Some Don'ts fop Parents.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume IX, Issue 750, 21 November 1900, Page 3

Some Don'ts fop Parents.

The health of school childrjsfi is paramount to every other consideration. When children, particularly girls, between the ages of ten and seventeen exhibit evidences of nervous disorder such as twitching of the face and hands of extreme irritability, it is a sure sign either that the school work is too severe or that they are not living under proper hygienic conditions, or both. In the majority of" cases, to conquer the difficulties of arithmetic or grammar, or the intricacies of a new language is hardnr work for the child than are for tho business or professional man his every-day vocations. Hence children need constant care, sympathy and encouragement. Children should spend not less than two hours a. day in the open air, and if possible should engage in games requiring both skill and activity. They should not be permitted to attend social parties or public meetings •or entertainments on an evening preceding a school day. They should spend in sleep not less than nine and if possible ten hours out of every twenty-four. The following practices should be prohibited as injiu-ioitg to health . Study before partaking of food in the morning, the rapid reading' <6f lessons just before the beginning of school times, study immediately after the close of school before mind and body havejbeen rested by play or other suitable changes of occupation, study immediately after eating a hearty meal. The children should have fixed hours for study. When parents find that their children, after eonscientioue effort, cannot accomplish the work as&igned by the teacher in the time specified in the rule, they should at once communicate it to the principal of the school and ask diminution of the tasks assigned. Parents should never urge children to make extra efforts to obtain promotion, nor show annoyance if!they fail to obtain promotion. What children need for intellectual and %ral progress is systematic wcaj^ ■laki or any good reason the child is flu? promoted or graduated at the end of the term, Jbe should not be reprimanded but encouraged to try again. Nor should parents by finding fault with the' teacher weaken her influence for good.