In School

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 13, 28 March 1907, Page 22

In School

William von Humboldt once said : ' Whatever "we . wish to see in'trdduced into the life of a nation must first be introduced into its schools.' In our overeager haste" to cram the youthful brain in the public ' schools with snippets of a .hundred 'ologies, we neglect heart-training and the formation" of character. Result : So far as the mere system is- concerned; it -can turn out nothing better than bundles of superficial and, ir- , reveremt smartness, animated reading, writing, . and cyphering machines^ with no more -true cultivation of heart than is possessed by a Babba-ge calculator. . But even i this partial training — the mere wit-sharpen-ing—may be , carried on at too great a cost -of nerve and brain)- tissue. That it has- ibeen in many cases, seems to be the opinion of some of the inspectors of '• the Wellington Education Board. In their latest annual report the following recommendations occur :—: — 1 We would strongly recommend the practice of taking a- few minutes every day for free-arm -and breathr . ing exercises in lieu of the old method of- a weekly, hour or half-hour lesson. Teachers should also recogprisa the fact that physical training should - embrace.' such • matters as general" carriage, posture at work, personal - cleanliness, ventilation, and the general tidiness of the schoolroom, offices, and playground, all of which have a most vital bearing on the child's life.- We ~are ; quite in accord with the proposal for 'the. medical^ examination of children, and we hope the department will beable-, to publish such general directions -as miay best--guide teachers in assisting the expert in- this .part of his work.' ■ - • * ■ We commend, this thoughtful utterance, to all Catholic educators whom it may" concern. . ■ ~