The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-03-06

these were the errors that needed correction
and were he to suggest a remedy he would begiI
at the foundation-with the Primary schools
those grades which impart the rudimea atari
an increase In the number OF them.
MI, A. here quoted from the school report
page 1.-THE great need is the thorough ground
Ing OF the rising generation in the elementar,
branches, and no money should be taken from
M, field to be narrowed down In its Influence
20 ne few who arc able or desirou. OF advancing
70 the highest stages OF the acquisitio OF kno
edge" "the public funds should b.
given more fully to the Increase and proper de-
yelopnent Of schools for the masses, leaving
special and higher culture to private profes
sional schools" The system now needed for the
District Of Columbia IL one which shall provide
e. ri %ho % 81 nRs Ss1
part Of the city the only Applicants pressing fol
adnittance are children from six to ten years Of
These were facts and deductions OF experience
well worthy Of consideration; and as one OF the
most potent methods to increase the efficiency
OF these primary schools, he advocated the Civ.
Ing 70 their teachers the post OF honor. lie
would make 1t an object for competent instruc.
tors TO be promoted 10 them and not from them;
teachers as high at least as those of any other
grade. Their labor was more difficult and exact
inE, and their reward should be proportlonatc.
All experience OF every age had proved that de-
fectivo and erroneous ideas are not cngrafted
upon the mind matured, but upon the plastic in
telleet Of the child. II was far more important
that the hrst lessons should be received from
competent hands than that the after education
should be sat the feet of Gamaliel." Let a
shd DC thoToush rooted and grounded in the
the "why" and the "whcfefore," and the whole
grand column of mathematical science is open
no better start, but no child without help ever
mastered the Arabic numarals.
so he would plead for the little children. Let
the strength OF our system take hold OF infancy,
and generations yet unborn would rise up to cali
you blessed. How many circumstances often In.
tcrycne between the beginning of an education
parents, the necessity Of earning a livelihood,
change OF location, and a hundred other things
step in between child and manhood. But
" IN THIS school system you have started the
child right, you have given him that which no
circumstances can take away. You have given
Nm M the grasp Of The strong right hand on life.
ideas. Backed by a strong will, and the whole
Of science and Of art are open to him. He may
have future, because In your public schoo Of
system you planted his chlldest feet upon the
rock OF accurate knowledge.
matter will be evident at once upon a compari.
son of the number OF Primary schools now In
operation, and the number Of children between
the ages Of six and ten years In the city In this
comparison he confines himseif to the CENSUS of
the white children, because legislation by these
them.
There were at present In the several school dis
tricts 40 Primary schools containing about 2,TOO
pupils, whose ages were between and 10 years,
or an average OF about 90 scholars in each school
There were, according to the census Just made by
the Bureau OF Education under direction OF
Professor Barnard, 10 22J children In the city
these one half may be fairly estimated as being
between and 10 years Of age, or 1900 children,
while we have accommodations only for 2,TGO, or
= little over one third. He entreatod the mem
bers OF the Council to study this vast problem
How ii0M 81 should growing want for primary educa-
n l.ttE aI.Iz
question depend Interests of great Importance
hangs the fair fame OF ourcity, hinges the future
Of our children.
Mr.. Connolly remarked that although he had
the greatest respect for the member from the
finh ward, Mr.. Arrlson,l and entire confidence
q thc goodness OF his purposes, yet the course
mat gentleman was pursuing, In the present in
stance, tended to defeat n measure OF essential
Importance to the cause Of education In Wash.
ngton.
Good teachers, said Mr.. O., cannot be obtained
nor retained without y fair remuneration for
heir services nor should thcscity OF Washing
aides aud gentlemen living in comfortless homes
md In needy circumstances. 1t were better that
,ur children should not be educated at all than
hat they should be taught to practice oppression
ND injustice, and especially toward teachers
who never can lie fully recompensed while the
Affection and gratitudeof their pupils are denied
That as high talents and NJ high attachments
ire requisite in teaching to children the rudi.
ncnts OF knowledge as are demanded In the adj
often been asserted in the lectures and writings
,f persons who take pleasure In such gencraliza.
lions; but the speaker was willing to leave to
such persons the practical illustration and incul-
lati0n OF their Ideas, suggesting that In the
countries Of Europe, and especially in the Ger
mamie states, where high education is more
often labors for wages rs small MS the carpenter
'r even the laborer receives, would afford the
,est Held upon which to demonstrate the plan
We must take our country as 1t is, and walk by
he light that has been given us. Few OF our
hildrcn W III ever learn to read II none but fin
shed scholars are competent to instruct them.
Few of bur youth OF either sex will ever gradu-
tie 4 no higher recompense is to be paid to the
eachers OF mathematics, of ancient and modern
oienoc, than is awarded 10 those who initiate
he little ones into the mysteries of the alphabet
In New England education is general and thor.
ugh, because the noble farmer boys toll in the |
eason of farm labor to Obtain the means to sup |
ort themselves In the high schools Ia winter |
nd become teachers OF common schools for n |
eason, that they may procure the means of |
raduating in the stately colleges 1t woud be |
deplorshle thing to sot inu EtotsssOIs In these |
ccndlng to the infant schools, In each OF which |
good, patient and gentle, yet faithful woman,
nd woman's intuitive perception of the dispO-
iton and the capabilities Of every child 10 far
lore efficient in teaching and infinitely more
Elective In rendering the portals Of the temple
{ knowledge attractive to the impossible minds
nd chpricious fancics of children.
IL the Ideas that have been here presented arc
OF practicable, and practicable at this moment,
hey should not have weight In opposition to the
lll before US, which is simply a graduated scale
! salarics for tho teachers Of cur schools as
hey are u we arc about to pay too much money
D the teachers, or to any Of them, lot this be
and then the items may be reduced.
Tut the speaker was convinced, first, that tho |
,west salary in the bill was as low as the self.
espect of the people of Washington would per-
lit them to offer; secondly, that the graduation
pwnrd, according to the capabilities demanded
I'D the increase OF responsibilities, lie lust and
roper and, thirdly, that II wo ID NOT pay The
> liberal as are now proposed, our experience
III be In the future as in the past, and the Gen
raj Government and private institutions will
'mpt efficient and accomplished ladies' and gem
emcn to leave our schools for other employ
ents. The speaker could give along catalogue
the names Of persons who had entered our
ty AS teachers but had been thus lurel from
&c pursuit.. ha hid knoyp sQn,e, and the In
anGes are not rare, w which tho discha rge of
} honorable duty, and tho realization by others
blessings therefrom, were held above all CON
derhtions Of pecuniafy rccompense. But we |
lould not desire to take advantage of this spirit |
zen were 1t general
In support of the graduated scale of salaries
might well be added that the higher grades
lOuld be filled by promotions from below, when ,
Ter possible, and these from the graduating
We would thus 10 constantly held IL, tho View
9TH Of tho teachers and OF the pupils. But a
owning sheaf a keystone to form an arch Ia | {
1t needed by the schools of Washington-a ,
gil school for each sex-sadWittilg none hut i
ose who shall ascend from the lower schools
Baltimore, Philadelphia, and In nearly ali q
e citlos Of the North this glory Of the system Q