The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-03-14

yet the FIRST year in this school is necesssarilr
largely gwen 10 classifying and unifying the
Heterogeneous elements of the new c ass. Ia
the North school, with its primary anu gram
mar departments, under the management of
an experienced and faithful principal it were
indeed more difficult to carry on the work
without sy ITEM than with the strictest CLASH
Il loo. By leque t, Mr.. Wentworih gives
ns herewith, report OF the condition OF the
North School and the system OF study pursu-
ed. The committee themselves TESTIFY as
the result of the recept exam nations, that this
school seems 10 be giving US excellent results.
II is possible of course, and practicable, to Sc
cuie a similar uniformity of process and result
throughout all our primary and grammar
schools With the reorganization of The COM
mittee as proposed and with at least monthly
meetings OF the teachers. a uniform course of
study may easily be de fined and maintained;
aud the general success at which We aim re-
CURES that these steDs be taken
l. is we'll understood 1t list that our co est
attention aud best care should be given to our
primary schools. The first year OF the prl-
mary is really much more important one
than the last year at the High School. 1t may
be said, speaking comparatively, that our pri-
maries are IN better condition than perhaps
ever before; in some of them a marked i'm.
provemeni has been male during the pat
year and some OF our primary teachers are
among the best teachers in the city; but our
primary schools as whole suffer sadly IN
comparison with schools of the same grade III
manv the cities an towns of Massachusetts
aud Connecticut. Educators everywhere have
for some years past been calling at ention TO
the defects OF our old system or nO-systen OF
primary instruction, aud they have awakened
q general interest among teachers through
Institutes and periodicals IN new methods
and processes. Our own teachers have adopt
ed some of these approved means and meth
ods. and with success. Object teaching, phonic
spelling, physical exercises, with here and
there attempts at encouragement in drawing
1-tters and figures on the slate and black
bOards-these novelties, adopted in many of
our schools indicate that our teachers have be-
come impatient of the slowness Of the Board
and are unwilling to be behind the age. These
efforts, however, although to be heartily COM
mended, are of doubtful utility to the schools
as whole, unless they can be given to the
working Off system. generally adopted and
faithfully and steadily pursued. It's hoped,
during the coming year, the committee may be
able to syste matte The whole course OF pri-
mary instruction and to secure for cur leg n
ners as good Instructions and education as are
enjoyed by any children anywhere.
The intermediate School is reported as being
10 every respect well managed and Ill as good
condition IS 10 be exp. cied.
Our Grammar Schools are doing well.
Or the High School a special report is given
herewith by its valued Principal. Io this re,
port may be added the opinion expressed By
the several departments OF the school continue
10 manifest efficiency OF management and
teaching and give evidence Of successes, at
tempted and achieved, by both instructors and
scholars. At the same tune q need is felt Of
some provision tor an education of a some what
nore practical and available character, espec-
tally Tor the boys. Z ere Is this need, as well,
though not in The same degree, in our Gram.
uar schools, since a large proportion OF our
children are compelled to be content with such
education as may be acquired within our MD
de grade. A most important step has been
taken-tbe introduction of Drawing (see be
low)-in the direction of giving The pupils OF
all our schools an appreciation OF the biceties
and accuraces OF me :hanlcal and artistic. as
well AS OF natural, creations, and with this, an
ability to express their own lucas and to repeat
tue IDEAS of others-to speak AMI read, that
is-in the language Ut form. That this in
structon will prove to be, here as elsew here,
OF very great value few eau doubt. But In the
H'gh SchO0i something more is demanded.
Comparatively few of the boys are pursuing
tue classical course preparatory for college
the large majority graduate from school into
Business or mechanical pursuits. OF tue gIls
50, there are many who must depend upon
their own exeftiOns tor a livelihood, aud whose
book knowledge" will be OF little value 10
them III business, nor of much value, either, in
the practical part of teaching. Whl'e all The
knowledge that all the books can give, with all
the mental discipline acquirable by lODg and
thorough study, go to the making upOf he
good teacher, still there have been proofs
enough given that mere knowledge, with even
the highest discipline OF MUD, IS rot ty any
m aus all that is needed. a Training School
for Teachers IS ne eded, either as part Of, or as
an audi lou to our High School; this Chiefly
Tor the girls; and for the boys some course OF
technical instruction in applied 6uowiedee.
There ale scores who woul0 live with greater
gains ard greater usefulness if they could be
taught, not only the principles but some OF the
first practical applications Ut the principles OF
mathematics aud physical science II may be
we'll TO notice here the evident Partially shown
Ia favor Of The college boys" Teacn-r- are
employed whose qualifications ebtltled them 10
our highest salaries, aud these give no little
lime exclusively to the boys " no are preparing
for college. This is well; this is as it should
be; bat The boy who does Tot choose to go to
college and the boy WhOse father cannot afford
to send him to col ege-these also are entitled
10 as much of special instruction. of one kind
or another, as are the comparatively few who
seek TO become professional men,
Ia what shape his Instruction should be
given-whethtr, during the regular term of
study, as a Practical Course receiving the
same attention from the teachers as IS row
given by them to the classical Course; or
in separate department, perhaps, in connec-
ton with the Training School, as an additional
course Of study, the Board is not prepared 10
suggest. A beginning may be made, without
difficulty, at once; and from this we may come
to have, in time, such school as is the tech
meal Institute" at Worcester, and Others
VIII CHI might be named.
The subject of introducing the study aud
practice OF Music in our schools came up for
consideration in The Board last winter and was
referred to special comm'ttee.
1.-THE report on Music will be given hereaf-
teri.
DRAWING. esa9
For more than year past the Comm tee
has been interested IN the matter OF making
Drawing a required study" IN schools. At
Ter mature delIb4 ration and careful Inquiries,
the Boal have unanimously adOpled Drawing
as one of our regula studies, and duriug the
present term The system will be inaugurat+d.
Il is not in,ended to have taught merely the
art OF making pretty pictures, an ivy covered
castle, rose empowered c, ttaae, al such
ike. The int NJ IS 10 each the principles OF
form, proportion, perspective aud SO to cutI-
Iate the sight and touch, as that, among the
fn~lre graduates OF our high school, thus one
shahpe able to make, at least t. read,
WorR-g drawipg;' that one be competent 10
tell, Will pencil, iutorm writing, just what be
would nav his carpenter or mason construct
TOT MN, tnh one be ready to give quick shap-
lug OF the loeas OF his inventive genius; that
one 10 moo DIS true VOCATION and success ia
ne 10 Que or anchor OF the mechanic arts, in
ope abilities for the Artistic ex pression of bicl,
sue snail receive mUre than needle women can
caro-; that Que to have ne arr of making The
walls OF home, the We y atmosphere. give forth
the refining ipfiaences Ut b.auly and purity
We 90 not propose to make .aitists. tbon, h
we would help artists make Menselyes If thev
Wilt but we would awaken aud dtvrJope now
ers VI conception aud expression which will he
OF pr actcal value IN the walks of life There
Is no person. Whatt yer his Profession or calIino
put has need, at times, of an ability to read or
speak in what 's Well named "form- lang uar..''
aud the necessity of this abiityI the engineer,
the al cbiteci, the carpenter, the mason, the
machimst, in fact to every artisan. male or fe.
male who is engaged in the construc ion of
objecIs combining taste with fitness, beauty
with utility, become S evident to but little re-
hection. There are many good INT chances who
cannot draw even good Straight line, but be
is better mechanic if he can judge accurately
OF SIZE, form, proportion, ii he can readily in
terpret and give shape to the designs Of others,
or Can originate artistic designs and exact
adaptations. The work man whose eye is un-
educated is continually making mistakes, even
with The model before him, mistakes W hich co
time and money in their correction; while the
work man who Is also IN artisan gets 1eputa-
u u. lor both the excellence and the cheapuess
OF his productions The one gets aid tor lis
muscle, The otter for bis nus"le, bis taste. his
artistrc dexterity. ut will pay' to teach draw
ing our public schools. Besides, the study of
drawing opens the eyes, which would else be
bind to the beauties of nature and of art
"iouuu 40. Oou, iu I1lS goOOuesS DaS sur
roun Jed us with beauty, and some OF His Chill
dren have learned to initiate aud repeat the
Exquisite outlines and colors of nature n
Countless works of art. But the ability to APP
preclate aud enjoy all this beauty depend, very
largely upon cultivation. Artistic culture
brings constant and increasing rewards; it re-
ines, elevates, enobles the mind. In teaching
a boy to USE his pencil we are giving h,m an
occupation and an interest which will keep
llm sloof from idleness and dissipation, from
ha .nf, rs IT.