, 1874-11-01
THE HIGH SCHOOL.
How It Is Proposed to Re-
organize It.
Notable Inconsistencies in the Com
mittee's Report.
Opinions Of The Most Competent Judges
Adverse to 1t.
Sentiments of Messrs. Wells, King, and
Others.

1enuHlelllS vi iHeSSES. ucho3 n1aa9s o''"
Others.
Shall ths Chicago High School be abolished
seems to be the real question brought before tno
Chicago Boazd OF Education by the report OF the
Committee on Textbooks and Course OF IN
struction, recommending double sessions, vhlcn
is now pending before that body; Tor. In tne
minds Of the most experienced and best edu-
Gators Of the city. the adoption Of the report WILL
be decided step in the direction OF the de-
rnoralization and ultimate destruction OF the
school.
THE REPORT IN QUESTION
recommends the discontinuance OF tho High
School classes. occupying hall
dozen rooms in the school buildings
in various parts of the city, and
that the pupils be incorporated with the regular
classes OF the High School proper; and, to a.
commotlate the increased uumbsr OF students
in the High School occasioned BY this arrange
ment, tha Committee recommended that the
school-tlay be divided into two sessions OF three
hours each viz: From q, m. to Il o'cioca. and
from to 4 o'clock p. N. The Committee COM
1nerd their report to the favorable action OIL
the Board by several reasons, chief among
0hicn arc these: that it will Eacats s11
rooms nom needed for pupils IN the
overcrouded grammar schools; TINT It Will
abolish the salaries OF Elk teachers
tba. students will bo enabled to take their dinners
1t home; and that pupi1a OF limited means WILL
be enabled to employ portion Of their time IN
earning their own livelihood. The report &C.
EuoSleIces that, should the arrangement DO car
ried out, High-SchooI pupils will ba obliged to
get all their Lessons At home, and spend the en-
tire time in school in teciting.
Itis observabIe that the report is
SLIGHTLY ILLOGICAL
It recommends the introduction OF double diEis-
ioua into the High School in order to diminish
the ev;I Of double divisions at pres
eut existing in the primary scloola.- -
the very place where they are tolerated
by the most enlightened educators, and where
tne opinions of experts a1e not agreed whether
it is not even better that the youngest children
should be limited to from two to TWO and half
hours each day, The report also expressly
state. that nil lessons are to ba studied At home
and vet it argues that pupils gill have more tune
to earn livelihood by manual labor.
The wise and vigorous protest OF
SUPERINTENDENT PICARD,
which has neen substantially published IN 1aE
TR1guSE answers the Committee tuost
effectnally. A1r. Plckard Ears continual
stretch Of three hours day spent in 1ecItat!on
only ia too great mental strain for the pupils.
He shows that the =" sanitary" argument 10 pure
moonshine when examined Since: ? Sigh school
ia situated from to 5 miles frou1a large pof
ton Of the stadents they would be uuable to eat
their dinners nt home. no matter whether tne7
we're foreuoou OF afternoon students; II they
a.teuded in the forenoon, they would get home too
Iate for inner and if they attended n the after
noon. they must leave home an hour before dlu-
ner. Mr.. p,ckard showed that the forenoon waa
the best time for study or recitation slnee
both teachers and pupils were Hesn ssa
and vigorous, aud for these and Tor
other reasons the great majority OF patrons
would wish their children to attend that session.
Moreover. it ls Que Of the most important du0es
Of an instructor to tram students to the lof!na
tion OF correct habits OF study. How can THIS
he done when no study is done in achool-hours
But aside from the opinions OF the snperln,
! teudenr. which, as thus given. are "lso nno
timely. TIE TRIBUNE has taken the pains to col
| ]oct The opinions Of several other well.kno"n
educators and their testimony Is uniformly
against the wisdom OF the report
aIR- ". Il. WELLS,
for snrne eight wears the Superintendent OF tue
schools of this city, and who has given the sys-
tenn a great share OF lts exceuencles, as most
emnhatic in his opinion. About two years ago
he travelled extensively in Europe. and made e1-
act and careful inquiries into the management OF
the hest schools, especially in England and Scot
land /: and in his knowledge OF the maaagenens
Of American schools he u probably second "a
ecnooa sirnitar to our High School arc
contrary 10 all the established doctrines OF eau-
Gators either in Europe or THIS count1F, Ano
must result in decentralization and deter1oratlon
Of the discipline OF the school, FEact'eaily' ne
s.yR. it will be found impossible to Obtain gooa
results where pupils are expected 70 learn al
their lessons at home, subjected to all the neon
| xenieacos and distractions which haunt the Az
etage home. He coucurs expncltiv "ltn oupt,
P1ckard in the belief that the instructor snonld
| ba tn some extent the director OF q puplis 8
study-hours, Mr. Wells has always opposed
double sessions in all departments OF the
| nnblic schools, in his published reports;
! and bv his votes when member OF the ecnool
Board; and he is especially severe on tlae pea
yunisIl policy which, to save fe" dollafs > ex-
Inense- ia prepared on the one hand, to Eli on
teachers by doubling their work, and, On the
| otber. to diminish the efficiency of tne m
struction and discipline Mr. " els 1deA IL That
| the High School should be KEPT ln tna uRnss] @
| state Of efficiency, as moral s@1nalas ~ Ane
| lower schools.
THE HON. " Il. KING,
who has been member Of the Chicago School
| Roard for over sir years. and lts President Tor
| two consecutive years, ana VINO rs Weu Ano"5 !,
| faithful school officials Chicago has ever had,
piyea equally unequlvocl testimony al to the
| deleter,ous effects of the so-called rafoSm IN
| Hiph-Schoo1 management. He admits that he
differs widely from the views Of the present
! Chairman Of the Textbook Committee in
| many respects. nud thinks he always
| shalt differ. He Says the pupils OF the
| High-School classes III had the option
gwen them OF taking Latin and going to The
High School, or Of taking the scientific courre,
and spendIng the first year 10 tho High-sch%ool %
classes conducted in their own portion OF ths
city. He speaks in the highest terms OF = Tue
ability and faithfnIness Of tho teachers OF these
claases and regrets that the Committee propose
to dispense 80 cavalierly with the services Of haf
| dozen Of the very best instructors connectea
With the city schools He says the forenoon a1 IL
worth twice much - tue ona " n1s nrs
p prs fresh, and better able. to -, do
god m work. He thinks the teachers 10 tho High
School need both time for rest aqq tor Pzepara- p r.
ton for their classes. As for hlcnse!i: he oe-
iia1as h;s own legal services are worth mora