The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-08-17
DR.. w. H. TAYLOR FAVORS
AFULL HOURS RECESS
Editor OF The Tines:

Editor Of The Times:
In compliance with your request for
my opinion regarding certain contemplate
ed changes In school methods, I will
express some OF my views-though I do
so reluctantly. partly because have been
forced into the attitude OF persona non
cause experience mas taught me that my
opinions on school reforms carry very
little weight; for of the many salutary
changes urged during the twenty Eight
years Of my connection with our city
schools scarce any were effected until
the School Board was constrained by
superior outside compulsion.
Most OF my efforts towards reform have
been directed to promoting the health
and comfort Of the school children. The
greatest difficulty In the way was the
conviction, intertwiSted, interviewer and
felted into the minds OF school authori-
ties that the chief end of boys and girls
in this world is to pack their brains with
book-stuff. and most other considerations,
including health and comfort, were made
subordinate to this. My own decided CON
viction. on the contrary. is that good
health Is far preferable to great learning.
and that he who willingly gives the
former for the latter acts very unwiseiy.
This conviction of mine is not a mere
speculation, but is based on much obser-
walton and painful familiarity with the
distressing and deplorable results which
ensue when depressed body is dominated
by an excited mind. The child. unfor-
tunately has no choice, but must sub
NIT to the guidance of superior wisdom,
yUh wi q
abiding place in the minds of the mem
bers of the School Board-not in the
mind of the teacher, or the principal, or
the superintendent. for whatever these
may think about it. under our very per-
ncious system. they must act towards
the child as they are hidden to do by the
board.
Entertaining these views as to the su-
periority Of a healthy body over book
crammed mind I, many years since. sug-
gested that one or two members of the
School Board should be physicians so
that the numerous intricate matters per-
tanning to school mana cement which are
intimately connected with hygiene might
have the benefit of instructed and, con-
sequently. of intelligent consideration. A
similar suggestion has recently been M*Ge
by the mayor in a message to the Coun-
Gil. There does not appear to be any
substantial reason why a doctor would
not make as serviceable a member as a
lawyer or merchant. and there are rea-
sons why, in some respects, he would be
more serviceable.
It Is true that even a doctor might be
tempted to kick out some of the teachers
in order to put in a relative. or co-relig-
ionist, friend or friend of his friend; or
that. if he conceived himself to be the
town Demosthenes or Solomon, he might
PROSTATE the teachers and insult the
children and their parents by ladling out
oratorfcal bilgewater upon them. but all
this is expected of a members Of School
Board. and experience has shown That
nobody will mind it-especially If the
doctor would be so original as TO make al!
these things secondary, and let his duty
to the people who have trusted MIN be
his primary care.
am greatly in favor of full hours
recess. The few minutes given at the
High School were to me. teacher, tan
talizing and provoking. and were much
more so to the children The very short
rest, 1t seemed to me. was almost worse
than none But I would not make the
time OF opening earlier. as this would
be a great hardship to many teachers
and children. Having an hours recess l
would close at 3 o'clock An old-time
plan was to open at 9, have playtime
from Il to 1, and close at g. 1t was an
excellent plan, which I would be glad to
see re-established. and to do this l would
not hesitate to sacrifice some of the fad
dish studies and exercises now IN vogue.
including of course, that wretcned mess,
which the Children are made to bleat out
every morning. called America"
I do not note any disposition to reform
the multiplicity OF studies, the exactiag
final examinations, and the pitiless dis
culinary Neutrality-suspicious. which
would at once force themselves upon the
attention of a physician. If one were on
the board Nor is there any relief IN
sight for the teachers. who. I take oc-
casion to say. need to be commiserated
no less than the children. Surely. the lot
of female teacher is a hard one. Her
individuality crushed out of her by SUI
perior powers, who measure her. not by
her ability to impart instruction. but by
her success in destroying the sprightli-
ness of childhood, all day sits doing the
weary work of instructor and policeman
both, teaching and spying. And. after
all. when the school session is ended and.
conscious that she has faithfully done
what was required OF her, she Is recruit
ing her strength for next years labors.
like enough she reads some morning In
the papers that she Is put out-thrust
from her place to make room. as Is most
probable, for some favorite. Won't some
body pity her? WM- n. TAYLOR
Mr.. BRENT OPPOSED
TOsIONcFR RECESS