Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-18
CARE OF SCHOOL CHILDREN.
Teacher Should Not Be Expected to
Play Role OF Parent-Home
Life Of Pupils.

From the New York Herald.
In the recent discussion on the care Of
school children before the New York Acad-
envy OF Medicine many Interesting facts
were ELECTED. Experts in different lines We'd
with one another in pointing out the va
rfans defects In our educational system at
fecting the physical welfare of the scholars.
AT first sight the showing is certainly
very discouraging one. The scholars, as
q rule, represent all classes. from the rea-
sonably well-to-do, who are decently
housed and well fed. to the poverty-stricken
denizens of the lowest tenement districts
To make one rule for all Is obviously Inn.
possible Any attempt In such direction 10
offset by difficulties as various as the sub
jects of the experiment. Still, In the true
interests Of the rising generation we should
not be dismayed In striving at least to bet
ter existing conditions in some rational
way.
Ing child as much Of sound, profitable edu-
cation as he can receive without damaging
him physically. The principal influences
that most work for good in such direction
are those of the home on one side and
the school on the other. In most instances
instead Of these elements working together
they too often have dramatically opposite
purposes. The ignorant and fmproyident
parent too frequently neglects the home life
OF the child and expects the school to sup
ply the many deficiencies OF proper moral
and healthful training.
While 1t Is eninently fitting that the state
should care for its weak. poor and sickiy
citizens, there Is always limit of posi-
bilities In such directions. 1t Is certainly
no. expected that municipalities should take
all the responsibilities of educating. hous-
Ing. feeding and medically caring tor all
their wards and dependents.
The learned scientists OF the academy
have presented many plausible theories for
the betterment of existing conditions. but
most OF them are impracticabie Of applica-
ton We can prevent, for instance, the
spread OF contagious diseases by systematic
medical inspection. and by the same means
classify the relative mental capacities or
scholars but we can hardly be expected to
furnish diet lists and meals. provide spa
cious Fairgrounds In the heart Of the city
for recreation parks, or buy seaside resorts
for the weak ones. or prevent toothache by
skilled dental attention. Lofty as may De
these ideals, they are plainly one-sided as
regards a practical school system. The
more responsibility taken from home man
agement the less will such responsibility
be felt. The education must not come BY
the school alone.
Most sensible parents will agree with DR..
Jacob that No child under seven years OF
age should be allowed In the schools. Un-
til that time he can hardly be expected to
be mentally receptive OF school discipline ne
beginning the less fruit will 1t yield IN the
end with the well-grOwn, strong. healthy
child everything Is possible in mind culti-
walton. The proper basis of future hope
rests on a perfect physical condition. The
parents have 1t In their power to contribute
to this or not.
One speaker justly complained that many
of the pupils are allowed to run the streets
until midnight and deprive themselves OF
the requisite amount of sleep. Certainly
tho schools have no control over such mat
ters. The teacher may or may not be justly
charged with overworking the pupil. but the
parents should certainly do their part at
home in keeping the child in the best pos
sible condition to meet the required work.
After all. as difficulties at both ends of the
problem are better understood 1t becomes
more and more evident that the mothers
as a whole require education as much as
their children.