SCHOOLS AS A NUISANCE
[To the Editor of THE Seecrafroa..]
Sur,—In the large correspondence in various papers relating to the noise of children at school, much has been written in the name of scientific child psychology. Judging from all the letters I have seen on the subject, these psychologists are alleged to teach that unrestrained vociferation is an unqualified asset to children. Your correspondent in last week's issue puts the matter very strongly indeed. I doubt if this standpoint is fair to psychologists and it would certainly lack corroboration from physiologists and I think from wise and experienced parents.
As a doctor who has made a special study of childhood and spent the last twelve years in school work (both secondary and elementary) and as a parent myself, I am surprised that no consideration appears to be given to the large class of quite normal children to whom excessive noise is definitely deleterious. Many teachers do not realize that " noise begets noise " and is often a sign of nervous over-stimulation brought on by urban life where. "silence is never heard." The overproduction of noise can and should be reduced without causing any feeling of restraint or repression.
It will be a pity if the question is left to find its automatic solution, as it almost certainly will in one generation, for children who grow up without definite training in con- sideration for the grown-ups amongst whom they live, will not make the kind of parent or teacher likely to tolerate much screaming or shouting from their successors. Such a solution, however, can hardly be regarded as worthy of an enlightened community. May I add that my remarks do not refer to Miss Tudor-Hart's school, of which I have no first-hand experience and arn therefore not in a position to speak ?—I am,
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