New-York tribune., 1875-01-26
SPECIALITY IN EDUCATION.
PROPOSITION THAT SCHOOLS De ORGANIZED {
TIE PLAN OF DEYOTING EXCLUSIVE ATTENTIC

PROPOSITION THAT SCHOOLS BE ORGANIZED ON
THE PLAN OF DEvoTING EXCLUSIVE ATTENTION
TO A LIMITED NUMBER OF STUDIES.
TO the RdStor OF The Trtouns.
SIR: The article in THE TRIBUNE of this
morning. entitled "Drawing in the Common Schools"
recalled some thoughts that perhapsnotiun
OF consideration with regard the general method Of
instruction. The fundamental principle OF complex
modern society consists in the adaptation OF individuals
to particular calings. The neglect of this principle in
teaching ISL think. the Of tho supercalness OF
many scholars 1t seems TO that schools should
be organized on somewhat the following plan:
FIRST: A number, a large number. OF wellappOinted
primary schools. In these should be taught reading
writing. and arithmetc only these three, although
can speak English correctly and correct tho phrases
Of children when wrongly spoken. These the TOOLS
so TO speak for acquiring all other knowledge. .
Secondly: Common schools, at present, limiting
their studies to these: History to read learned
position a similar application OF writing; geometry,
much more important elementary study than algebra
and, in addition geography These are the essentials
of education. BY adhering to these only with care
most pupils will become thoroughly grounded In all
Thirdly: High schools. These should be OF three
kinds, and one two. of each kind would sui
hce First beeslettres; secondly mathematics third
ly, natural science.
With regard the first, II to that cannot
afford to ignore the refining influence OF literature on
crude mind material Therefore. the first course would
include languages and rhetoric; not more than three
languages TO be taught TO one pupi-the choice being
Latn, creek, frencD, spanish, Gefman, anu possioy
italian. Tho mathematical school would begin with
algebra. analytical geometry, trgonometry, 80 far
taking all pupils over the same course When they mad
reached this point they would be separated according
TO the inclination OF each, into the following courses
Calculus and higher mathematics; 2. Drawing, archi-
tecuTal and machine, be taken alone together with
mechanics; g. Surveying and engineering. There might
be separate course Of bookkeeping and business
Natural science would, carrying out the Same idea
teach all physics and elementary chemistry, after
ward dividing into smaller classes for each branch Of
physics and for practical chemistry aud physioogy
have no doubt that building for each OF these
three would be sufficient I will be easily seen what
advantages gained by this arrangement. Each pu
pil having had thorough grounding IN the common
schools would avoid the terrific mixture now in1cted
would choose his future without doubt or his
capacity hold what ne might have. Large numbers
might be taught the thing in higher branches In
the class and the in the number OF teachers
would permit high standard OF talent 20 be employed
In addition the relief 10 the crowded condition OF our
schools both in numbers and in variety OF stues the
necessity for much apparatus and the avoidance OF
the need buildings to meet the enforcement OF
schooling would iD the end make the establishment OF
three such high schools an economical measure. ms
plan some hat like that of TIE Greeks would be vastly
superior the present system both for scholars anu
taxpayers. AS IL s open TO no important objections,
remain in hope that mething Of the sort Will be
adupted JOHN BEVERLEY ROBINSON.
Ne,o. York, Jan. %. 1875.