Abstract
THERE has lately arisen a warm controversy about over-pressure in schools, and its alleged results. The points in dispute are unquestionably important, and deserve the careful thought of all those who are interested in the intellectual and physical development of the rising generation. The cry of over-pressure was raised some years ago with reference tomiddle-class schools, and during the discussion of the Proposals of the Education Department for the New Code it extended to elementary schools. The National Union of Elementary Teachers took up the subject at their meeting at Sheffield during the Easter week of 1882. In July they had an important conference with Members of Parliament at the House of Commons, and they have continued ever since to agitate for a relaxation of Government requirements. Their views were supported by the opinions of several medical men, and were gladly seized hold of by the opponents of the education of the people. The matter came before the Social Science Congress at Huddersfield and the Health Exhibition at South Kensington. It has been investigated and reported on by several School Boards. The Times has dealt with it in able leading articles, and the Pall Mall in prettily written “Idylls.” The Education Department itself, and both Houses of Parliament, have been stirred by it, while the personal combat between Dr. Crichton Browne, one of the Lord Chancellor's Visitors, on the one side, and Mr. Fitch, one of the best known and most highly esteemed of Her Majesty's Inspectors, on the other, has added a flavour to the controversy.
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GLADSTONE, J. Over-Pressure in Elementary Schools . Nature 31, 73–75 (1884). https://doi.org/10.1038/031073a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/031073a0