dorse every sentiment in it, and recommend its perusal to every parent under whose eye it may fall. "The danger of overtasking the young mind and body by our present systems of education, has formed an exciting topic of discussion in our community, during the past year, and a few remarks upon it may not be inappropriate here. It is difficult to speak of what is done in other schools, or to judge of the effect of systems and arrangements, of which the direct working is not seen; but a few facts and deductions from personal reminiscence and experience, may throw some light on the subject. "If confinement is one of the elements injurious to the pupil's health, there has been a great change effected in his favor during the last twenty years. The vacations have expanded from about four weeks to eight, nine, and, in the private schools for girls, to thirteen or fourteen weeks. Instead of protracting his studies far into the dogdays of August, the scholar may be sent to enjoy the renovating influences of the country in the month of July. Single holidays are much more numerous, both stated and occasional, giving pleasant respite from toil. School hours, too, have been essentially shortened; formerly seven hours a day were devoted to school in summer, while five or five and a half are now the limit. Nor is it a fact that so much more is accomplished or attempted either in or out of school, as has been frequently asserted, and is, perhaps, generally believed. Scholarship existed twenty years ago, and scholarship did not come without labor both in and out of school. It was not supposed that any valuable mental acquisitions could be made without working for them. The Latin and Greek Grammars had to be mastered, and about the same amount of preparatory study gone through by the boy who was intended for a collegiate education. At a somewhat earlier period, between the years 1820 and 1830, it was customary for many of the pupils of the Latin School in this city, to attend private intermediate schools between the morning and afternoon sessions, in order to give more attention to Writing, Spelling, Reading, &c., than the course at the public institution permitted. The writer well remembers rushing in hot haste from the old Latin School-house in School-street to the neighboring shades of Harvard Hall, to spend two additional hours; and never sees his venerated teachers of those days without internally thanking them for what they required him to do in this double process of school education. Many of the boys of that day still live to bear witness that they were not crushed by the labor, and, in fact, did not feel themselves particularly aggrieved by it. They, as well as their parents, accepted school and its requisitions as a sort of fate, 103 LETTERS TO A YOUNG TEACHER. not to be struggled against or repined at. If the advantages were wanted, the price was to be paid. 66 Boys were, undoubtedly, sick in those days, as they have always been, whether in school or out of school, in city or country; but their sicknesses were referred to natural causes. That there was less of a low and feeble state of the system, is probably a fact, for which abundant reasons exist in the modes of life and of bringing up children now prevalent. The popular error seems to lie in making school responsible for what results from other causes, and in supposing that health and vigor would exist if school and its requisitions were out of the way. Certainly some forms of life and occupation can be imagined that would give a higher degree of health and strength than any city or sedentary pursuit. But can these be obtained, as a general thing, by boys considered feeble or delicate, even supposing they had sufficient stamina to embrace them? Cut a boy off from school in a large city or its vicinity, and what is to become of him? He will be obliged to lounge listlessly at home the greater part of the time, absolutely suffering for healthy mental occupation; or, going abroad to seek companions or excitement, he is liable to form associations of the worst class, or to yield to the many temptations that present themselves on every side. Seldom will a greater amount of air and exercise be taken than might be enjoyed in connection with attendance at school; while habits of application and regularity may be irretrievably injured. It is to be hoped, therefore, that the parents of feeble children will try the other means in their power of improving their health, before depriving them of the great advantage of early training and instruction, and not continue in a permanent state of dissatisfaction with school, as if it were necessarily a hardship or deleterious influence. Before we can see a general and high state of health in our schools and universities, there must be a change in the habits of our community, and in nothing more than in the prevalent modes of bringing up children. The influences of climate, so much dwelt upon by medical writers, we shall have to bear. If we suffer from being an unacclimated race, it will take many generations to bring about a change; we can only resist its influences by such means as are in our power. More simplicity, more hardihood, more true manliness, are wanted in both young and old. Luxury and effeminacy are fast unstringing both the bodily and mental nerves of that portion of our people considered the most highly favored. "Where circumstances do not compel the practice of self-denial, resolution and perseverance, to overcome the physical necessities of life, those stern teachers which have developed so many strong and manly natures, education must aim at a similar result. Simplicity of food and clothing will have as favorable an effect upon the children of the rich, when enforced as a matter of principle, as if compulsory. The early hours and habits of steady labor of the children of toil, can be imitated by those who have the privilege of practising them in furtherance of the nobler object of gaining an education. Where the desire for play does not lead to habits of healthy exercise, it is the duty of parents to see that it is taken in some of those forms which even city life admits. The use of tobacco and other hurtful stimulants must not be learned. In fine, the body must be made to keep its place and do its work as a good servant, and not pampered and flattered till it leads the mind whithersoever it will, and compels it to do its bidding. "In accomplishing these objects, parents will find, that, if they add example to precept, the effect will be greatly increased. It is of little use for a full-grown man to talk to a child of the importance of air and exercise, if he never stirs from the fireside or the desk. It is his part to lead the way in the good path. A father who takes his son to walk, to ride, to row, to swim, to skate, shows that he believes what he preaches, and is disposed to reap the benefits of exercise in his own person. So, too, in abstinence from injurious practices. It is of very little use to reprobate the habit of smoking, for instance, and yet set the example of it himself. It is one of the responsibilities of paternity, that cannot be shaken off or got over, to do the thing that we wish the child to learn. Anything short of this, so far as circumstances permit, is less than the duty of a father. "These remarks are equally applicable to the weightier matters, affecting not merely the outward well-being, but the spiritual welfare of the child. He must be directly taught those things which lead to eternal life, and guided into the narrow path, by parental example. The channel of communication must be kept open, and the workings and tendencies of the young soul not suffered to hide themselves. The watchful parent will make himself acquainted with the good and evil tendencies of his child, and will make it his first duty to cultivate the one and restrain the other." |