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109
Generally, one comes to the conclusion that the average
elementary school child of to-day does not get sufficient rest to
secure a healthy mind in a healthy body. One teacher considers
that the mental and physical inertia only too apparent among
his pupils is a condition due to the disturbing factors in the social
and industrial conditions of modern life, and genera] freedom from
restraint which has unfortunately accompanied it. It would
appear that the activities of children outside school hours should
be limited to healthy exercise and play. The strain on the town
child of to-day is greater than it was even twenty years ago. The
adult population sets the pace and the children have to keep up
with it. We believe that children should have at least as
much rest to-day as their parent's had in their own childhood.
The report of a Head Teacher of a small country school in
Enfield, as opposed to those in the urban parts of the district,
is interesting. She states that only one child is tired at any time,
and he is the only child of well-to-do parents and motors a great
deal. No children attend the cinema regularly, and only two go
occasionally. As the teacher herself says: "The percentage of
attendance for the last two quarters, 91.8 and 94, speaks for itself."
We beg to acknowledge with thanks the help we have received
from the school teachers in connection with this report.