Rensselaer Union, Volume 3, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 March 1871 — Over Study. [ARTICLE]

Over Study.

H6w much intellectual training tie yottfig should be subjected to, is a question which is very properly receiving considerable attention on both sides of the Atlantic. At the European Social Science Congress, last year, Professor Maurice argued at length that the system of cramming and crowding, so prevalent in universities and schools, was undermining the physical life of the young. The Prussian Government, some time since commissioned an eminent medical gentleman to investigate the cause of so much sickuess in schools. After extensive examinations, he reported that over-study was one of the most fruitful causes. The Philadelphia school authorities recently adopted measures to prevent scholars from being overworked, or compelled to study at home evenings. Now, fifty-three physicians, sixty-nve clergymen, and two hundred and three parents and guardians of Boston, have united in a petition to have the pupils of the public Latin School released from all studies on Saturdays, with the exception of the one in each month set apart for public exercises. Manifestly, tho old theory of “cramming" is steadily coming into disrepute; and this is as if should be. Large numbers of juveniles become weak and sickly though being put to school at too early an age. How many fond parents' have been filled upon to mourn the death of bright, promising children—victims to over mental work? Some are not satisfied unless their offspring are tugging away at the alphebet and the spelling-book soon after cutting loose from their mother’s apron-string. Others hold out various inducements to their children - to push forward in their studies beyond wliat their years ana strength will justify. They take pride in seeing them excel their mates, without stopping to consider whether this mental maturity may not be at the expense of bodily health. Teachers often exercise little or no discretion in laying out work for their pupils, assigning them tasks wholly iucommensurate with their capacity. There are qther instructors who crowd their scholars forward to an unnatural degree, in order that they may improve their own. standing with directors and trustees.

This is all wrong, and cannot bo too strongly deprecated. Children should not be permitted, much less compelled, to take their books home for night study, Seven school hours a day is alt the mental confinement and discipline to which they should be subjected. Better that juvc= niles should grow up in ignorance, rather than acquire book-lore at the expense of health. There can be no hesitancy aa to the choice between much learning andgood health. Tho strong, robust boy, or romping girl, full of animal life and spirits, possessing a good appetite and a light heart, comes, in our estimation, very much nearer to the ideal of what a child should be, than the precocious juvenile who, though bearing away school prizes, is puny, 6ickly, and constantly complaining of some ailment. What we have said applies with equal force to colleges and universities. Better that young men graduate at the foot of the class with a good constitution, than at the head with permanently impaired health. There is something more in hfe to attain to than Commencement prizes. To successfully fight the battle of life, to accomplish great ends and purposes, one must have physical stamina. The mental training of the college curriculum will avail him but little in grappling with life’s duties and responsibilities, it he be compelled to maintain a constant side conflict with disease. It is gratifying to observe that faculties and university instructors tfre coming to take this view of the case, and are combining physical with mental training. The college gymnasium, wherever established, has been productive of great benefits. In a report, sometime since, Professor Allen, of Amherst College, stated, that since the introduction of athletic sports and pastimes, there has been a decided improvement in the health and physique of the students. They were more checrtol and buoyant, and sickness had diminished fully one-third among them. The boarding-house keepers, also, testified that they had a much more healthy and regular appetite than previously, What is true of Amherst has undoubtedly been true of Yale, Williams, and other colleges, where the physical as well as the montal development of students is cared for. —Hearth and Home.