Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1861-08-14
Warren Union Schools.
To the Board of Education.
Gentlemen, This nv seventh annu

No marked events have affected our
schools except those which Operate
on all the educational and social in
terests of tho whole country. 1t is
just cause for rejoicing that we could
send from our school so many intelIi-
gent young men to sustain the Gov
ernment in its hour of peril. In this
we have done nothing more nor less
than all like literary institutions of
the loyal States. OF course the liter
airy efforts of our higher and older
class have been almost crippled for
two thirds of the current school year
by the excitement which has pervad-
ed the whole community. Still a
steady effort has resulted in our do
ing something with our books. The
examinations at the close of the year,
show decided advance. Tho COM
mon branches" have received more
marked attention in the higher class
es. Nearly all of the older students
reviewed. Arithmetic, English Gram
mar, and Geography, during the last
year. The early age at which many
of them had graduated from the Gram
mar School Department, made this re-
view n necessity to their thorough
scholarship. The correctness of the
course pursued has been clearly shown
by the results. Those students now
have a much clearer practical knowl-
edge of those most essential branches
of practical education.
Calculus and classics are of very
little consequence, where the founda-
ton for them is not well laid in the
very elements of learning.
The experience of the last year,
has more strongly confirmed the opin-
ion before expressed, that the popular
course of study prescribed for the
schools of this country is far too ex-
tensive for the time allotted to CON-
plete it. -Four 10 six studies per term
is no uncommon assignment to stu
dents whose mental advancement, /
and physical condition would be bet
ter served by leaving school altogeth-
er. Our students are restricted to
three studies at most, and vet we
have limited them under some circlm-
stances to two, and found their pro-
gress improved by the limitations
There is strong Opposition on the
part of the public, to become impa-
tient at the little students seem TO at
tain under this slow mode of admins
tCring the $50 many things to learn /
nowadays" We are confident that
this literary stufing sacrifices both the /
brains and muscles Of thousands of
our youths annually Superficial /.
study impairs mental action. Where
the number of daily rccitations equals
the number of schOol-hours, prepara-
ton for those recitations must be very
superficial, or the student must per-
form an amount of labor out of the /
school room, perfectly exhausting to
the phyieal energies. 1t is our settled
conviction that no student under I6
or Is years of age should habitually I
study until the relish for physical OK.
ercise is last. The student should go
from his books to the playground and
then back TO his books with like rel
ish for both. Wo are aware that
many inactive minds never seem to
enjoy study, while they have mod |
crate appreciation of tho outer world.
These are not likely to be injured by
study, and yet they may make re-
spectacle progress, if too much is not
demanded Of them.
The probabilities arc that few
subjects may be fairly mastered by
such minds, but the usual array is too
they are appalled, at the
prospect, and dishcartened in their
very first efforts by the variety and
quantity of study required. Thus
while the ready student grows pale
the plethonie one becomes disgusted;
one leaves school under the direction
of the family physician, the other un-
der VOW of eternal hostility TO au- [
thors and literary institutions. II
Even the most vigorous minds only
acquire . clear know ledge of the sub
ects studied in this manner in child
hood, by reviewing and correcting
false impressions or fixing imperfect
ones, in maturer life. But how often
10 we read of the honored valedicto-
rian at college, declining in health, !
and diving lamented while some hon
est dOlt from the school lives to labor i,
for the world, and to write obituaries
for all the rest of his class. For all
purposes of correct education, reading
ind spelling are most essential $
Whatever crowds these out of place
S perniciOus. ... !
Again our text books are encum- !
,ered with useless applications, and
Of doubtful questions
ather than a clear expose OF leading
n
Our most popular Arithmetics, AL Il
,ebras, and Grammars even, arc so U
with these labored ex- $
,ositions, that the practical lessons A
re pushed out of sight. 1t is not y
wonderful that the student hurried .
yer these studies with such guides, Y
hould have only confused idea of y
that he has passed over rather than II
Mastered. To the mature student 7
Tho has possessed himself Of first n
these knotty queries are \
xeellcnt, if not diluted with elabo- +
ate explanations. Entertaining these m
Jews, we recommend for our stu
ents few studies, and urge the thor
ugh mastery of principles even at
be expense of time, and the name
{ studying moro. In our directions ii
D teachers we also make free use of Ell
he parenthesis, including those parts re
f textbook Instructions, not sufficient Of
: elementary for the classes using s.
hem. This course has its dangers Of
nd must be guarded lest the stu ii
ent loose respect for the book or for Z
he directions of his teacher, or obtain 70
he impression that whatever is hard as
I