New-York tribune., 1868-12-25

EMINENT SCHOLARS
lFROM Az OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT
BosTON Dee. 5.-Mr. Francis II. Underwood
a member OF the School Committee who is deeply inter
ested education who anxious to the best
possible method Of instruction In free schools has
drawn document which shows the faults or tho En-
gsh High and Latin schools and plan for the new free
college The prominent professional men who have at
tended these schools mostly opposed TO the project
what good enough for them ought TO be- they say
good enough for boys People generally have looked
upon these institutions nearly II not indeed perfect
and though public opinion generally opposed To tho In
noyation, yet not few eminent scholars substantially
accept and approve the views of slr. Underwood He
forth the faults OF the schools In tho following propo
stlons and assertions:
In regard TO "A public educational rdnt, tho School
The right liberal aud thorough education having
been conceded hy long Of legisation the school
Committee are the proper Judges OF the measure of sueh
| education. ~ ,
which does the Latin aud Greek languages
one modern languages, and course of Engish
| I. No course of education can be considered thorough
winch does not provide FOR mathematics and the natural
sciences, their application tO the useful arts history ana
some knowledge Of mind ard morals; nor nh hrter
.ense Is any education thorough which does not proVao
and hand by drawing and the ear and voice by music
and clocutiOn
preparatory course for college Ia defective unless,
In connection with classical stnGles, It provides some IN
,trneon IN snch common branches o' knowleus' 10 tue
| exigoncies Of life may render Indispensable. =,
The present course study the Latin school would
be an naeausts i'r pr%sSsi tn e s
thrown upon the world without proper rlnllg
T. Under proper system Of teaching, such prevails
IN The best schools n italy Germany and Holland.
dents cam @iiEin four years read ana SPEAK nuen.y m ~
| dludgery Of grammar.
Under proper system of teaching, much Of Latin
and Greek and o other studies is prescribed for enter
Ing college can be acquired term not exceeding -four
years so that Of sxyear conse tho first two can be
employed In studies Of general utility A., p,,,
y. III IN u Intended that the or
high school should emruee full course OF nseiu ana
liberal learning, II Ia faulty beyond cure III neglectng the
Latin language at,
| course Of instruction Ia natural science. .
H. IL is Incomplete. further IN not allowing the Ger
| man aud Italian languages as optional studies.
u II should have department for tho education OF
bn0kkrep aud clerks after the manner OF tile schools
known a. Commercial Colleges"
-. In another department should be established tho
sindy OF mathematics and astronomy III Their apphea-
H. y Tie union OF the two schools with the pres
en courscs of instruction. an advantage would be at
aned 10y offering the pupils wider range OF study than
either school now Affords
l5 AZ the pupils enter the the other Of these
schools early the course of their edncatloh
s sdeterrne irr, yocaby before they OLD enough TO
develop any epecal taste abilities IL all tile studies
might he made other departments without difficulty
IL ANY branch Of knowledge can be taught with moro
accuracy care aud by VINO las maze IL
especial .tudy; aud she dea of class SYSTEM under
whc person the sole Instructor IN many different
H. II is especially crude and wastcful process, when
tie pupil comes every year Of his course under new
is The only advantage Of the class system is in tho
matter oi discipline. aud that Is aanable IN other ways
| uudcr the d, apartment rYstcm.
~ Thc dchciencs OF the existing schools being appa
rrrt brief .lcch OF the Institution proposed Ia their
place might bo represented thuf
Tho general design Of the College is set forth In tho
following Iagraphs:
J Pupils must be graduates ot.the Grammar Schools
oi have similar standing, the minimum age To DO u
, The nr., Two year. be spent IN studies Of gen
era utility, obligatory upon all and without any optional
branches.
soc other college win have special Of instrnc
toB. tn be completed IN four years or less
students intending to engage IN mercantile or me
chauca pursuits. crgnccrng mhiDg or sea-farng life
or olor practical ars viii receive special Instruction
e. The ful course Of he Institution will comprise all
that belongs hbef and thorough education, here.
tOforc defined aud VIII occupy not less than six years.
Grlduae 10 receive ho degree OF Bachelor of Science
G. The public Library Of the City shall bo also the
library - the institution
tc Society Of Natural History, Will be sought pnc
g Tho institution shall be wholly and forever
. Ihe Institution shall DO called the Public College Of
TO- The city Government shall be requested TO ask
legislative authority FOR this 1t shall be deemed neces
sary.
few gentlemen OF large experience and liberal educa-
;lon who well qualified to consider this subject and
WHO are now members Of the School Committee have
been selected to examine and discuss the proposition,
and o. obtain the views OF eminent educators. This
work has Ia part been done Ihe Kew. H. h. Hale mas
written letter In opposition TO the plan for merging tho
High and Latin Schools, aud for the establishment OF the
Boston Free College, as above set forth He had sup
posed that was conviction OF thoughtful
persons that the pupils should follow such selected
courses as their proposed professions might require
MI Francis Gardner Master OF the Boston Latin School,
that In Boston in 1872 boys began to study Latin at
years Of age. few years later 1t was changed TO
ten yrnra after that 10 twelve. IL subsequently
changed back ten lie thinks that the proper IL
ten. II the student IL ntting himself for collegiate
course lie says that the Boston Latin School was III
tended t boys for the highest colleges lie says that
SPEAK or understand spoken Latin and his information
does not show that graduates OF European colleges can
Boston Latin School, and does not go TO college, is
fitted TO 40 into business Mr. Thomas Sherwin, master
Of the English High School that Is Impossible to
give the pupils liberal education In the three years
at his school He Is not for nor against the pro-
en and thinks that the great Difficulty is 10 select those
portions Of studies which Will prove most useful. Ex
President Hill Of Harvard University has long felt the
Importance VI an Improvement In tho education
Of our country generally; lie mas long been
blind worship OF the textbook system You can teach
child in half hour than u can learn IN i've or six
teacher and less from the textbook than s usual In our
order OF study 70 study grammar before the child is
familiar with tho language Itself, aud OF the usage OF
language. Grammar should be taught thoroughly when
the child IA is years Of age. SOno children, At the
age Of 10 or 49, learn grammar well. but IA is is
early enough % begin tho study OF English grammar:
Mr. George B Emerson author OF various educational
works. thinks that You caunot have thorough education
without tho study OF the Latin language. lie does not
know any thing to be compared with the study OF Latin
as foundation for the study Of the English language.
He wishes to have Latin taught and learned rs spoken
Mr. Emerson, DR.. I'm, and many other scholars, arc to
make known their views at some future time
ID - MISSOURI
WESTWARD THE srAR"-GRowTu OF COUNCIL