Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-05-28


IF the sunlight. by means of double
system of shades. is Indispensable.
Casual observation showed several
children whose eyes need the earnest
attention of an eye doctor.
In inost OF the rooms the light falls
on the chill's desk from over the leli
shoulder. In few rooms the backs of
the pupils are towards the light. throw.
ing .heir desks into tho shade of their
cwn hcdics; this, with the poor light
through the panied windows, makes Il
constant straining which is very injur-
ious 20 the eyes.
One room In the High school Is an
interior room, with rolling sides. re-
cciving lis light only through other
rooms Although recitation room.
ono member of the committee saw Il
class of young ladies' AMI gentlemen
strainins their eyes during study pc
Rod
There is no system of calisthenics
in any of the schools, but fifteen mil..
quietly and quickly put eli their wraps,
form in lines AMI march TO the beating
of a drum out of the building, through
the yard and onto the sidewalk where
they were ut liberty to break Tie
marching lines. A half dozen active
boys ran 4 quarter of n mile away to
small sheet Of ice. Some Of the girls
crossed Tho half frozen road. talko.i in
clnmns. Willie majority of tho hoys
and girls stayed on the sidewalk near
the gates, with their backs TO the
northwest wind. and chatted with
those near them until time for them
to como in. There was no attempt ut
any game or exercise. They returned
to the same mir from which they had
previously used all the vitality.
One school house has cemen!ntl
rlayroom in The basement, intended
for Indictment weather, which conl;
not be used on account of standing
water.
The sanitation of most OF The toilet
looms needs reorganization. suggest
daily use CT soap and water, more
frequent flushing of basins.
Children under twelve wears vt age.
are not supposed to have more than
ihaNimnm of one hour study ut home.
those ever twelve to have two hours.
Many persons have commented upon
the great number of books the children
carry. One day had the opportunity
to weigh the hook bags of two little
girls of eight years. One bag weighed
three and n half pounds. the other sew
en- pounds. This brings up the great
subject of lateral curvature of spines.
which hope your committee will take
UP ut some future time. together with
contagious diseases and medical In.
spcction Of scho OILS.
IL is pleasure to see manual train.
Ing in schools. The colored school has
long had a well equipped department.
due 10 the generosity of Mrs. Hunting.
ton. who has always done so very
much in various ways for the school
children Of Newport News.
The grra: Importance Of manual
training, gymnastics, fencing. or any
definite physical action. is that it de.
velops the higher mental brain cells,
increases the force CT will power. aid.,
i'll coordination uf the various facul-
tics OF the brain and. therefore, aids
III assimilation of "book learning"
The training of the eye and the train
Ing of the tactile sense has awakened
the consciousness of many a previous.
ly stupid child.
have made very thorough can.
vass of the number of backward chill
dren in Newport News. and find there
arc twelve classes under this head.
The urgent need that some of these
children should have special teacher.
who has been especially trained for
this purpose, has thrust itself upon ne.
Other cities are doing great work
in establishing special schools for their
instruction. Some have been support
ell by the Educational Association,
until the public was impressed with
the importance Of such schools. when
thcV were turned over to public school
authorities. In other cities they arc