Volume 2

Health lectures for the people.

Date:
1883-1892
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Health lectures for the people. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    29/600 (page 17)
    pressure differs materially in London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Manchester. It is a palpable blot on our educational systems, to the wiping out of which it would have been well if Dr Crichton Browne had directed his attention instead of stimulating by extreme statements the general popular dislike of education which exists in England, and out of which has sprung the main root of the agitation. There is nothing in the various standards but what any fairly nourished, not mentally deficient, child can easily overcome. If over-pressure does ever occur amongst children of the artisan class, the fault lies with the parents in not making representations to the head-master that their children are not able to overcome their tasks, and suffer in the effort. It is a little too much the custom of parents of all classes to consider that their duty to their children is finished when the school fees are paid. Any representation to the proper authority is carefully considered, and, if found reasonable, exemption from examination is granted. But, as a matter of fact, I am assured by all the Scotch teachers whom I have consulted, the most common complaint is that children do not .get enough to do. The most enthusiastic admirer of our educational systems does not maintain that they are perfect,—he will even admit that cer- tain of the principles of the codes are open to criticism. But to be told that the State is educating the people into insanity is one of those wild expressions which defeats its own aim and object. Speaking as a physician, I assure you that day by day I meet with hysteria, hypochondriasis, insanity, nervous disease in endless forms, springing out of idleness and ignorance. The risks to public health of over education are far less than those of under educa- tion. Thanks to John Knox and the other formulers of the parish schools, thanks to our universities, which are truly univer- sities for the people, Scotland has been for centuries a highly- educated country. Can it be said that nervous disease is more prevalent here than in England, where the standard of general education has been much lower 1 It is not, as a matter of fact, either in kind or degree; and you need have no fear that educa- tion will tend to deterioration of nerve force.