The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-15

rights OF teachers. The teaching profession should
De TO large extent in its hands, and nowhere Is
II better organized for mutual Improvement, aud the
common defense Of It's interests than where IL Is
under the leadership OF an accomplished ana sympa-
thlzing official head, with whom its members can ad
wise, ana to whom they can appeal, and around
Wh9m whom they can rally in cordial unity Of sentiment
ana purpose.
AT this point collateral subject forces itself upon
the attention, and compels passing notice. Before
any educational machinery can be successfully Ope-
rated must be properly adjusted, the parts htted 10
eaCh other, and each part limited to its appropriate
lunSuOba otherwise there VIII be no system, anu
without system no success. The superintendency
VIII not OF Itself supply defects I'm other parts OF the
organization, though 1t would eventuate in pointing
them out We have the elements Of very superior
school system but loosely organized in their relations
to each other and with antagonlsms between grades,
and jealOusies between schools and sections as
seemly and unwise as Rsops tabled conflict for
premacy between the members of the human body.
ms is partly owing to ambition and the instincts OF
selfpreservaton the part OF teachers and partly
TO the want OF harmony between the school authori
es but the result is, that each part of the system
presents the negative pole Of the battery to every
other part and thus they repG instead OF attracting
each other and working Ia harmony.
The First School district should be regarded as
unit and the school boards and sections, with the
several grades Of schools, as parts OF one common
whole, attaining their highest usefulness in their
proper relations to the general systemin exact pro-
portion to the cearness with which their status is
defined, and their fidelity in combining themselves to
their appropriate Jurisdiction.
A grammar school should be q grammar school,
no more, no less; and so OF all the other grades,
whether high, normal, or primary, and each be pro-
tected from encroachment or undue pressure from
any other, with no more friction or difficulty in pro-
motions from the grammar school to the High School
than from primary to q secondary, or a secondary
TO grammar school. In no other city but ours is
there any. The examinations for promotion, all the
way through to the High School, should be also
under one uniform andimpartia rule, applicable to
all grades alike. Justice is an element in school ad
ministraon that cannot prudently be overlooked or
dlsregarded.
The High School should not be permitted to domi-
nate the system and oppress the grammar schools,
in furtherance of its own supposed interests as Is
said 10 nave been the In former neither
should the High School and the Girls Normal School
be cut off from their vital connection with the grades
below them, as is the case under existing arbitrary
regulations, which cripple them, yet fail to benefit
the grammar schools.
Nor is it correct to judge OF our public school sys-
TEN by special instances of talent amongst its gradu
ates. That standard belongs to past age when
only the few were educated, and thus Outshone the
many Our schools are established for the masses,
the commonwealth of mind--for the common benefit
and the common protection, regardless of the acc-
dents o. life-grammar and high schools for those
who have the leisure and capacity to reach them :
primaries and secondaries for those who from what
ever cause, go further; and the system is to
be judged, not by exceptional cases. as is claimed
for it in some quarters, but by the pervadng atmo-
sphere of intelligence and moral culture Which il
dfuses throughout society. Its blessings fall upon
the community not in meteoric showers, but "lIke
the dews of heaven, unseen and unfelt, save in the
freshness and beauty they contribute to produce
The proper adjustment Of the broken relations be-
tween the grammar schools and the two institutions
next above them, is tempting subject for discus
sion here; but belongs to other committees, and
there we leave it, with the single remark that the
promotion of pupils from one grade to another on
any other ground thaa qualifications would seem to
| be more curious than tenable
In conclusion the only legal obstacle to the ap-
pointment of school superintendent Is the want OF
funds to meet the necessary expense. They cannot
be had unless applied for and duly asked for. 1t is
incredible that the respectful and united appeal of
this high board OF education, charged with the su-
preme responsibility Cf public instruction in the
second city of the continent, should fall unheeded
upon the ear Of both City Councils and the Legisa-
ture. From one or the other we nave the right to
expect favorable response, If they be duly advised
of our wants in this regard. The appointment of a
special committee is therefore recommended, to re-
present the Board of Control before those bodies
and endeavor to procure an appropriation for this
| purpose
| 1t would be good policy and the truest economy to
provide the superintendent at the outset with two
able assistants; one for the consolidated schools,
most OF which in the rural districts, and should
be kindly fostered and to devote himself the
primary schools whose importance is sometimes
lost sight Of but cannot well be overestimated The
comparatively slight additional expense would bear
| no comparison to the resulting advantages of the
| proposed arrangement. New York city has five
assistant superintendents, and work for all of Them
We require only two under existing circumstances
| but those we should have. 1t would be a labor OF
love with many teachers to perform this attractive
| auxiliary service.
important that occupy the attention OF the board
In legal parance it is "conditon precedent" to the
| much desired Improvement In our schools. Our
present presiding officer, and in former years Presi-
| dents Fletcher and Shippen, made 1t leading point
| in their annual report 1t presses home upon us
nOw with ever increasing urgency and force that
| will not he put OIL, but will become more mpOrtu-
| nate with every months delay
| There can be no better time than now to move in
the matter; and some decisive action seems to be
due to our schools. TO the reputation OF the board
and to an indulgent and forbearlng public that
hoped much from the new Board OF Control, and is
still patiently awaiting the fulhlment Of those hopes
| Respectfully submitted,
| HENRY G. HICKoK,
| CHARLES +. ABBOTT,
| STEPHEN H. SMITH,
JAS s. MCBRIDE,
| Committee
Mr. Hickok also offered the following resolution -
That q committee Of seven be appointed to apply to
the proper authorities to secure appropriation to
defray the expenses OF superintendent OF public
| schools, for the First School District OF Pennsyl-
| yania.
| Mr.. Elkin moved to refer the report to the Com
mittee on Expenses. Agreed to.
| motion 10 strike out from the resolution the
| words "a committee of seyen," and insert "the
| special committee submitting the report" was
| agreed to.
| The resolution as amended then passed.
HOURS OF THE AFTERNOON SESSION.
| resolution was offered by Mr.. Elkin that here
after the afternoon sessions OF the schools be COM
menced at half.past O'Clock and continue until
| p NJ After considerable discussion the resolution
| was agreed to. Adjourned.