The School Child 103 



As growth and development are rapid during 

 adolescence, nothing must be allowed to conflict 

 with the physical nature at this time. Over- 

 strain in school must be guarded against. It is 

 especially desirable that girls shall not be 

 pushed in their studies at the beginning of 

 adolescence. At a time when a new and most 

 important life function is being established, the 

 nervous energy and blood should not be diverted 

 to the brain, as they can be better utilized in 

 other parts of the body to the lasting health of 

 the child. It must be borne in mind that in- 

 fancy and adolescence are the two most rapidly 

 formative epochs of life, and quick growth 

 predisposes to all kinds of disturbances. 



At this period the peculiarities of sex begin to 

 manifest themselves, and boys and girls cease 

 to mingle in the indiscriminate way of early 

 childhood. Up to twelve years there need not 

 be much differentiation of the sexes, but after 

 this they must be separately considered. 



The boys are apt to show self-assurance, con- 

 ceit, and many other evidences of egoism; the 

 girls tend more to idealizing and romantic im- 



