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I find that detailed examination of children in Charlottenburg has resulted in 12.8 per cent. being returned
as unfit for the ordinary German elementary school. Dr. Hogarth estimates 14 per cent. of the children
he has examined in the Hoxton district as unfit for ordinary school methods of education.
Instead of naming these schools "intermediate" or "backward," I think they might be termed
"Fourth Standard " schools, and the attainment of the ordinary scholastic Standard IV. be regarded
as their aim in such matters as reading and writing. Children should be transferred to these schools
on the certificate of the medical officer or Council's school inspector. Possibly, attendance could not be
enforced without special legislation.
Education in these schools should be in small classes, 30 pupils being a maximum ; formal
class teaching should be abandoned as much as possible and each child encouraged to independent
action ; handwork should be used extensively and concrete things talked about, drawn, and described;
no books should be used, writing and printing being entirely confined to blackboards and chalk;
arithmetic and numbers should be dealt with as an oral subject, and exercise, handwork and drill
should form a considerable proportion of the school time table.
The majority of the children turned out of such schools will be actually damaged, being defective
or dull in some respects, and they will probably have as much education as will be required in any
walk of life they are likely to follow. I know from observation that many children who have passed
through the elementary schools and attended fairly well, are found half a dozen years later to be practically
ignorant of the three R's which they say they have forgotten.
If any child, through a mistake in judgment, were placed in one these schools it would not
be injured, as in a very short time its capacity would enable it to be transferred to the oidinary school.
The institution of Lower Grade or Fourth Standard schools to suit the mental level of those who
become "hewers of wood and drawers of water" would add to the efficiency of the ordinary school
and possibly relieve the upper classes of the present Special Schools.
TEMPERANCE.
Alcohol.—The direct teaching of temperance has been advocated in schools, but this is not
a subject which appeals to children or in which dogmatic teaching is likely to be even useful. Probably
more will be done to keep boys from alcoholic stimulants and tobacco by the practical advice that
boys who want to shoot well must avoid these sources of unsteadiness, than by any amount of textbooks
or teaching.
American experience has been that the subject of teaching of temperance with which the schools
were flooded a few years ago, requires to be considerably curtailed and legislation in some cases has,
been required to do this. Continental efforts in this direction are made in all the elementary schools ;
both in France and Germany enquiries by teachers have shown that considerable numbers of young
children are given ardent spirits almost habitually, a condition almost unheard of in this country.
This, however, is a subject on which the teachers could obtain reliable information, if it is necessary.
Tobacco.—It has been evident lately that there is a great increase in cigarette smoking among
young people. Cigarette manufacturers hold out inducements in the way of photographs, foreign stamps
or prize coupons to children to purchase these cigarettes. Boys, even as young as ten years of age, have
been seen in our examinations with tobacco stained fingers.
The definite effect of tobacco, apart from the initial sickness and nausea, is difficult to assess. We
believe that it interferes with nutrition and growth, and particularly with the evolution of the highest
nervous centres which are attaining full functions in later childhood, so that the moral character is apt
to be weakened. Palpitation and inability for exertion are frequently seen and it is said that in addition
to mere slackness, which is common, a peculiar condition of indifference and apathy is noticed in
many boys who smoke. In addition to this there is sometimes difficulty in vision, the acuity presenting
great variations from normal and the writing being affected. This is capable of demonstration,
an illustration showing samples of the writing of two cigarette smoking boys in the same class is given,
showing the deteriorated writing, and later recovery on giving up tobacco:—