The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-24
Local Matters.

PUBLIC ScHooLs.-We have witnessed the OK
| animation of number of our public schools and
by the notices have made of these examinations
the public attention has been called to the schools
and the school system in a'manner not heretofore
known in this city. The congregations of persona
witness the exercises have continued TO increase
| till the school rooms will no longer contain all who
desire to attend; and the representations have
| made confirmed by all who enjoy the opportu-
nifty of seeing and hearing for themselves. We are
also gratihed at perceiving that our oft-repeated
appeal for the introduction of vocal music a
necessary part of the school instruction is approved
by every one who has written upon the subject.
This is all well, and omens well for the future.
These schools will no longer be associated in the
mind with inefficient pay or charity schools, such
as this and other cities have known in past times
Rational instruction. inductivc teaching, and hu-
name discipline, have taken the place of the a.
cient pedagoguism; and laundering, humbugging
pedants have been toppled over from the academic
tripod. We have now system of instruction COM
bining many advantages, which will be more fully
developed as the means are augmented Of carrying
out the views Of the school authorities We will
| name some Of them.
In the first place, the grade Of each school will be
determined and the teacher will be selected with
reference TO his ability TO conduct school Of par
ticular grade. There will, therefore, be none Of
the old. fashioned schoolmaster pedantry, none Of
your winkng, head shaking orscles Of assinine stu
pidity, pretending to be wise. The attainments Of
the teacher will be fully known, and his appoint
ment TO the charge of school will be proof suff
cient to the community Of his competency.
In the second place, should one teacher have n
hundred pupils under his tuition, ne will be capable
Of instructing them with better effect than in the
/ A r - - -. a
single teacher. whyl Simply thus In the old
schools profession made TO teach every thing,
and there were precious few schools in which we're
not taught spelling, reading, writing, grammar,
geography, arithmetic, algebra. geometry, monsu-
ration, surveying, navigation and astronomy, with
Greek and Latin occasionally. Now, these sub.
jocts were taught in classes, and in each depart
ment were usually two classes, making twenty
eight casscs-or We will say twcnty-one The
hours for instruction have usually been seven, al
lowing twenty minutes for each class per day.
Now let us look at a public school. IL contains
large number Of pupils, but they all Of about
tho same degree. Who does not know that class
of forty, in the same lesson, may be taught by
teacher as we'll forty teachers could teach the
same number individually. We know that this is
not only so, but that the class studying in concert
will even thrive better-that excitement compoti.
ton, emulation, and sympathy will give them
spirit and energy The efforts, the successes, and
the failures Of each afford to the others motives
for erertion, and keep their minds intent upon the
subject before them; and these emerge from
lower to higher classes, the series Of books being
still the same, the discipline being the same, the
transition being slight and gradual, and the Eel.
lowshp of others ascending at the same time being
enjoyed, the pupil experiences no embarrassment,
and the teacher encounters Of the usual trials
Of enforcing novel rules or dispeling erroneou.
impressions.
Thirdly. The united observation and experience
Of the teachers and inspectors Of all the schools
will be constantly applied to the improvement Of
each.
Fourthly. Apparatus for demonstration, such
az few isolated schools ever possess, may by
and-bye be procured for the benefit Of all these
schools, to be passed from school TO school as it may
be needed.
And filthy. The distinctions Of wealth, Of 90
cial position, and Of religious belief, which keep
the parents apart and barrier Of prejudice
between them, cannot be perpetuated to the chill
dren; for they will meet in these schools, and learn
that the Almighty has constituted them much
alike that IL will be viola ton Of his will for them
to stand apart; vulgar pride will be subjected to
unsuccessful competition with the poor and hum.
bic; and the offspring of the inreternte bgot will
see and admire the virtues and the beauties orhib.
tied BY the children Of parents whose worship ia