Is ei"D''-'
Then Dr. Murray preached subject In when c
she has long been interested-that OF prcU.inaI1,,
Undertaken by the State for the benefit of the pno
lie. She quoted Herbert Spencer TO tne one Of
going right. and that there has peen 10 y dis
revelation on the subject the only way nv natient
cover that particular one in twenty Is ~ nprth of
intelligent experiment Not only lhe IeSed Of
s,noyne that is norma 9ue of knowledge
be ascertained, and this can pc oelr 1f corrss
this would be impossible through the medium or
the public school, but Dr. MURRAY uIeeSs nrnhan
asyiums and similar institutions in the Ehi nnd
States be divided into classes by @ ST. afford
accurate data) and the best educators IN r,e Oh
try-those trained IN the and Psychologists
be detailed 10 work with them AZ iea ohabiy be
fifty thousand OF such children ms the conditions
for all being nearly unlt syhan If public
Sas oCgd Be %sfe fSs
would be expensive, Dr. slu aIcs,,@n would
be incaIcua6ie 1t would prove to THIS 9 niaeO OF
work thinks what the hospu aasc ae in
estirnabIe aid TO progress and accuracy IN results
Ss incidentally s tally anfion possible The time
is qG.se ripe Dr Murray says son Ies that popular
nteras aa Sscsson aroused by the present pub
lie school education may coii'Ai