Kemp. —On the Medical Aspects of Education. xliii 



In Switzerland, there are seven or eight different sizes made to suit the 

 different classes. The London School Board has adopted the followuig 

 suggestions for its schools : — 



1. One and the same size and model of desk should be used for 



children of both sexes. 



2. The adaptation to the height of each child should be effected by 



varying the height of the seat and foot-board. 



3. The edge of the table is always to be perpendicular to that of the 



seat. 



4. No seat is to be without a back, and the top of this is always to 



be 1 inch lower than the edge of the table for boys, and 1 inch 

 higher than the edge of the table for girls. 



In schools where, on the score of expense, each child cannot 

 have a separate desk, four may be made to occupy one seat, and, 

 to allow the two centre ones to get out without disturbing their 

 neighbom'S, it is only necessary to intercept the back rail in the 

 middle — leaving sufficient space for a child to pass out and in. 



A chUd should sit with the upper part of its body straight, 

 the vertebral column neither twisted to the right or left, the 

 shoulder-blades of the same height, these and the arms freely 

 suspended on the ribs, and in no way supporting the body ; the 

 elbows on a level with each other ; the hands and part of the 

 forearm resting on the desk ; the weight of the head freely 

 balanced on the vertebral column, not bent forward, but only 

 tm-ned sufficiently to prevent straining of the eyes in looking at 

 a book placed on its desk. 

 In concluding these remarks, I must assure you that they are the con- 

 elusions I have arrived at after having given the subject considerable atten- 

 tion. I have had many of these points in my mind for some time past, but 

 until now have lacked the courage to formulate them and make them known. 

 I feel deex^ly the importance of the subject I am advocating, and hope what 

 I have said may bring forth some practical fruit in making parents and 

 teachers more alive to the fact that there are dangers, and great ones too, 

 from which they ought to protect their childi-en and pupils, and to remind 

 you that all who in the face of custom or prejudice insist upon then* children 

 being placed under the most favourable circumstances for making them 

 physicaUy and mentally healthy, and fit to enter the struggle of life, are 

 doing a lasting good, not only to the children themselves, but also to future 

 generations, for it is only by producing strong and healthy children that we 

 can produce strong and healthy men and women. If the time ever arrives, 

 and I fear it is fast approaching, when girls and women will be subjected to 



55 



