Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-12-27
Which Most Important!

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Which Most Important!
Editor Capital Journal:
While referring TO the old adage Of
Spilled milk" in regard to the recent
school meeting and the position taken
by the present school board, should
like to know how many considered the
meaning and value Of what they had
before them. According to the papers
one member emphasized that he
would vote for fire escape at every
window II necessary for the protection
Of the children, which is no doubt
great thing, but on the other hand, he
voted against an equal If not more
vital subject than the benefit Of fire
escapes That is the kindergarten He
evidently don't know the meaning or
1t is thoughtlessness upon his part
II he should read some book Of au-
thority that is based upon scientific
study Of the Brain and its working
power; what 1t can receive and retain
and what are the best methods to
teach such studies and some of the
consequences of improper teaching, I
believe he would feel that there would
be n need Of kindergarten in each
room as well as fire escape for each
window.
1t seems to be the general opinion of
the public that it is impossible to
overwork the mind, while on the other
hand, should one look east of Salem to
that large brick building and ask what
is the greatest cause for the inmates
the answer would be the over strain
Of the mental powers. Now what is
the meaning of this and when the be-
ginning and what may be a remedy
FOR the future of others?
In the first place, there is no time
n life that the brain is more eager
o work than in the primary grade all
all Imagination; willing to
receive all that is placed before him
o do or learn as long as the interest
s maintained, they will grasp for
more.
The brain is an organ the same as
,thers Of the body and subject to the
buses that can be bestowed upon it
md a child at this age does not know
tben to stop or when it has received
'nough for his own good. If you
hould place all the pies, candies, etc,
,efore a child that he would eat, you
now what the effect would be. But
the mental powers is overtaxed, it
s impossible to tell it until it is too
ate. J.
The overworking of the brain has
he same effect as the overworking of
he muscular system and weakens the
ierves so that they will not work as
hey should. There are many men
hat will tell you, if you should put
wo or three year old colt to work un-
Ter heavy strain, which it would be
Wiling to do for a good master, the
fleet would be a broken down horse
n the prime of life. This applies the
anne to others, such as training
Iorses for races or the athletical field
IT If you should undertake to walk
several miles and not being used to 1t
'ou would find at the end of your des-
ination that you would be very foot
'ore while the next few days you
would be stiff and lame and it would
AXE several days to get back to your
normal condition. While under prop
n training It could be accomplished
'asily You no doubt know or have
seen people that are poor, small, stoop
and an old appearance in
.he prime of life and find the cause
rom oyerwork before the physical
structure was matured. This same
principle applies to the mind but from
the lack Of knowledge to know or
read or think upon this line of mental
development it is passed by as minor
Importance although such strain is
detriment to the thinking capacity
which should govern a persons life in
after years.
The professional kindergarten
teacher should know and watch each
individual pupil and know how much
the brain of each can receive and re-