Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-08-31
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Abstract Of the Annual Report of d.
W. Harlan, City Superintendent, to the
Board Of Education.

schools under the control of the Board |
were so far independent of each other as |
10 seem scarcely parts of ont system.
The reports Of the principals Of these
schools were so different in their delals
that they could not be summarize d.
Though printed forms were furnished by
the Board they were MT flied up IN a uni
form manner, and though some teachers
kept careful records OF Rotations AVID
conduct Of pupils, the great majority KEPT
no such record. To remedy this, new
forms have been prepared and the beueh-
cial effects are already obvious.
In a system OF schools like oure the
pupils In the primary schools were taught
the same things, but the Superintendent
found that in those OF them who.c princi-
pals had fnndness for mathematics
arithmetic was given an undue share OF
attention, and theirs gave undue promi-
nence 10 other studies. A ne .cy 10
advance pupils In books without much
regard to their knowledge Of the subjects
treated was also manifest, AID While
considerable number of the teachers We're
we'll up to the times in me hods of instruc-
ton too many have failed to acquire the
skill and tact which the proper use of the
means within their power would have
given them. The prompt adoption hy the
Board of a course Of instruction for these
schools, prepared with much care tlom
courses Of instruction in several other
cities, together with the authority given
the Superintendent In the management Of
the Teachers Institute, have already pro-
yided RENE dies for some of these Ills.
Soon after the adoption of the new
course of study the superintendent pre-
pared q programme of eXercsts which IL
now adhered to, giving to each branch of
study its due time, and allowing the SUI
perintendent and Committees to arrange
their visits according to the classes they
wish TO hear.
For the benefit OF teachers who did not
attach enough importance to instruction
as distinct from hearing lessons
printed instructions were given which
are Summarized in the report
Thus with the work to be done defined in
the course of instruction, the time To be-
given to each branch stated In the pro
gramme, and a common understanding
concerning a few vital and undisputed
principles of teaching, with the addition
Of the Institute in which TO criticse pooi
methods Of instruction, and to commend
and suggest good ones, such progres;
has been made as is only possible in d
compact system whose parts are nicely
adjusted to each other
He found the two grammar schools q
the city in excellent condition, both rs re
CARDS discipline and instruction, but at tn
end of each month vacancies in them wer
being filled by promotions from the lowe
schools. This kept the seats full and mad
a plausible excuse for the suspension a
irregular pupils, aud gave the schools th
appearance Of great prosperity, but il In
terfered with classification, and pupil
were admitted into classes whose lesson
they were not capable of preparing. Til
evil has been corrected by making onl
three general promotions from primary .
grammar schools during the wear
In October last School NJ was u
moved to the new school HOUSE on Frenr
street. A boys' department was add,
and the number OF teachers increased fro
two TO nine. A good and somewhat e
tensive apparatus for illustrating physi,
Ogy, natural philosophy and chem -try h
been purchased for the school. Lectur
were given on natural phi osophy NJ
chemistry, to the boys departments.
ColoRel Grimshaw, and lectures Uu botal
by William NJ Candy. Esq.
Ofthe eight teachers in school No 4
January, 1871, only two remained durii
che past wear. Notwithstanding Nh
NuhuEt anu AuH NNHltNelAk Will Il sui q
vising principal, the school seems to hn
maintained its former reputation. 4
large demand in it for teachers has
duced the grade of scholarship in the til
class and the employment of It's n,cmn,
as Substitutes for absent teachers hia d
peded the progress of many OF the
Since Jan. let, ISL, - of the pupils
this school have passed examination
teachers and eighteen Of them have Doe
employed as Teachers in the other s,hp
of the city and one elsewhere.
The other prizes Ole ed by II. b. Srid
90 the boys OF No. !, ana y. r. Head
the girls Of M. 4, impaired additional
terest to the work Of tclers and pup
daring the last month If the summer ter
The interest in the Normal echooi D
been ofslOw hut steady growth. the win
number Of pupils enrolled was j3, and
average attendance So It, Influence e.
not be measured By the attendance, lo
ever, as several teachers who are not me
bers of il, lave pursued its COURSE
study from week to week at home. As
matter OF conrse those who pursued
course of study passed. the best cNumi
ton at the close The term
Up to this tlnc the teaching in Z
school has been co lfned TO a review
the studies of No. 1 school and che {
that at the recent examination OF teach
but about On third We're able 10 pa.
thorough examination in Urtnogiap
arithmetic, a .nlnar, geography and
tory OF the United States, shows that
class Of instruction must continue for 81
time to occupy the time vi the scht
The low salaries paid teachers in the
mary schools has made it necessary at
last two examinations for new teacher
lower the standard of qualification to
nit sufficient number to pass To I'LL
vacancies.
The Superintendent argues, howe
that il is not wise policy To eml
teachers of SO low grade of scholars
for they have too much To learn wl
they ought to know before aticmptn.
teach to permit them to give the nccc.s
study 10 their pupils, and how 10
manage them, or to permit them 10 eng
ae they should in collecting fresh
Interesting matter bearing upon the less
of the day. The Superintendent truly
that q considerable part Of the time in
normal school ought to be devoted 10
science of teaching. The chow to tea
ought to have more attention in
school than the ~ hat 50 teach" BIZ
long as we have teachers Wko must
all their leisure out Of school and the
of the normal school to enable then
prepare for the annual examinations
more than to prepare them for these
aminatiOns eau be done.
In conclusion the Superintendent &
fies TO the faithfulncss and zeal Of mos
the teachers and commends them To
generous regard OF the Board, hoping
the time ls not far distant when pl
sentiment will permit it to increase
compensation in proportion to the
creased demand il is making on them
intelligent service. The report Is ace
panied by interesting tables of the utl
value TO amy one desiring 10 idmi.i
himself with the present condition eft
public schools and ii should hy all 900
be published.
RUNAwAY.-A team b lllgiug tu T.
Talley ran away SATURDAY and 81
lamp post al El,vcutn ami VI.
streets, breaking it down.
BANK CAvHD lN--Fn hy
some men were al v rk 20 the city
bank, Twelfth and Orange street.. q
caved 10. Two men. Psrrs k,cfc
colored cart driver were quite erN
injured, although neith -rriou s.
"Dor Among the favoritcs ur
troting course at the last exhibition %
Chester County Agricultural Society
the sturdy little tIotter Dot leo
recently died in Phladeipaia irttii
estate Of about Z 900 900, aud iu DID,
Dot is bequeathed TO his Crivrr. Iu
Turner, together vi h all the WAGON