THE UTILITY OF SCHOOL-RECESSES. 95 



implies a more rapid flow of the fluid through the hemal channels, and, 

 when we know that the carrying power of fluid currents increases as 

 the sixth power of their velocities, we can appreciate with how much 

 greater force these currents sweep through their courses, washing 

 away the ashes, which have been made by previous combustion, from 

 the brain-hearth and the muscle-hearth. To the child who has been 

 busily engaged upon his lessons, it frequently happens that the further 

 ability to accomplish mental work successfully, and without nervous 

 debility, depends upon the thorough removal of the debris caused by 

 cerebral exercise. When this removal has been accomplished by rec- 

 reation, the child's power has been recreated. That pupils generally 

 do their best school-work just after recess, and that they are less 

 " nervous " at that time, is because the exercise has increased their 

 nerve-power, and given them a better control of their intellectual fac- 

 ulties, and a greater willingness to do hard thinking. Muscular exer- 

 cise, then, becomes a motive power for driving forward the machinery 

 of thought. 



Were there no other objection to this plan, the one that it keeps 

 children away from the sunlight would still be enough to condemn it. 

 When we see the boys and girls of this country gathering at the 

 call of the school-bell at 9 a. m. and remaining till 4 p. m., away from 

 the sunlight — except a few minutes' walk to and from dinner — and 

 this continued from six to sixteen years of age, for five days in a week 

 and ten months in a year, how can we help fearing that this school- 

 life, however good it may be in other respects, can not fail to leave its 

 pupils with emaciated bodies, attenuated limbs, and with a general 

 strength much below the average of what it should be, and much be- 

 low the average of what it must be, in order to give them that start in 

 the struggle for existence which they must have if they would win ; it 

 is not possible to save them from this competition ; all must meet it, and 

 the power of physical endurance is an absolute necessity for success. 



Neither Latin, Greek, grammar, nor geography, can give this pow- 

 er ; but an hour's play in the sunshine daily, for this ten years of school- 

 life, might do so. 



Not only do the out-door recesses have the advantage of air and 

 sunshine in good weather, but in bad weather they have the advantage 

 of exposure also ; and, contrary to the commonly accepted theories, ex- 

 posure to inclement weather, in a reasonable degree and with proper 

 care, is of very great advantage. For nine years past it has been my 

 invariable practice, at four different periods daily, for a time aggre- 

 gating ninety minutes, to supervise a play-ground where several hun- 

 dred children of a public school assemble. I have observed that there 

 are certain ones, some of each sex, who are seldom absent. No cold, 

 except, perhaps, half a dozen days of the severest, and no storm except 

 a most drenching rain, ever drives them into their school-rooms. 

 Through all ordinary rains and snows they seem to feel no discomfort. 



