Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-01-13
Hor the rarsrHs-
~ SeAssls--A SsaesaIes.

Discussion lands 10 elioit truth; and
several articles bavisg reesntly appeared
in our city papers on our schools, school
teachers, ETC., let Us inqaire moment
how the matter stands
The public schools have been recently
visited by several of our citizens, the sew
eral teachers having had due notice of
/ such intended visitation Different re-
ports are given by the different visitantS :
one deems the schoob ali that c..ald be de-
sirsdor expected; another thinks tha, while
some of the departments, especially the
primary in both Wards, are admirably
well conducted and good order preserved
the same cannot be said Of all the de-
partments, and especially of some of the
! higher. Indeed, one visitor seems to
| think that the scholars of one of the high
er departments have the teacher quite
under subsection, having matters much
their own way and free aad easy time
| generally. Again: it is said that, aside
from the want of order, in several of the
rooms, many of the classes were either
SADLY deficient in knowledge OF the SUBJ
jects imme dia'ely before them, or they
had the poorest possible way of showing
their proficiency therein Glasses, ex-
emined in the previous days lesson, were
found to know nothing about it and the
most proficient class in grammar failed
| to parse correctly the sentence" lie
seemed king" But not to dwell on
those and other shortcomings, it may be
said, perhaps, that scholars are liable to
| aprear to disadvantage, and may even
seem ih-mannered, when first brought
face to face with strangers for examina>
| ton
To attribute this condition of schools
70 the non-efhciency of the Superintend>
ent, is simply absurd. What has he to
do with the recitations, classes, aud the
discipline Of the school-room? He may
forbid or allow corporal punishme nj, and
order the observance of code of rules ;
but he can tax }IBd on DIN the details of
their execution-this being necessarily
left to the several teachers. His func-
tons arc eminently supervisory, not cx-
eeutive. He should see that the leaders
are quaifc for their various posts, and
insist that, while there, they must per-
form their duties. And we conceive,
with all due Difference to the author of q
tLaS - g g.
essary, for the due performance of thes e
functions, that the Superintendent should
either be now, or ever have been a prac-
teal teacher But we confess to the be-
lief that he requires backbone" to GUST
q teacher, manifestly incompetent, from
position seemingly held by fright Of
TO sum up only about half the school
children III the city attend school-show
ing that half the city are Indifferent to
the education of the young; for the pub,
lie schools are far from full. Some of
the teachers are unfit for their positions;
and some of their friends are desirious
Of atsributing their inefhciency to the
School Superintendent Now what is to
be done ....
1t is much easier to point out defects
than % suggest efficient means to obvi>
ges.ion, viz: Let the Superintendent,
without delay, call all the teachers to-
gether, on some convenient evening, and
organize teachers association or insti>
tute, to meet once every week, on some
fixed evening with constitution, by-laws,
nc. And, when duly organized, let them
invite the corporation of all persons in
terested in education and literary pur-
suits, not excluding their own scholars
Here let the teachers and Superintendent
discuss, not only their tria s, difficulties
and grievances, but all the details of
teaching the various branches, and the
discipline of the school-room. In par
ticular, let reading, graia and compo>
sition be taught by practical exercises,
each evening. When it Is considered
how very few good readers, writers aud
grammarians there are, even among
teachers, this suggestion seems douGly
important, for it effects both teachers and
scholars: stream never rises above it's
fountain.
Finally, it may be safely assumed, that,
whether OF not these suggestions strike
both Superintendent and teachers favor
ably, if they do not take hold Of some-
thing of the kind, their failnre to do so
will be prinsa faeia evidence of their
unwillingness 10 do more than is required
| by law to enable them to draw their sal
aries; in which case, the sooner they are
replaced by live teachers, the better for
the educational interests Of the place
We shall make no appointment for our
next visit 10 the schools.
SCHOOL FRIEND.
CUBAN AFFAiRs-The new Captain
A I i