The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-02-10
ANATOMY VERSUS ALGEBRA

A professional man whose work is applied | mathematics if any work can be so described, recently told me that although he had taken" algebra in high school and "passed' the final | examination. in the subject he never did un- derstand and does not now understand what l the idea of running in letters with figures. l This is frank avowal by a man Of education Lit is usually the well educated man who dares to admit he doesn't know something which people of less education pretend they | know well enough. Without boasting, I confess | I took" and passed" algebra in high school, | too, though heaven knows why. | I believe the pedagogues maintain that the study of algebra develops the students think ing capacity or something, and hence it is es- sential for cultural improvement. They either lar value else dismiss them out of the question because of the pleasure the student finds in doing them.
 | Here and there, I suspect, but am not yet in position to assert, there school men who do not regard algebra indispensable | high school subject. One may even hope that who believe they could do their work without | knowledge of algebra. Anyhow I'm just ig- norant enough to commit myself upon the question. 1 think algebra isn't worth tinker s dam in the high school curriculum and the formal teaching of such subject should be stopped in the name of economy and educa- | ton.
 oh, I don't suggest that the algebra class | should sit around and twiddle thumbs to while away the time. l suggest that the time now | given to the teaching of the silly subject of | algebra be transferred to the teaching of hu- man anatomy, and the second term to physi- | ology. | Now I dare any educator or any parent to state frankly his objection to this proposal Too long have our presumably cultured class made sorry joke of their own ignorance Of human anatomy and physiology. I'm sick of | the hac|neyed facetiousness of nasty minded intelgentsia concerning their own or others | "in'ards." That sort of thing may have been scarcely tolerabe now.
 In many high schools there is a pretense of though usually it is q mere incidental part of a course in what is called biology. This is taught by teacher who knows as much about l human anatomy as I know about Latin. | have a smattering of Latin, but as a teacher of ancient languages I'd be great fun. High school boys and girls nowadays know a lot about things which aint so than | their fond parents imagine they do. Of course l cant say that the dgnifed study of anatomy and physiology, on plane with physics and history, would help our youth to surivev the | flames, but at any rate it would give them a better break and a better chance to find the way. The way to health and happiness Al zebra doesn't help them much there
 If the study of human anatomy and physo- ology is not culture in the highest sense of the word, then I'm just too ignorant to com prehend what culture means.
 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
 Cramps in Legs
 Many persons suffer with cramps in tho caIycs usually when in bed. I have found that these cramps o: are Gulckiy rcne'e9 rnt . % one
 
 | (R. H)
 | Answer-Thank you. Perhaps some of oui readers will try the remedy and report how il works.
 | What, No Dreams?
 To prevent dreaming, sleep with head OI pillow So to allow air to circulate under neck. (J o. B)
 Answer-Or in other words. less covers, less | warm air to breath less heat in sleeping room more cool air, open windows, hot sand bag iron bed-warmer, to keep feet warm.
 Embarrassing Questions
 I was amazed at your confession that you wish readers would not ask "cmbarrassins questions. If a physician cannot answer sucf questions who can-sOmcbOdy the street! | Where we laymen. particularly young people to turn for instruction and advice about sucI, matters GA. R. C)
 Answer-You got me all wrong, sister. am glad to give the best answer 1 to any question about the correspondents own SC, troubles. and did not refer to that at al By embarrassing questions I meant such as par ents sometimes submit concerning the Hines. and treatment of child who has recently passed away. The other subject causes no .em | barrassment, prosidsd the correspondent is frank and I think I can offer any help either physical mental -.sss.. .- Copyright John F. Dille Co)