The Press. TUESDAY, JULY 16, 1912. HEALTH IN SCHOOLS.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14408, 16 July 1912, Page 6

The Press. TUESDAY, JULY 16, 1912. HEALTH IN SCHOOLS.

We havo no wish to anticipate tho findings of tho Commission now enquiring into our education system, but wo hope that the medical evidence which has been given will at least havo

the effect of nrousing thc attention of

' tho public, especially of parents, to tho 7 crimes which are now being perpetrated against tho health of tho children in the sacred vame of education. This ia a subject which has frequently boon dilated upon in "The Press"—no later, indeed, than yesterday—and wo mako

no excise for .referring to it again. Any rational system of education would pay'at -lcifli; as much attention to tho culture aud| development of*the body as to tbo trailing of tho mind. In tho schools of (New Zealand, especially tho primary scPUwls, the practice is to place children, in jtho most unhygienic conditions, with the almost inovitablo result

of impairing their bodily health. Even as regards the development of their minds, it is notorious that owing to the miserable practice of cram and thc foolish worship of examinations, tho system, while it gives certain acquirements with one hand, takes away with the other certain qualities of initiative, the power of observation and of making logical deductions, which arc among the best equipments for tho battle of life. How often when an ailing boy or girl is brought to a doctor is he not told that the patient was perfectly strong and healthy until he or sho went to Achool? When epidemics occur, is it not notorious that tho schools are the most potent means of spreading infections?

Suggestions have been made, by tho medical witnesses as to the lines along which reform should bo conducted. In the first place nearly all schools aro of faulty design, and ior the future thero should bo employed by tlio Government a skilled architect to prepare standard plans of ecliools of various grades, paying due regard to modern ideas in regard to lighting, ventilation, and so forth. A fundamental mistake whicli has boon mado in the past has been the placing of the windows at too great a height from tho ground, so that it ia impossible to get efficient crossventilation. Good wido verandahs on which classes might bo taken in tho open air would bo of very great benefit to tho health of the children, and, we believe, by keeping thorn fit, would materially expedite the progress of their studies. Another excellent suggestion which has been made is that nt the end of every hour the children, in fino weather, should bo sent out into tlio playground, for. ten minutes. It is practically impossible for a child to keep its attention concentrated on any subject for moro than forty minutes, and tho interval suggested woiild not only enable tho schoolrooms to be ventilated, hut the child, coming back with tho mental strain relaxed and its biood oxygenated, would bo in a much better state to profit by.the teaching. It would bo immensely better than tlio present plan of sending the children, tired and listless, from one' etufFy classroom to another.

But bur whole system of education requires to lx* modified if tho baneful influence on tho health of tho rising generation is to bo removed. Medical exports aro agreed that children should not be sent to an ordinary school before they. nro seven years old; up to that age they are better employed in exercising their limbs and in enjoying life, perhaps cultivating their powers of observation by kindergarten methods. In tho case of delicate children it would bo hotter if tho advice of a doctor were taken, oven when thoy reach seven years of age,,before sending them to school. For tho infant schools tho best and most experienced teachers should bo chosen. It is simply atrocious that tho littlo ones, at tho most impressionable age, should bo handed over to tho chargo of half-taught overworked pupil teachers. Tho drudgery to -which this last class of teachers is subjected is one of tho worst blots on our system,'and especially in tho caso of tho girls loads to many blighted lives and premature deaths. It is sincerely to be hoped that ono result of thc present enquiry will be to lessen all round tho terriblo tyranny of examinations. A moro rational view should bo taken of thc education of Kirls, which ought to. bo materially different from that of boys. . .At prosent attention seems to bo concentrated on fitting girls to compete with hoys in tho battle of life, and tho great function of women —motherhood —is not only lost sight of, but the qualifications for tho functions aro as far as possible crushed out of them. In regard to this point, wo beliovo that every medical man would a£jree that girls about the ago of puberty would bo all tho better if they rested from school work for six or twelve months, yet in our insensate folly and cruelty wo contrive so that the pressure of examinations reaches its most actito stage at tho critical timo of a girl's life. Whatever may be tho result of tho Education Commission's work, wo hopo that tho public cf New Zealand will sco to it that tho system is reformed in such a way that it will no longer constitute a sorious nienaoo to the health of tho community. Tho practice of spending hundreds of thousands a year on a system which gives a very imperfect mental equipment and at tho samo time sows the seeds of physical disease and suffering, involving a loss of many hundreds of thousands of pounds moro, is wholly unworthy of a presumably sano people.