New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-09-10
NOTES ON EDUCATION.

The Kansas Teachers institute recently con-
sisered and dismissed this odd resolutions
R,solreS That poor teacher Ia worse than none; a
reod teacher seldom ovepaid; while we regret that
few worthy teachers must be the sufferers, neverhe
and she financial distress of the people, must admit
that average pay of teachers about all we could
reasonably ask.
Another resolution advising the making OF law for
compulsory education adopted by the Institute.
The Milwaukee School Committee on Ger
man recommend to the Board of Commissioners the
adoption Of the following text books:
FIRST For classes composed of pupils who understand
the German HesseS sd1 Fonrth
and Fifth Reader Translation Select German sories'
SScoad; Fer classes composed Of pupils who do not
understand the German Language ralnIiI LII
forts First Book IN German Reader; ColnIort = rI"e
aud Readers Translation; Select German s'ofies' u
q. storme.
The County School Superintendent of Mich
sgAn lately discussed among other things the
question, Should teachers certificates be renewedorh
dorsed ~ Nearly all the speakers in favor OF eA
animation before renewal of certificates. ID. Briggs
State superintendent did not think 1t Necessary to eH
anime teachers OF weknOwn scholarship, but deelnod
II advisable 70 examine always for third grade certn
cate in order to acquire higher standard OF schoiar
ship lie also stated that the AttorneyGenera mas DC
eded that a superintendent has no night to naorse
certificate given by another superintendent
The teachers have firmer hold upon their
NV
rather than controlled them by fear 1t viii necess-
rtly be inferred therefore that the teachers have
gained large degree sefcontrol The teachers WHO
were most ayerse from the beginning, to dispense wlth
the rod have expressed the most hearty approval Of the
new system now that Il has had thorough and sue
cessul trial one OF the best and Oldest principals ID
the city saws he notices decided difference Of feeling
toward hm on the part Of his pupils He is now re-
sared as friend rather than enemy Of the juvenile
portion Of the human race.
At the recent meeting of the Maryland
Teachers Association, compulsory education was dls-
eassed and a motion made 30 appoint committee
which should ask the Legislature TO pass law enion
3pg such education The motion put to the vote and
lost resolution adopted declaring the conVic-
ton Of the Association that the State should afford
equal facilities for the education OF both sexes.
The committee 10 nominate officers reported
she following list OF gentlemen who were
elected President. Prof d. A. Holngshead Of Bait
more Vioe-Presdents Prof. ]. +. A. Remley OF
Washington County, and the Rev. DIR. James L. Bryan
of Dorchester County; Recording Secretary, A. F.
WIlkersou OF Baltimore (renominated): Corresponding
Secretary, the Rev. A. G. Harley Of Queen Anne'e
County; treasurer Alexander Hamilton OF Baltimore
Irenomnatedl; Executive Committee, PrOfs. William
Elliott jr, and William r. CTeery Of Baltimore. W. H.
Hopkins of Ammo Arundel County, F. A sJper Of Prince
Georges County, and s. +. Norris OF Baltimore.
A correspondent OF a Chicago newspaper
does not like the present method OF teaching Teach
ers" he complains, "having attained to high wages,
have high calling to submit to drudgery but they
must make show of giving back value received so
they dispense with teaching and convert their rooms
into mere recitation rooms, where the pupils are
guirod 10 recite the whole six hours Of the school
day. At the close Of school for the day
each pupil loaded with text books and sent
bOme, in each a which he or she Is required
20 learn before the opening school the morning
lesson the length and difficulty of which plainly indi-
the teacher appreciate the fact thai
i2year old gifi cannot learn as much in one night as
said teacher only acquired by IS or 20 years study No
naer now the eyes bones may ache; no matter how
weary the whole body brain may be; no matter how
bong hard the tasksnO assistance except from father
and mother Who though perhaps good scholars when
Brown, Dabol and Webster were in vogue. ind
themselves totally incompetent 10 comprehend the non
seDsca argOn and crochets of modern approved text
books No time for play. no time 10 rest, and hardly
time 20 seep-he fact entirely ignored that eyes ana
health far precious than book learning. To
sneh alarming extent this fatal nonsense insisted
upon by priced teachers. that judcous parents
rOnsideft their duty TO invent excuses from time to
lime to keep their children out of school"
A Philadelphia newspaper says that the
prime evil Of the prevailing method Of teaching consists
In the careful cultivation Of the memory to the neglect
Of the thinking powers Commencing with the teachers
of highest grade down to the youngest child in
the school there almost savish adherence to the
mere Language OF the textbooks. Teachers do not
trouble themselves TO study the lessons, to thor
sughiy comprehend their full significance but
On the contrary only too frequently into
the classroom and have TO depend upon the
book in order 10 hear the lesson. Another
great evil Of the present system is that effort is made
60 get into the chd's mind than it properly
receive. The rules require too much, and even were
the teachers competent and conscientious than
they they would have alternative than TO insist
upon memorzng' II they paused to explain, and
oDy permitted the child 10 take much 1t could
RETAIN compliance with the rules would be impos-
tible in the great majority Of cases. This Is
perhaps most garingy the case in the lower
divisions but there is altogether too much Of the
abuse IN advanced schools. This examining
only good. but positively bad in its effects; it
not ouly does not expand but it actually cramps the
mind rendering its victims successful in their later
school than by slower and progress in
ats earlier stages they would have BEEN and in after life
only TOO frequently incapable OF healthy mental
ton These two with the great authorization Of the
practical TO the fancful. the great faults of
school teaching system"
Prof Huxley Sir John Lubbock and Profs.
eokes and sharpey with several other savants Of al
most equal emneDce have been inquirng into the state
OF scientific education in the English schools and uni
verses They have indicated in their report the
ence OF many glazing DEFICIENCIES in scientific iDstruc
ton, and have made various suggestions for i'm
proyement Sir William ThomsOns testimony the
subject alarming. The system Of competitive exam
nations rampant in the Universities exercises he
says very fatally injurious tendency n obsruetng
the progress Of science" Dr. Frankand traces the slow
progress scientific investigations in England to the
nonecOgniion Of original research by Of our
Universities" 1t appears that almost the only
laboratory suited for the study Of the higher
Pbysics at all answering 10 those erected