CHAPTER XXI.
POOR children of my era! How sadly and dangerously you have to gain knowledge!—pent up like sheep.
Your tender minds and frail bodies, tried two or three years too soon, and several hours too long each school-day. Little wonder so many small coffins occupy our cemeteries—and that legal murders are fast becoming beyond computation.
No child ought to be under scholastic discipline before seven years of age, and each day no later than noon. An hour of afternoon should be devoted by parents to assisting their children in what few rote lessons they might have to learn. Between that and bed-time, which ought to be at an early hour, nothing more should tax their young minds. Night study cannot be otherwise than injurious for children. Two days of each week their education ought to be entirely taken charge of by one of the parents. Ultimately, it would lead to gallery instruction, which would benefit both children and teachers.
