The Washington herald., 1909-07-02
FROM WOMANS
POINT OF VIEW

That pupils are continually falling be-
low the public school standard IS no
secret, but the cause IS a matter OF opin-
ion. BY some IL IS said 70 be the highly
nervous condition Of the modern child.
and one specialist has gone so Ear as 10
declare that alcohol plays some part IN
the bacAwardness OF pupils. Now comes
forward an eminent man with the state
ment that tea and coffee are the great
menaces OF youthful health. and he
pleads with parents 20 cut or the supply
and substitute wholesome water or milk
was once accused Of being old-fash-
Toned because I expressed horror at the
spectacle OF boys nom ten 20 twelve
drinking coffee and tea Of a strength
which I could not stand. and I do not
care for weakness in either beverage
Three times a day this occurred. and
when the boys became unmanegeable be-
cause Of the high tension Of their nerves
the family doctor was called in He used
rather plain language and frightened the
parents Into a frame OF mind that started
reform Then tbs boys raided the
kitchen and were finally packed on 70 a
military school, where the discipline was
severe.
There was neither tea nor coffee IN the
bill OF fsre and the false appetite for
such beverages died a natural death
Those boys are growing into splendid
manhood because they were taken from
negligent parental care before they We're
totally spoiled. It seems as If II might
be easy enough 10 form the tastes OF q
child. II he is accustomed 70 simple,
wholesome food. he never Graves deli
cacies. II he IS allowed 70 taste every
thing on the table even 20 the wine, as
some children are. what can you expect
Of them later on? The public school
course is not 50 hard upon modern chill
dren as IL was In the days OF their
fathers There are longer vacations and
more holidays and half holidays than
was used %. for instance, and there are
more reasons for curtaillng the sessions
fifteen or thirty minutes than used 10 be
found. So why need pupils be dun IN
less physical and mental conditions are
wrong2
We are not willing 10 admit that our
children are deficient in mental equip
ment surely. so the fault must lie IN
physical conditions. and over these we
have control Plenty Of nourishing food
and sleep and as much outdoor life as
possible should be enough 10 insure
healthy bodies and strong nerves. i.
matters little whether = child works or
plays provided he is out in the air and is
not overtaxing his strength. Healtay
WEAKNESS OF body means sound sleep
and desire for early retiring hours. /
know young men who are expert at ten
MS. and they play with so much enthU-
siasm that they have little desire for
other recreation While other men about
them are planning for social festivities.
they are resting in anticipation OF the
next days play.
They are remarkably wholesome IN
mind and body as children ought TO be.
but are not always more's the pity. To-
day witnessed the arrest Of two boys,
hardly more than twelve years old. and
both from respectable families They
were thieves, caught red-handed, and
one has been punished for a similar Of
fense. Tho father OF the smaller offender
wonders why his boy has turned out 50
badly when he has always been so kind
TO him, and nobody likes 70 tel him
that kindness is the real cause, mis-
taken kindness in the form OF lax disci-
pline, and too many pennies 70 waste.
The boy has had his own way too much
even 10 remaining away from homo for
days without permission.
r,rv7rs1r NJ, r,l,17D-