The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-05-15
Declare Children Are Pushed Too
Hard in Studies.
EVIL TENDENCIES MARKED
STATE MEDICAL SOCIETY CON-
CLUDES ANNUAL MEETING.


the evil tendencies. as they viewed
them. spoke from experience in their
own homes and noting conditions
among their young patients. Only one,
DR.. Bower, held to the opposite view
by declaring that no child below the
eighth grade could be overWorlzed IN
school studies. Words were not minced
in oOndemning the school boards poll
icy.
The subject was opened for discus
sion by DR.. Salathiel Ewing reading his
paper on THE Doctor and His Rela-
ton to Society" The paper bristled
with sentiments predicting that with
the evolution Of medical science the
time is coming when every one can
be made immune from any contagious
disease and when the public health
conditions can be made to assure the
highest desires attainable In health
and cOntentment and long life.
The suggestion was thrown out that
it is the duty of the medical profess
sion to continue studying that they
may prepare for their Iuture obliga-
tons to society, to ameliOrate the
mental, moral and physical conditions
of the people and to urge the enact
ment Of necessary laws for the protec-
ton of the public health.
Defects In School System.
Coming down to the school question,
DR.. Ewing drew attention to what he
termed the erroneous system Of school
instruction.
In the public schools Of this city
there is too much study required" de-
clared the doctor. The brains Of the
children are over-stimulated; commun-
ing with nature is neglected, and there
is too strong tendency toward mere
muscularity to onset the evils Of tax
ing the mental powers. There is as
much risk Of overt rOwding the ply
steal body as the mental structure.
55t is a mistaken idea Of the times
to force children through the grades
without regard to their varying mental
capacities. Much wisdom does not
come from cub knowledge, nor does
much learning come from the study Of
many subjects. The teachers have a
wrong. conception OF their duties.
Arithmetic. reading, writing, geog-
raphy and possibly literature also as
an accomplishment, is all that ought to
be included in the school course in and
below the eighth grade, but most i'm
pOrtant of all is reading. I venture to
say that not one-third Of the pupils in
Salt Lakes public school know how to
read and what to read. We have be-
fore US the deplorable. example of Clyde
Felt as a school reader, and he is by
no means the only one nor the worst
example.
THE remedy is to shorten the course
81.
ones to follow the pace OF the brighter
and stronger pupils. Grading alone is
not the solution. This matter L pro-
pose shall be taken UP by our local
medical society"
DR.. Bower Differs.
DR.. Bower expressed the opinion that
child below the eighth grade cannot
be overworked. He admitted, however,
that the curriculum is too long, as in
years gone by a boy or girl could get
through college at the age Of Is years,
but now il requires till they are q or
%. DR.. Bower attributed the defective
eyesight in pupils largely to imperfect
lighting Of the school rooms.
Speaking as a patron Of the schools
and as a medical practitioner, Dr.,
MacIean declared that while the
younger pupils are probably not over
worked, he knew that they are worked
far too hard in the High school.
THE way the pupils are pushed there
is most shameful and a disgrace, and,
besides. the narrow steep stairways in
the High school building are enough to
kill any girl who has TO climb them, -
was DR.. Macleans concluding declara-
ton.
DR.. Wright followed with a statement
to the effect that the school children
can't be pushed much more than they
are now. He added that the pressure
brought to bear upon their minds that
TO be tardy in the morning is a crime,
causes pupils to swallow their break
fast in too much of a hurry. In this
way. he said, the teachers show the
least Judgment, and in consequence the
prospects Of the children in life are
blighted. Continuing, DR. Wright said
that the bright students are put for
ward and the less apt ones are crowded
to keep up. till their systems break
down and their mental development is
at the expense Of their physical we'll
being.
Is a Great Wrong.
cit is very unfortunate that any ply
stefan should give il out that there is
not enough pressure on the students
in the public schools in this city" said
Dr. Beatty. 1T is a great wrong, this
pressure the children are undergoing in
the schools. It is the pride Of the
parent and the satisfaction Of the
teacher TO see the child go ahead in
its studies, but we recognize that the
child is not equal to the task To reg
ulate the matter by grading Is difficult
and it is the duty Of the medical pro-
fession to rise up and protest against
the wrongs by the school authorities
advising the students to go ahead as
fast as their ambitions and desires call
"The evil comes from teachers per-
hitting students to be overwOrked. and
parents should have pointed out To
them these evil tendencies. have long
felt the need Of the medical profession
to determine what remedial measures
to suggest in this matter"
Making of Laws.
Referring to a topic in DR.. Ewing
paper about the necessity Of medical
men taking a more important part in
the law-making and executive depart
ments of the government, DR.. Beatty
branched of by TemaTking hat many
Of the district health officers through
out the state are compelled to serve
without remuneration. and. in cOnse-
quence, not a few of them have re-
signed, leaving districts without any
health officer, TO the loss OF the public
veal He urged that the legislature be
memoralized to correct this defect IN
the law.
At the morning session Of the state
society the feature was the reading OF
a paper by DR.. r. /. Gillespie OF Port
land. Ore, on The SymptcbatolOgy 0i
the Minor Epilepsies and the Import
ance OF Their Early Recognition" The
paper was much appreciated BY the as
senbled medicOs. IN il was pointed out
that many Of the nervous disorders in
children are due TO epilepsy in its in
cipient stages, and the early correction
of the trouble will prevent the develop.