New-York tribune., 1874-11-12

u,.o ,ost,uton bu, though professedly under State
patronage 1t received but little pecuniary ana from
the State"
Modern school books are not regarded with
reverence by The Providence Press speaks after this
fashion, Our textbook makers crowd things that are
minute and critical with the most elementary principles
into the lesson Hence instead Of getting clear per-
ception Of principle, and having 1t illustrated In va
rety Instances the rule is hardly learned before 1t Is
succeeded by vast number Of exceptions, or nice mod
fcations subdivisions aegravatng to the under
standing and memory than the exceptions We nave
children taught this system who could give the
elaborate classification OF adectves for example,
and yet could hardly pick one out OF simple Enghsh
sentence We have known college graduates who could
give some very recondte information in phiology NJ
examination and could with difficulty translate page
of sophocles."
The subjects discussed at the recent session
OF the New England College Association were college
regattas and boating, taxation of college properly,
optional studies comparative imporanc OF ciassicai
and scientific studies, and the college and the university
systems. The delegates discussed the regatta question
earnestly but decided that 1t was best to leu IL aIone
Taxation Of college property was UNANIMOUSLY u0
nounced. President Eliot of Harvard advocated oP
tcna studies and was opposed to some extent oy Pfe
dent Porter of Yale Tue general opinion was tna' inc
languages and sciences should be studied as means Oh
mental discipline only during freshman and sophomore
years. the succeeding years-junior and senior-shoud
be devoted to philosophy, literature, ana speca sci
ences leaving the languages and mathematics toptionai
during junior year. The next annual meetng-the SIX
teenth-will be held at Amherst.
The Committee appointed to examine and
report concerning the working Of the marking system
in the Worcester Mass) High School report unfavora-
bly,. They say that the physical aud mental results OF
the competitive system OF study often deporabe
rrh yiaty and
dered by IL have an extremely evil effect upon the lmma
ture Of the scholars Especially is this the case
with feminine scholars and the Comht'ee
make the inference that the present metnod
OF coeducation Of the sexes is deleterious 10
the physically at leas weaker portion of Juvenile
humanity. The Committee are unanimous In thinking
that the true escape out Of present difficulties
would be to educate boys and girls apart" They insist
however that the present system might oe modhed' III
respect to the marking feature so as t. very nearly
answer all purposes To this end they recommend the
abolition Of marks for rectatOns and that the scholars
fitness for graduation promotion be dependent not
merely upon In recng but also upon his or her
evident industry and fidelity in learning attempting
to learn.
OF the Seniors in the Oxford local examina-
ons this year only Ct per passed, and in the Ju-
nors the proportion 5 per cent, London being In
both cases about per cent below the average OF the
whole country. Out Of AS candidates for the senior de-
parment only % placed in the first DIVISION only
SO in the second DIVISION 2Gl in the third dyison ana
l2s failed. OF the junior candidates the number IN Leg
don l4 OF whom 6S passed IN the first diYls, 1lS
In the second $50 in the third and es failed The Bishop
OF Manchester, Dr. James Fraser. holding that this is
hardly satisfactory resait, suggests as remedy the
appointment of independent examiners and hopes that
the great universities will cooperate in furnishing
examining body who would be able TO test not
merely the proficiency picked boys. but to examine
the whole system of education throughout the country
He hopes the time will come when every school that's
in any sense a public school Will be so examined. and
when every parent will positively refuse to send his
children to any school which Will not submit to some
such test OF fits merits The Bishops excellent sugses'
on is perfectly place in this country For two years
we have urged that competent college authorities
should not hold themselves aloof from the common
schools they might greatly benefit At last we are
rejoced note action among them as in the case OF
President Porter. 1t is not impossible that we may
reach In time the hight of Dr. Fraser's hopes.