The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-02-01
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Abuses that Should be AbOlished-The
Faculty System-Its Cause and Remedy,
Etc Etc


To the Editor Of the FUening 7elegraph:-
Now that the is ended, can In measure
turn our attention from national to local interests
AS education is that which mOulds and shapes the
habits and manners, the tastes and aspirations of
people-as it underlies the morality, the industry,
and the patriotism of nahOn-as it gives character
Its force, business lis dignity commerce its impetus
and the home circle its beauty and happiness-it well
becomes us to examine whether our school system
meets the exigencies of the times and the demands
of the natiOn-whether uIschoos are superintended
in such manner, and instruction impaired in such
a form, as shall imbue the youthful mind with ideas
and principles which will be OF ilty to themselves
and others. Our pubic schools have achieved much.
They have sent forth to the pulpit to the bar to the
sick bed, to the store and to the workshop, linen
who ornaments to their profession or occupation.
They have polished the diamond that lay concealed
in poverty's home. They have made young ladies
good teachers for schools and good wivesl for
eur mon. Those achievements are not, however, in
consequence but in spite OF our system of controlling
and directing our schools. Our manner of selecting
School Directors and COntro lers by public election,
has been and Is increasingly fraught with detnment
to the cause of education.
Our School Directors generally seek the Office to
crafty an empty ambition. The truly intelligent
have in various instances refused the Office not be-
cause they took interest IN our educational insti-
tutions and facilities but because they objected to
identification with men generally devoid of intelh-
gence and refinement The Directors are, for the
most part il not ignorant, at least superficial men.
That there a few who have well-InfOrmed minds,
with ability to reduce to practice what theoretl
cal knowledge they have, we are lree to coucede,
and just as free to regret that their worth inu
ence are lost from want of cooperation. The
decided majority of d Iectors are men like one of
whom hear some daya since w when asked
by the principal if the children could go home, IN
consequence of the intensely cold room, said;-
"Wel it's right inclement, but it will soon rn0du
late;" or, like another, who, when shown some Of
the pupils writing, said d:-'Yes, them children
lorites very good, consideriR." They are men who
can walk into the schoOlroOm with hats on, and
address the teachers in charge Kate Salhe, or
Jane, minus the Miss. They are, in some
cases, men who walk from the beer saloon to
the classroom. Men who often talk faster than they
think, who can tell vulgar joke well, blow the
trumpet of their own praise louder than any one
else and make bragEadocia promises OF what they
will do If once IN office. Through considerable
wire-puiD ing they inRratiae themselves In the esteem
OF few hticlans, aud thus receive the
nomination OF the party. The election pending,
promises are made to various parties that they or
their relatives shall have positions in this or that
school teachers, and the drinking-hOuses in the
section visited, where bad gin buys many avote.
The intelligent people in the section, ward, igno-
rant of the talents and character OF the candidates
imagine all is night that sanctioned by their party,
and, therefore, vote according 10 their political
predictions The teachers charge, who are most
CON- etent to judge as to the merit OF Directors
compelled, in view of the forfeiture of their posi-
ton, to be silent. Theirs is a dubious position, not
knowing whom 1t is safe to recommend for the in
terests OF the school and the safety of their positions
To involve themselves in difficulty or loss there
are some teachers who denV themselves the right Of
suffrage But just the very men who have resOrted
to the most grovelng influences, and who were
most ndefatigablo IN collecting and buying up
| votes are elected, and become our public schools
superintendents.
| II Is blot upon the fair name of our city and a
disgrace to our public school system, that men de-
old of principle percept bly, ignorant, and immoral
in character, should be placed at the head of and
associate with ladies whose talents are good man
ners polite and hearts pious Something should be
done at once to raise the standard Of school drec.
tors and controllers otherwise we will soon have
corps ofteachers whose character and abilities will be
on the same level They shOu d be appointed by the
MAY or regardless of political preference. The Legis
lature or our Councils could invest him with such
| power It would be unnecessary to retain the same
| number we now have A smaller number, but en-
| bracing more intelligence and system, would answer
a better purpose. This suggestion may have its OBJ
ectons, yet the fact remains, that the supernten-
dence of public schools should be improved. The
fact still remains that men who direct and control
our schools should give satisfactory evidence that
they have abilities TO discriminate between what ID
thorough and superficial instruction in a teacher
They should be men who feel their respon
sibility, and not their authority. They
] shOud fullV cOmprehend the nature and