The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-01-09
regular teachers. A condensed account of
the methods and course of study in the

all wed yearly advertisers without additional charge
regular teachers. A condensed account of
the methods and course of study in the
four departments was given. The great
annual musical exhibitions in Music Hall,
which had been regularly held since 1858,
had been at once an illustration of the pro-
gress in this study and most important
means of aiding that progress. The first
was SO successful as to draw from the very
eminent music critic, Mr.. Dwight, the ex-
clamation, How far the reality transcend.
ed the imagination of the most sanguine
advocates of the idea ~ That perform
ance was the result of long and labor-
Gus special preparation. Now, with very
little special drill, vastly superior effects
were produced.
The nature, objects, and utility of the
study of drawing were as yet imperfectly
understood. While he would advocate its
claims on the high ground of it's value as
disciplinary instrumentality, as a means of
general culture, as affording training nee
essary and desirable for every individual
without regard to his destination in life,
yet its positive value in dollars and cents
to people like ours, largely devoted to
industrial pursuits, is by no means to be
ignored. 1t was well known that in Eng
land the value of manufactures has been
immensely augmented by means of the
system of art-education, which was inau-
gurated in that country years ago. And
the best of our authorities in industrial
science now agree in the opinion that Mas
sachusetts could not maintain her prestige
as manufacturing State without the aid
of art-culture. The only adequate basis of
the needed art-culture was a thorough sys-
tenn of drawing taught in all public schools
The expenditure for drawing for the years
1894, including both day and evening
schools, has been S31, $500, exclusive of
drawing books furnished by the children.
By means of the proper grading of the
primary schools, by the introduction Of the
desks, states, tablets, improved textbooks,
and rational programme, by the use of
better methods of instruction, by the re-
duction of the number of pupils to
teacher, and the exclusion of children from
to ) years of age-by these and other
means the teaching power of the teachers
to teach and the learning powers of the
pupils to learn, have been more than
doubled. And there has been in the pri-
mary schools, SO far as he knows, nothing
of what is called "high pressure" There
have been no home lessons.
In speaking of the Importance of physi-
cal education, Mr.. Philbrck remarked that
the wise saying of Emerson that "the first
requisite to success in life is to be good
ANIMAL ought to be accepted as funda-
mental principle in the science of educa-
ton. The progress in that respect had
been somewhat gratifying. There had been
perceptible improvement in the physique
of the pupils, owing in great degree to
the measures adopted to better the hygi-
enic conditions Of the schools. In 1864
gymnastics were recognized branch of
school culture. After witnessing the re-
suits of gymnastic training in European
that it should receive greater attention in
America. 1t would probably be thought
eXpedient to set apart one of the rooms in
each of the large school buildings for gym
nastics. Military drill in the high schools
was highly spoken of. 1t had developed
more manly spirit in the boys, invigorated
their intcllects both directly and indirectly,
and made them more graceful and gentle
manly in their bearing.
Under the head of high pressure, Mr..
Philbrick said: "By this mean excessive
tasks, excessive stimulation, by emulation
or other means, and excessive nervous ex-
citement. These evils are quite prevalent
in the higher grades of public schools in
America. They affect girls much more
injuriously than boys. This high pressure
was introduced into the Boston schools in
1915, by means of the competitive exami.
nations inaugurated by the educational
reformers Of that day. These examina-
tons were long ago abandoned, but other
causes tended to keep up the evil they
originated. 1t has been hard evil to
combat, but am happy to say that it has
been greatly mitigated in Boston. The
abolition Of the medal system contributed
in some degree to this object"
In the matter of school accommodations,
the Superintendent thinks the most notable
advance during his term of office has been
in the primary school houses, of which
there were not in 1856 more than three or
four of respectable character. In 1860 the
Superintendent, working with an able archi-
tect, designed several model plans, COM
prising the desirable features, but it was
not until 1864 that the first building in
accordance with these designs was con-
structed. The buildings erected since then
have been good, but generally too large.
In high school architecture no great success
had yet been obtained. In 1874 Horace
Mann reported that the school buildings Of
England and the continent were much
inferior to ours. This is not the case now.
Vienna now has school houses vastly SUI
perior to ours, and the reason of their
superiority "is owing to the fact that they
have been designed under the combined
direction of the highest official architects
and pedagogists, who possess the highest
existing qualifications for this particular
service
One of the most interesting statements
of the report is that concerning the growth
in public favor and patronage of the public
schools. There is an impression in some
quarters, although of course those who
take the pains to investigate the facts know
better, that the private shoots are gaining
in the struggle to maintain prestige of
superiority. 1t is shown, on the contrary,
that they are losing ground. While the
public schools have gained year by year,
the number attending private schools in
1878 was actually less than in 1856.
Us Sidney Smith was once visiting the
conservatory of a young lady who was