School life / edited by T.N. Kelynack.

  • Kelynack, T. N. (Theophilus Nicholas), 1866-1944.
Date:
19 cm
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Licence: In copyright

Credit: School life / edited by T.N. Kelynack. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    For instance movements requiring the use of a whole limb, such as kicking a football, do not tire a child nearly so much as the movements of the hand alone in such actions as writing, needlework, or playing the piano, although the amount of energy expended is probably far greater. The reason of this is that the nerve strain of completing fine actions correctly is very much greater, and fatigue is produced through the nerves. Fine actions should therefore only be used moderately in school, and the exercises for recreation should be devoid of them. It is characteristic of children that owing to their youth and the elasticity of their tissues it may be permissible for them to do things which would be very injudicious in their elders. As an instance of this it may be mentioned that in taking violent exercise many children produce a slight dilation of the heart, which passes away in a very short time after the exercise is finished. This condition seems to be quite harmless in children and in fact beneficial, as it tends to keep the heart and circulatory system in good condition and tone, but if people of more mature years were to do it con- stantly, there is little doubt that they would soon get a permanent enlargement of the heart. Psychological Characteristics With regard to psychological characteristics very little can be said, as they are so much phenomena of the individual that it would be very unsafe to generalize, and, in fact, impossible to do so. It has, however, often occurred to me that perhaps the emotion which strikes one’s attention most