The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-01-14
ELEMENTARY EDUCATION.
Continued from page I. }

ter of the children of our schools. In
addition she would have knowledge
and pedagogical skill, since she must
direct her subjects, both as religious
and as teacher, and she should be
able to command their respect by her
personal character and fitness. She
perienced teachers.
Rarely does it happen that the young
teacher comes into the Parish School
so well equipped that immediate sue
cess attends her teaching. The work
of training in the Motherhouse is
largely theoretical and only partially
and slightly practical Hence there is
need of intelligent supervision by the
local superior in order that the young
enthusiastic, but unframed, beginner
may become a thorough, efficient and
well-balanced teacher. The local SUI
perior should be the head and direc-
tress of all the work under her charge.
To select for the position of the local
superior one who is a good religious,
but poorly equipped for school super
vision, and to supplement her work
by making class teacher RESPONSE
BILE for the conduct and educational
progress of the school, is compro-
mise that fails to achieve it's purpose.
On the other hand, if there must
be an adequate preparation of teach
ers on the part of the teaching re-
ligious communities, it should be met
with just and reasonable conditions in
the schools. Overcrowded classes and
bad1y-constructed and poorly-ventil-
ated school buildings exhaust the vital
ity of teachers, neutralize their eff
cheney, and render fruitless even the
most earnest and energetic efforts. In
separately associated with the factors
already mentioned is the consideration
of the child's physical well-being, espe-
cially in the congested centers of
population The interrelation of the
moral, intellectual, and physical life of
the child demands the development of
each. Too commonly the physical life
is forgotten or is left to haphazard
and unsystematic treatment. The
evil Of this neglect is accumulated in
large cities because of the failure of
the civic authorities to provide parks
and Fairgrounds sufficient for games
and recreation purposes.
In the rural districts and smaller
within easy reach, the child pupil has
opportunity for the exercises that de-
velop a healthy mind and body. In
the large centers of population, the
child must turn to the street to in
dulge those play instincts which are
such vital element in the formation
of his moral character and the preser-
walton Of his bodily health.
|
While the city authorities should, of
their own initiative, afford children
sufficient means of recreation, it too
often happens that the public sense of
responsibility in this matter needs to
be quickened by strong and persist
ent urging on the part of private citi-
zens. Pastors and people should mani
fest a personal interest in seconding
every public and private movement to
provide children with adequate facili-
ties for play. Moreover, provision
should be made in each school for am
pie recreation and exercise The
teachers, too, should look upon it as
a duty to give intelligent and system
attic direction to the games and physi-
cal exercises of the children.
Simple and plain instruction on
hygiene should be given in the
schools; and since medical care given
early in life will do much to save
children from the disastrous conse-
quences which arise from the neglect
to provide treatment before diseases
become chronic and incurab1e, the at
tention of parents should be called to
defects in the child's hearing and
ght.-Sixteenth annual report Of the
Superintendent of Parish Schools of
the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for
the year ending June 80, 1910.