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Our School System

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Parent Issue
Day
2
Month
March
Year
1883
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

The subject of the unsanltary results of school work Is one of very close and vital importance to us, for, whether in all cases our school system ia the best possible one, or whether in gome instances its results are Injurioug to health, it must teil powerfully on the physique and even on the mind of the one upon whom the system is operated. We have before us a pamphlet containing a paper read by Dr. Breakey before the Sanitary convention last year. It discusses the unsanitary methods and results f school work in an admirable way. It does not, as might be supposed, treat the subject solely from the stand-point of a physlcian, but the wri.er of the paper by correspondenee gathered together the ideas of one hundred each, of the leading teachers, superintendenU aiid physlcians of Uie State. We note the preponderaace of evidence to be as follows: lat. The superlntendents do not think the work required of scholurs iu the graded schools is too much, either in number or charactei' of studies for the average age of those attemling the schools. On the other hand the physi cians do think it is too rauch. 2d. Both agree in saying it causes nervoiisuess in very niany. 3d. The task is greater for girls. 4tli. Many physicians testify that it has caused "serious, protracted, and fatal illness." 5th. A largo majority of the superintendente think the discipline of schools in the requirement of attendance not too exacting; a smaller majority of the doctors think they are: 6th. Both classes are nearly unanimous in affirming that "absences properly accounted for ghould not appear, in any system of marking, to the discredit of the acholar." 7th. As regards the question whether there is "a tendency to overstimulation of ÜMi nervous system and disproportionate developmenl," the physicians say yes, wliile the teachers ar.i about evenlv divided. 8th. Precocious scholars do not take the lead in practical life. 9th. The good acholare are those who have more frequently broken down in health. lO.The majority of supernteudents and phvsicians believe that "the couisesof study can be made moreelective and the rigidity of class work, and the exacting system of maiked examinationscan De relaxed, or made more elastic, without loss in efficiency." llth. The doctors say "undue proiuinenee is given to studies overtaxing the uiemory and the anulytical powers of the children, e. g., the details of history and advanced mathematica;'1 but the superintendent disagree with themon thatpoint. I2th. It is the almost unanimous opinión that tbe specialists or experts in any departmentof learuingare not fair judgesofthediffleulty with which children of different ages, temperament?, tastes and abilities can acquire that special kind of knuwledge. 13th. A continuous session of flve liours is not preterable to a forenoon and afternoon session. 14th Moreatten- -- -- e,--.." w me study and practice of physiology and hygiëne in the public schools. In rejrard to the thirteenth point, it may be said that the plan of having the fivehour contiuous session is now being tried in the High School. After a year and a half of trial the professors and citizens differ as to whether or not it gives the best remlts. Prof. Perry says: "I incline, not strongly, to the afflrmative." Prof. Chute says: " Most emphatically is a continuous session preferable In a school organized on the plan of the Ann Arbor high school." Piof. Pattengill thinks " it requires the pupil to spend less time in the school room, and gives time to do more work by daylight." Prof. Dunsterdeclares: "I should prefer the doublé session, unless rlie continuous one is broken by frequent recesses- not less than four of 10 or 15 minutes eacli." Prof. Payne says : " It appears to me that a coiuinuous session of live houis is very uuwise, though I cannot speak trom personal experience." Drs. Kupp and Smith thinks two sefsious are preferable. We believe the verdict is right f rom one staudpoiut, but wrong f rom ttnother. That is to say, the question as asked was too broad iu its scope. The doctors, and the teachers of the smaller echolars at once thought of lue effect on the little ones, of a üve-liours continuóos session, while they lost sight of the fact that in a high school organized as is the one here in Aun Albor, the students have to be at the school only' when they have to recite, and fortbei that no one has enough studies to keep hiin or her in school for the whole session. UnUer these conditions, after iuterviewing many of the scholars themselves, we lind it is the almost unaniinous verdict tliat the one session of five hours is preferable, because it saves them tim, extra walkiiig and froin beiiiKcompelled tostudy entirely by Kas-light. We admit that a forenoon and alternoon session is better tor the health of the younger echolars, but we are satislied tbat a diítinction should be made in favor of high schools by wlilch they should be exemptfrom the rule. The pamphlet brings up many other points which would be of interest to discuss, and we believe that in the sensible way they are presentad, they ought to have good cousideration on the part of those who are interested in the welfare of the human race. It is not all of life to have an advanced education; it is not for the highest good merely to have sound health. Uut the combination of the two makes the ideal. Horace's iniixim : " Men sana in corpore sano " should ahvays ring iu our

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Subjects
Ann Arbor Courier
Old News