New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-04-07

New ORLl4Hs, April s, l07l.
| To the Board Ct City school Directors
Your COMMITTEES to which was referred
the subject of the introduction OF vOcal
music into the public schools Of this city,
as part Of the regular course Of instruc-
| ton, beg leave to report;
They deem it unnecessary to dilate upon
the usefulness or Importance of musical
tuition in the public schools, or upon the
capacity generally of hannah beings to &C.
quire mnsical knowledSe. All this Is sup
|, posed to be granted.
Tho only matter, therefore, upon which
your committee think it necessary to report
upon il in relation to the most feasible plan
for general instruction of the children of
the public schools in mdsical notation and
vocal music.
The best system for the above purpose
that has been brought to the notice Of your
committee il that now used in the public
schools Of Chicago, Illinois. This plan has
been sufficiently long in operation to prove
its superiority in point Of excellence and
economy beyond cavil.
In consequence of the. adoption Of this
plan some years ago, and from the circum-
stance that the largest proportion of in
structOrs in the schools were formerly
among the pupils, the whole Of the musical
instruction is given by the teachers them
selves, and there is no other occasion for
the services of . musical professor, except
that there 10 not at any tme falling OF in
the efficiency and thoroughness Of the ma
sical instruction.
As the Chicago System has been in opera
ton in that city for several years, and as
the teachers are to great extent recruited
from the ranks of the pupils, it will be seen
that, as rule, every teacher entering the
II - 3 4
any of the other branches.
In inaugurating . system of public mu-
sical instruction based upon the plan 80
thoroughly tried and approved in Chicago,
We must begin where they did several years
ago; and our present business il not to en-
gage professors of music to teach the chill
dren, but to engage competent person to
teach the teachers, and the following your
committee think is the most feasible manner
of accomplishing the object:
Assuming that the cOrps OF teachers in
our public schools number four hundred,
four classes Of these teachers should be
formed, numbering ono hundred each.
These classes of teachers, formed for the
purpose of receiving the instruction to en-
able them to teach in turn, we will desig-
nate as classes Nos. l.s2, 3 and 4. Each
class will be required to assemble At some
suitable place twice in each week for instruc-
GAOu, anu cocn loSSVu WOQt0 PEOOSuly l&SI m
hour and half. In order not to interfere
with school hours, or with the prandial
necessities Of the teachers, the meetings for
musical instruction should be held rather
late in the afternoon, and the following will
probably be found the best arrangement:
Glasses Nos. ] and meet on Monday and
Wednesday afternoons, while classes Nos.
and could meet ON Tuesday and Thurs
day afternoons, the houre OF meeting to be
AHA
each other, and each have an hour and o
half of instruction. This would require of
the professor of music three hours day for
four days of each week. As soon as the
teachers are sufficiently advanced to COM
mence instructing the pupils, the super
visOry professor Of music would be required
to spend the remainder of his time in visit
ing the schools, experimenting the progress
of the pupils. and seeing that the system Of
instruction be thoroughly carried out.
Of course, your committee are aware that
the full fruitiOn of the system here pro-
posed will he work Of time, although ex-
perience has shown that under competent
with suitable supervision, the
majority Of teachers can, in q marvelously
short time, be made competent to commence
the work Of musical instruction.
In concluding this report, your committee
offer the following resolutions:
RcsOlred, That q committee on musical |
to consist of three members, be |
added to the standing committees Of this
School Board.
Resolred, That the committee SO ap-
pointed shall be authorized to prepare q
proper plan of instruction, to recommend |
the appointment of q qualified person to
take full charge of the musical department |
in the schools, aud to report upon proper |
for the services of the person |
20 engaged; all Of which, however, to be |
subject to the approval Of and final action |
BY the board.
Respectfully submitted,
MICHAEL HAHN,
c. w. BOOTHBY,
w. HI. TOY.