The Girl From Ten To Twenty

The Girl From Ten To Twenty

Dr. Kinyon's Protest Against Modern Education

A Frail Body The Result

"What a Blessing if Girls Knew Less of Book Learning and More of Domestic Economy"

At half past seven Monday eve., at the Homeopathic hospital, the boys began to bring in extra benches to accommodate the large crowd in the small lecture room, which at eight o'clock held more people than room. Students, full fledged doctors, co-eds, nurses and visitors, had gathered to hear Dr. Kinyon read his paper on "The Girl from 10 to 20."

He began his address with the appreciable statement that there are ten million young women in this land of ours, but he was not going to try to tell about them all. Dr. Kinyon emphasized clearly and forcibly that the reaction upon mind and body should be thoroughly understood. "From 8 to 14 the daughter spends too much of her time in the school room. No parent has a right to keep a child so confined from four to six hours a day, before she is eight years old. There are years spent in endless antagonism between body growth and brain growth. This is found in the examination tests for honors in the high school, where the ambitious teacher and parent take no account of the strain. It is found where the skill of the dressmaker conforms the body to the mould of fashion. It is found in the unwholesome diet of cakes and candied at unseasonable hours."

Quoting from Dr. Goodale, how discouraging it is to those who have the good of their country at heart, to find evolving from the condition of things a frail body and butterfly down, a large outfit of back ache, spine ache, head ache. If the girl must become stunted and deformed to meet the ambitions of the day, it will be needful for the young men to marry where educational demands are unknown. What a blessing it would be if girls knew less of book learning and more of domestic economy.

The greatest danger that is threatening our school system today, said Dr. Kinyon, is development along the line of specialities as outlines for children. The cast iron rules of the school room must not prevail. Lay aside the non-essentials in education and give heed to the essentials. Teach the child to have respect for himself and for others, for this is the foundation of real manhood and womanhood.

Another phase of the child's life to be considered is the choice of companions. The improper choice of companion lies at the foundation of much of the social misfortunes. If a girl's mind is not altogether upon society and marriage she will search after those things that work out her well being. Give the child recreation--not such as to overtax or overstimulate the body, but such as to make her genuinely happy. When these things come to pass, it is a consummation devoutly to be wished. Then each and all will have fulfilled his mission. Doctors, heal the sick, make the burden lighter, go about doing good, for then do ye bear one another's burdens and thus fulfill the law of Christ.