A large part of the child’s life is spent in the schoolroom and it must be remembered that it is that part of the child’s life when he is most susceptible to environment and is therefore most easily influenced mentally, morally and physically. The entire child goes to school, therefore the function of the school is to develop the physical and moral as well as the mental.
Youth is the time of unrest and intense activity and the schoolwork should be so arranged that the energies of childhood and youth may be directed so as to develop the pupil into a symmetrical adult. With such intense activity a great amount of energy is used up; thus it is clear that the child needs plenty of sleep and the proper amount of good, nourishing food and if he is deprived of these he can not do his best work mentally.
Age of Beginner
We have not yet fully realized that our present school system, well organized as it is, has certain ill effects on the health of the children. Many of the reasons are peculiar to the circumstance under which the child must attend school and can not be relieved, but there are many that can be corrected and in time will be. Children are often sent to school at too early an age and as a result the growth is retarded and in some cases results in an actual defective physical development. The physical development is often retarded by prolonged fatigue. This fatigue may be the result of improper ventilation, forced attention to subjects that are too difficult, strict discipline, lack of sufficient relaxation and many other factors connected with the ordinary school.
One of the greatest mistakes in our modern system of education is sending the child to school too young. Six years of age is plenty young; seven years old is better. Even at this age some are not sufficiently sturdy to endure the mental and physical strain of the schoolroom and the application to the studies that is usually exacted of them.
Play Periods Necessary
The school affords an environment that is entirely different from that which the child has been accustomed to; therefore the beginner should be allowed much liberty and should not be compelled to remain in his seat more than one-third of the time. This should be divided into short intervals, alternating work and play. It must be remembered that the small child is active; therefore it is imperative that he be given various exercises that will call into play the different muscles of his body. This will have a tendency to relieve the fatigue from sitting at the desk. When children first start to school they usually lose weight and become more or less nervous during the first few days or weeks.
The child should be allowed sufficient free time during each day for play and for the development of initiative. The amount of home work required should be very carefully considered and regulated according to the capacity and ability of the child; yet care must be taken or the especially bright child will be overworked and will not be given enough time for play and the development of a real childhood.
Peculiarities of Child Considered
The peculiarities of the child should be considered and the curriculum arranged accordingly. The methods of study should receive proper consideration as well as the methods of teaching. Special classes should be arranged for the backward students. Many cases of backwardness or mental deficiency are due to the child’s inability to see clearly or hear distinctly, and when these conditions are corrected the child will be normally bright. Many times a child is unjustly disciplined because of some physical defect or handicap which should be corrected.