The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-06-18
Some palpable Questions By An
interested Citizen.
DR.. FULTON TALKS PLAINLY
The Cramming promesses Of the Day
and Their Unhappy Results --
Plea For Natural Conditions
and Methods Of Teaching.

The following pertinent and timely
letter from DR.. J. A. Fulton. IL pub.
Iishcd by this paper a. an open endorse
ment OF the principle IL sets forth. and
In the direct interest OF the children
involved:
editor Astorian: School vacation II
at hand. and the usual examination held
ut this time are under way.
"ls II not time ior the parents In this
city to take a hand in the management
OF our schools and have something Ia
say about the course of instructions de-
sired? II II well known fact that
writers and observers all over the land
are lamenting the nervous and unsatis
factory condition n large proportion Of
our school children are found TO be IL
along about the latter part Of the schoo
term. There il reason for this break
ing down of the health Of our schoo
children and II should be discovered anc
removed II is the duty Of the parents
to look into this matter.
II have no fault to find with on
teachers. for 1t is their place to teacl
the course provided, and to cram th
pupil so as TO get through the cours
within a given time. Neither do hn'
fault with the directors. for they hav'
great burden upon their shoulder
which they are cheerfully carrying
The entire question is up to the parents
Do we want the kind OF schools we ar
hayingf Do we want to have the ques
tion Am | going to passs everlastingl,
in the mind OF the pupil! Does not thi
constant worry have great tendenc,
TO make children nervous? Should no
the teacher be able TO tell without a.
examination whether or not pup
should pass on to the next grader VIII
have any optional studies! Why no
lay out a practical course Of studies an
have all pupils follow that course an
lii there are those desiring somethin
more and have the health to take j
let them have IL, if possible. in som
way that will not interfere with tn
regular course, II seems to me tina
our educators of today do not realiz
fully that school is not so much fo
the purpose OF filling a child full of boo
learning as II is to give them star
and show them how to study.
as il not better to give them less Q
book knowledge and more OF health!
there no way to get rid of these cor
slant tests and examinationst Schot
children should never be nervous no
should they worry over their studies.
More than half Of the so-ealled ey
strain that so many young are wearm
glasses for. is simply the result of mel
Ivousness brought about by the preser
nefarious system of education existing
our schools today II is painful to hay
parents bring me their little girl or bo
for medical treatment and expect reli'
when the cause producing the trouble
constantly at work: What we want fc
our children is more out of door worI
more time for recreation, more time ft
learning the really valuable lessons
how to live and preserve the health, an
less, infinitely less, of the effort to max
fifteen hundred children in Astoria
into one and the same old mould IL
vented and designed by some theor'
tical, impractical educator who bui
his plans without once taking into col
sideration the question of the child
health.
1 m ~