The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1937-09-30
Doctor Urges Quiet
Evening Hour for
School Children

the home after supper Will accom-
plish as much towards helping a
child TO master his schoolwork as al
most anything the family can do,
declared DR.. Robert A. Fraser,
chief medical director Of the New
York Life Insurance Company, IN
commenting on ways in which par
ents can assist their children at the
beginning of new school year.
1T is unreasonable, SAID DIR.
Fraser. ito expect that a child can
concentrate on his lessons III the
midst of the ordinary distractions
common to most homes. Not only
are school grades likely to suffer,
but the child's nervous and physi,-
cal condition can be affected.
Whether we realize 1t or not. the
radio, laughter. conversation, sing
ing. any and all of these constitute
disturbances that are almost insur-
mountable for the average child
when he has school work to do
Fathers and mothers should CO.
operate with the child, DR.. Fraser
| feels. and see to it that quiet hour
is strictly and regularly enforced
Let it begin about hall hour after
the evening meal, after the dishes
and other household tasks are out
of the way, and then for the space
of one hour the radio should be
quiet, there should be no CONVEX
sation between members of the tam
lily, no singing or piano playing, no
noise of any kind that the family
can avoid. Under such conditions
the child will be able to concentrate
on his school work and get the
greatest benefit from the time spent
on his books.
strangely enough" On. Fraser
added, in families where the quiet
hour is put into effect, the adults
are usually the ones who derive the
most actual satisfaction from 1t.
Mother and father discover that dur
ing that period they relax physical
ly and mentally, and they enjoy the
opportunity for undisturbed reading
| and rest"
A child should study in room
by himself when possible, and Or.
Fraser recommends giving the child
, desk of his own. where he can
keep his belongings with the under
standing that no one will modest
them. The desk need not be ar
expensive affair. Even couple OF
. packing cases, with simple alter
: atoms and a little paint, can be
/ made to serve. Equip the desk witt
good light and suitable chair, anc
, have the child use it for all his
studying and homework.
Don't Try to be 4 Teacher.
!. Most parents" says DR.. Fraser
: make a mistake in offering toe
much help with the child's home
i work. Don't try to be teacher
The chances are you will be doint
r more harm than good. Methods o
: teaching have changed markedly IL
i the past 20 years, in both elemen
tary and high schools, and in al
likelihood the parent will not un
derstand what system is being uset
with his child and will attempt Il
& explain the subjects as 1t was laugh
= to himself.
G The result is inevitable. Eithe
+ the child is bewildered and unabl
i to understand, or there is clash 0
u wills between parent and child owe
which method to use. Either way
@ the outcome is detrimental
> The wise parent, according to ID
! Fraser, gives a minimum OF actua
e help, but backs up the classroom
q teacher and lends her all the mora
y support possible. A visit to tn
school viii frequently result in par
ents having much better under
l. standing of what is being attempted
and they can find out how they ca
be of greatest help both to tn
!, teacher and the child
lie Take Children to the Doctor
- Parents should have their childre
: examined by physician either bt
"a fore school starts or as soon there
~ after as possible. Diphtheria inocl
= : lation, which usually is not con
: pulsory, is strongly advised *
- ! children starting school Eyesigh
- hearing and teeth should be carr
= fully checked by doctor and DENTS
Frequently parents will note tel
: tale signs indicative OF defectls
- hearing and eyesight, and in SUI
cases a doctor should be consulte
of at once. If the child squints whe
n reading holds the book marked
es close to his eyes or complains
n headaches, there is a strong poss
tie bility of impaired vision. II Il
of child seems inattentive and indi
n ferent and must have remarks r
all peated before replying, his hearlr
,ir should be tested.
Above all, see to it that scho
81 children get plenty of sleep. N
81 less than 10 or ii hours for Il
10 youngsters, not less than nine hou
nix for the boys and girls in middle al
re later teens" Remember the 0
is saying, that every hour Of sle'
ed before midnight is worth two aft
- | f,ry4a1rre,