Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-06-09

mittee to which was referred the resolution intro
duced by Mr.: Polk, q previous meeting. direct
ing the Bible 70 b used a class book for the
first and second clasles In the public schools" re-
ported "that the tsachers are now required by
rule, adopted some time ago. to read portion
Of the Bible as an opening exercise, and that this
rule is strictly complied with and in many schools,
il is hoped in all, 1t 10 done with earnest hope
that lasting impressions may be made on the
youthful mind for good. Believing this reading
TO be sufficient when taken in connection with
the numerous Sabbath schools scattered all over
the city, and which most, If not all Of the pupils
Of the public schools are connected and also the
obligation resting on payexts 10 give their children
moral instruction, the committee do not recon-
mend the adoption Of the resolution at least not
until there shall be more positive demonstration
that the public require 1t.
The committee assure the Board that whenever
it shall be demonstrated that the use OF the Bible
as cass-book in the public schools will be more
conducive to the public good than the mode now
adopted, they will cheerf6lly and earnestly
agree thereto as any of the Board. For the pur-
pose of ascertaning whether the parents of chill
dren attending the public schools are a. socitous
as has been represented, of having the Scriptures
used by their children a. cass-book, the commit
tee, in conclusion, recommend the passage Of .
resolution that whenever the parents or such chill
dren, in any public school, shall desire for them
the use of the Scriptures as ciass6ook, it shall
be the duty of the teacher to form such pupils into
classes, and use as class-book, without note or
comment, the authorized version of the New Tes-
lament Scriptures.
After some conversation, the further consdera-
ton Of the report and Of the resolution accompa-
nying it, was unanimously indefinitely postponed.
On motion Of Mr. Pearson the sub Boards were
instructed to present at the next meeting the esti
mates for the school expenditures for the ensuing
year.
Mr. Dickinson desired the Board to remember,
that in presenting the estimates for the present
year. the sub Board Of the first district had reduc
ed them to the narrowest limits, and it would be-,
come necessary for the next year. in order to meet
the actual wants of the district to increase them.
On motion of Mr.. Bennett, Sargent's series OF
Readers was ordered to be placed on the list of
books authorized to be used in the Public Schools.
On motion Of Mr. Dickinson it was unanimously
resolved that the Board of Aldermen and Board of
Common Council, be respectfully requested to take
into consideration at an early day the Recommended
ton Of the Board of Trustees in their last annual
report in relation to the salaries of assistant teach
ers in the District Schools and also those Of the
teachers of the Male Primary Schools; and, like
wise to authorize the appointment of sub assistants
as recommended in the report
It was stated that, for the want of such sub
assistants, several of the schools are now tempo
rarily closed in consequence of the sickness of
teachers. aH
The Secretary was directed to communicate the
resolution to the Councils.
On motion of Mr.. Dickinson, it was resolved
unanimously that no holyday other than those al
lowed by the existing rules, be granted to any
public school, except by the written consent of
the entire Sub Board Of the district.
1t was stated by the Chairman and DR.. McKim
that much dissatisfaction was given by allowing
holydays on public days in some districts, and not
=. ~. - ID 49, H.,
lie interest would be promoted by uniformity in
respect to holydays in all the districts and the
difficulty was alluded to OF keeping holydays with
in proper limits except by adherng strictly to the
rules Of the Board.
Mr.. Smoot and Mr.. Dickinson playfully explain
ed the manner in which holydays had been occa-
sionay taken in the first district not by the teach
ers, but by the pupils, with the sanction Of their
parents.
It was RESOLVED, on motion of Mr.. Magruder,
that the annual examinations commence, in ac-
cordance with the plan adopted by the Board, on
Monday, the 7th of July.
Mr.. Magruder presented memorial, signed by
twenty eight teachers, recommending change in
the school hours and limitation thereof; which
was read by the President
Il It was stated in the memorial that the addition
of hour to the afternoon sessions of our schools
retards educational progress that the teacher who
cannot succeed in five or six hours of instruction
per day. cannot succeed at all that the difference
between the short sessions Of the present day and
those Of twenty years ago is that the mode of
teaching is entirely changed, and to great extent
reformed; that textbooks are more ample, and
impose double the amount of labor on pupils, ON
account of an increased range of studies; oral in
struction by the teacher is substituted in great
degree for the old method, wherein the sole de-
pendence Is the textbook; that there is a wide
distinction between school Keeping and school
teaching that no school has ever be IN taught by
modern methods more than five hours per day.
The all-important pri,cpe in real teaching is that
the attention of pupils must be obtained without
this all LABOR and time in the school is worse than
useless The necessary attention and activity of
mind in tho pupil xhausted b. long afternoon
sessions in all schools but especially with The
younger pupils.
For the physiological view of the matter, and
the deleterious effect of long sessions upon the
health of teacher and pupil, reference was made to
DR.. McKim, member of the Board
In conclusion the memorialists referred to the
just test Of the success of teacher-not whether
long sessions or short ones had been kept, but
what is the character of the school, the progress
of the pupils the mode Of instruction, and success
| in the work given the teacher to do.
DR.. McKim disclaimed all knowledge of the me-
mortal, but remarked that he agreed with the
teachers in respect to the lleect the health of
the pupilS rom long sessions. he was IN favor OF
short sessions and pleasant ones, frequent inter-
missions, and full opportunity for physical devel-
opment. He doubted, however, whether the ex-
ercises of the more advanced schools could be
completed in less time than is now devoted to
| them.
| DIR. Davis concurred with his colleague in re-
gard to the inexpediency Of shortening the SEES
sions for the larger pupils; the younger children
have the opportunity of retiring at an earlier
| hour He did not think the convenience of the
teachers would be nrnmnfed NV ahorteninr the re-