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in the schools in regard to over-pressure generally in relation to examinations. The
responses varied largely with the type of educational institution that the medical
officer visited. In the elementary schools other than central schools there is no
doubt in all the officers' minds that no over-pressure can be detected. In the secondary
schools, however, there are many individual children who are considered to suffer
from over-pressure and the adverse influences most frequently contributing to this
result are held to be home-work and long distance travel to school.
Dr. Edith Robinson says: "I have noticed in the central and secondary schools
a few cases of girls who might be classed as suffering from over-pressure. These are
generally of a definite type physically, i.e., anaemic, thin, nervous, over-anxious about
their school work, usually very intelligent and conscientious. They are usually at
the age of puberty and have on occasions complained of too much home-work,
allowing no time for relaxation."
Dr. Agnes Parson states : "In the secondary schools it is not uncommon for a
scholar to be brought to my notice for nervousness and debility, and I find that thin
girls often spend long hours over their home-work, going to bed later because they
cannot get through their home-work in the time that is supposed to be spent on it.
In my opinion it is the debilitated child, possibly growing rapidly and possibly not
being well fed at home, who finds the home-work trying, and it is always the homework
that seems to make these children suffer."
Dr. E. E. Argles states : "There is pressure only in regard to home-work in
both central and secondary schools as evidenced by the frequent remarks of both
parents and pupils. This has become accentuated when children have travelled
long distances to school. To my mind it is not a good practice to set home-work for
a class as a whole. The boys do not work at the same rate at school, why should they
at home ? "
Dr. H. R. Kidner says : " At the —County (Boys) school my impression is
that too much home-work is given. On enquiry into the hour for going to bed and
finding it usually late the explanation given is that the home-work could not be
finished. In girls' schools I am sure that considerable pressure exists. I have
arranged with the headmistress of the secondary school where my own girl (12)
attends for the home-work to be halved, and I have already found an improvement."
Dr. C. E. Thornton writes : " The system of compelling the children to work for
a considerable period each evening at home must result in overstrain. In the first
place the work has to be done when the child is already " tired." A large proportion
of secondary school children have long journeys to and from school. By the time they
reach home they have already done a hard day's work. A period of quiescence (or
at least relaxation of effort) followed by sleep is what physiology obviously demands,
but these children have to settle down to a period of renewed mental exertion, their
tissues filled with the fatigue products of the day's work and the tide of activity of
their brain cells already beginning its normal and rhythmic ebb. The amount " set "
is in general excessive. Information collected from parents and personal friends and
from the teachers themselves renders any reasonable doubt of the fact impossible.
In the third place home-work has often to be done under unsuitable conditions. A
corner of the family table ; poor light with resultant eye strain ; distracting conversation."
It is clear that school authorities who take it upon themselves to set work which
is not done under their immediate supervision take upon themselves a very heavy
responsibility. It is their duty to consider the result not merely upon scholastic
advancement but upon health and physique in every individual case, and in every
individual case it is their duty to ensure that in the 24 hours, there is not only time
for work, for meals, for physical exercises and for sufficient sleep, but also for healthful
relaxations and recreation. In the words of Lord Grey of Fallodon, for healthy
development, " they want spaces of free and undisturbed time."