New-York tribune., 1871-01-12

Arithmetic 81 per cent Reading per cent and spell
gree of excellence is of course 100 per cent From the
various tabular synOpses, it Will he manifest tnat IN re-
latiOn TO the various branches prescribed 10 DC taught
the instruction is less imperfect III some respects
| BAD ARTICULATION AND PRONUNCIATION
The tabular exhibit submitted above shows very clear
ly the fact that the reading OF the Boys Grammar
Schools ia quite inferior that of the Girls Schools the
number classes pronounced excellent in that branch
being more than twice In the latter In the
formers and in those which reported excellent
there is considerable diversity, both to style and
| correctness. In this city the vast and continuous
influx of foreigners constantly brings into schools
great numbers of pupils who hear at home the worst
possible English, none at all Too often the readhg
books lessons appropriately seecteG some Deng
of too low grade, both III respect TO the languhge anu
are of SO advanced and difficult character that only
mature and thoroughly developed minds are aoe TO u
dersand appreciate them. Very often the lessons are
too dull and uninteresug TO engage at oil the ateho
| Of the pupils.
The system invented by Dr. Edwin Leigh, which, un-
der the authority Of the Board has been tried in several
Of the schools during the past year. is designed to OBJ
vate all difficulties and perplexities, aiordng as
1t does by slight notifications in the ordinary forms OF
the letters separate sign for every sound in the Ian
guage. The results of the experiments already made
think TO be favorable TO the merits and success or the
time but to read distinctly and uently, and what
ls even more important, making tnis acquisition IN
thoughtful and logical manner, so that their common
sense is never shocked by inconsistencies, nor their
natural intelligence baled by arbitrary contradiction
children having learned to read d. Leigs print pass
without any difficulty additional instruction or prae-
being but little affected by the slightly modified letters
employed These experiments VIII pe continued so as & 10
communicate the results IN special report TO te Beard
charge OF the classes undergoing this instruction are
believe without exception pleased with the results thus
far attained.
SPELLING, DEFINITIONS, AND ARITHMETIC.
From the general exhibit above submitted, il is apra-
rant that akena IA "A
branch, not good they should be- In many OF
the schools however the pupils acquire degree of ac
curacy in writing words and sentences from dictaton
which gratifying. In all the examinations made
during the year this has received very great attention.
and believe the schools are making decided improve
ment in this important branch Of instruction
The,mOst important object OF readngthe receiving OF
informationcan only he obtained by acquiring knCw
edge of the meaning of the words employed IN ths les
able attention, auxiliary to reading But this Is not
its only Properly taught 1t becomes perhaps the
important means of training the faculty of express
sion and is in this respect auxiliary to composition
During the past year, the method Of teaching the app
cation OF words by exercises i'll forming sentences from
given words has become very general and has borne ex
cellent fruit In the Grammar schools the results at
taned in arithmetic in general inferior to those at
tanned in reading, spelng or writing and also while
Boys Schools the two classes Of schools nearly
alike in this part of the instruction than in any other
In the Primary schools it to be in advance of every
other subject but in the C0ored Schools the results at
taned very inferior. Mr. Harrison reports the con
dton of arithmetic in the Grammar schools as, the
| whole creditabe. The figures usually well made,
performed but multiplication and division not gen
orally done WELL there being lack both of readily at
large part of the pupils discard the process of short
division, even when they division of only single
dlgs. This evil should be promptly cured Mental Arlth
metc is taughtwh very great diversity as TO Intelligence,
obs of Smbers a1 that E ready m ealonaon Without or
NAL analysis whether III the simple rules or In the more
tainment Oral Analysis Of written or mental examples
is usually satisfactory to method but only in few III
stances can be given by considerable part VI the GLASS;
WRITING AND DRAWING.
The tabular exhibit Of the examination returns shows
that in writing the Primary Schools behind the other
schools OF course after making all due allowance for diff
ference in grade asO that the Boys Grammar Schools
have attained high standard of proficiency is
desirable they should. While considerable improvement
has been made in the methods OF teaching this important
branch in most schools, there who adhere with
singular pertinacy TO the old method Of individual in-
structon giving no general explanations or directions,
and using the blackboard for illustration THERE'S
also very great deficiency in the training Of the pupils in
the proper of holding the pen, teachers seeming
to be- in very entirely powerless to the
vicious habits this respect acquired by the pupils
Harrison thinks that decided advance has been made
in the middle and lower grades OF the Grammar School
course within The year. The beautiful and rapidly eX-
ecuted writing so generally exhibited the slates in the
various written exercises of the higher classes is highly
suggestive (he remarks) as to what the result OF
similar practice with the pen would accomplish, If the
| same attention were given to
Much excellent instruction is constantly given in the
Grammar schools IN drawing, by teachers specially APP
pointed iGf tne purpose and many OF the pupils acquire
very considerable skill IN the deineation of objects
u,
extending through the primary grades to the highest of
the Grammar School course. Mr.. Calkns reports that
this has been attempted during past wear i'm some OF
the Primary Schools, and with excellent results trust
that the Board will adopt uniform course of instruction
in drawing for all the schools during the coming wear
Owngto the recent transfer of classes in most Of the
BOYS Grammar schools to the College of the City
attention previous to the examinations just held but
thoroughness. In some OF the Girls Grammar Schools
has been introduced during the year. and has eritc5
considerable interest from both teachers and pupils.
|
| Geography, as far as the examination extended an
peared to be well taught in most respects There was
however too limited knowledge Of of important places
especially in the various countries Of Europe Man
drawing is made general classroom exercise in some of
the schools, and where properly conducted, has uni
formy proved an expeditions and thorough method of Sc
curing permanent knowledge Of local geography. I'm
Of the schools physical geography has been taught
| with considerable success
| GRAMMAR.
The results in teaching this subject are not satisfac-
tory out OF 15l classes examined in the BOYS
Schools, only q were excellent, and were good but SO
| were more less deficient. In the Girls Grammar
Schools, out Of 135 classes A excellent CT were
good and deficient The instruction however Is very
fast becoming more practical the pupils being taught
that which Is correct An erroneous idea OF what is
gnired in the course OF study induces some teachers
grammar TO the exclusion OF practical exercises
Secomes barren and uninteresng The "anaIysis Of
sentences supplies the groundwork for all other In
structiOn, whether eOrctcai Of practical, but 5 only
groundwork and, If nothing slse is accomplished the
work might well have been omitted entirely. This
subject requires very skful and judciOus teaching to
make it thoroughly useful and efficient 1t should, I'm
ali eases combined with the construction OF sentences
| or with more extended composition.
| OBJECT TEACHING.
This department of teaching in the Primary Schools
corresponds TO the oral instruction in the Grammar
Schools In relation to it, Mr. Calkins remarks:
an happy report that the instruction by object leson. gi-
mpong character as the teachers avail Themselves Of the
portunes shed b the Board Of Education for obtaining better
is principle. aud m-ihOi Lessons form
duse and given In eIetible by large
ton School teachers also doing excellent
vol bt a,af o. The human body animals
B5n,s a. Bat sanlbe s lie nalcne eIerci bT this in