New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-02
PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS.


d. PHILBRIcK-voCAL AND PHYSICAL CULTURE
THE "HIGH PRESSURE" SYSTEM - RECON-
NENDATIoNs. SUGGESTIONS, AND STATISTICS
lFRoE AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRiBUhhI
BosroN, Dec. 30.-Last Summer Mir. John
ID. Phibrlck, who for seventeen years mas oeen INC
superntendent Of the public Schools resigned
his position ON account OF III health, and his report OF
the changes and advance toward tnat ume
which TO be published tomorrow, affords an excellent
onnortunitv TO see what progress has been made
since 1851 not only tho city, but in the State The
Office of Superintendent Of Schools been created
and the school government had just been consolidated
under one head that it In the control OF one
board. Since 1855 the notable enanges are the
organization and successful Introduction of vocal
culture craving, and gymnastics and military drill, the
abolition of the medal system, with an essential modiil
cation Of the diploma system the introduction OF
definite programme OF study carefully adapted TO secure
certain uniform progress the fostering OF sewing In
the girls grammar schools, the improvements In scboo
buildings tho establishments Of special schools and
evening drawing schools, the grading OF the
primary schools. and many moro OF less i'm
DO rtance although Enthusiastically tending to tho COM
pleeness and efficiency Of the system. But we have
meanwhile reached that point that people begin to
think s15o to 200 year educate each pupil In the
Latin school too high price to pay.
Regarding the study Of vocal music. Mr.. Pmlbrick
says that he has been unexpectedly convinced by per-
sona observation that tho given in all grades
OF the public schools was equal In excellence to that
1yeR in the public schools OF the most cultivated elites
of Germany where il had received more attention than
in any other part of the world. And yet the work Of
developing, sysBmatIzng, and pereong instruction ID
music had been accomplished mainly within recent
period. The remarkable fact In connection win
the progress OF musical instruction In our schools wac
the success Of plan Of requiring this branch TO oe
taught BY regular teachers condensed account or
the methods and OF study in tho four depart
ments given. The great annual musical exhibitions
in Music Hail. which had been regularly held since 1885,
had been at once Illustration of the progress in this
study aud most important means of aiding that pro-
gross The first successful to draw from tho
very eminent musical critic, Mr.. Dwight the exclama-
ton :" far the reality transoendedsthe Imagination
| of the most sanguino advocates OF the ideal" That
| performance was the result OF long aud laborous
special preparation Now, with very little special drill,
| vastly superior effects were produced
The nature Objects and utility OF tho study OF draw
| ing we're as yet tmperfectly understood. While he
would advocate its claims on the high aground OF It's
value as a disciplinary fundamentally, as means OF
general culture. afordng training necessary and
desirable every individual without regard to his des
tnation 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 we'll
known that Engand the value OF manufactures has
been immensely augmented by means OF the system OF
arteducatioR which inaugurated in that country
wears ago And tho best OF authorities In industrial
science now agree in the opinion that Massachusetts,
could not maintain her prestige as manufacturing
State without aid OF art0ulture The only adequate
basis OF the needed srtcuiture thorough system
Of drawing taught all pubic schools. The ex-
penditure for drawing for the years 1874 including
both day evening schools, has been ss ssS g. eI
elusive OF drawing books furnLshed by the children.
BY of the proper grading Of the primary schools
by the introduction of the desks, states, tablets, i'm
proved textbooks, and rational programme, by the
use OF better methods Of instruction. by the reduction OF
the number Of pupils teacher and tho exclusion OF
children from to years OF agemoy these anu ot a
the learning powers OF the pnps 70 iesrn nave Deen
than dop BE- 4nS eT nnS OF w h no 3 e
"high pressure" There have been no home lessons
Mr. Phbrrk remarked that tho wise saying Of Emerson
first requisite to success in LIE Is to be good
ANIMAL" ought to be accepted fundamental prtnel
pie the science Of education The progress Ia that
respect had been somewhat gratifying There hs6 been
pills owing great degree TO the measures adopted TO
better the gienlc conditions OF the schools In 1854
gymnastics we're recognized as branch of school Gull
ture. After Witnessing tue results OF gymnasHe train
that it should reesve greater attention. jn Aperie 1t
would probably be thought expedent to set apart one
Of the D each Of the large school buildings for
| gymnastics. Military drl III the high schools was
highly spoken Of 1t had developed more manly spirit
and Indirectly made them more graceful and gem
| tlemanly IN their bearing.
Under the head of high pressure, Mr.. Phibrck said
By this mean excessive tasks, excessive stimulation.
by emulation other means and excessive nervous OK
element These evils are quite prevalent In the higher
grades of public schools America. They affect girls
much more iDurOuslY than boys. This high pressure
was introduced into the Boston schools in S5 by means
OF the competitive examinations inaugurated by the ed
ueationa reformers of that day. These examinations
were long ago abandoned but olhor causes tended to
| keen up the evI they originated 1t has been hard
evil to combat am happy to say that IL has been
greatly itgaed In Boston. The Abolition OF tAe medal
| system contributed in some degree to this object
In matter OF school accommodations the Supertn-
term office has been in the primary schoohouses OF
there not in 1856 more than three or four OF
working with able architect designed several model
plans comprising the desirable features bus IL was not
1854 that the frat building IN accordance with these
designs constructed. The buildings erected since
school architecture no great success yet OBJ
tanned. III 1874 Horace Mann reported that Inc schOol
rSor TO ours Ths is not the ease now. Vienna has
vastly superior to ours and the reason OF
been Designed Under the combined OF the high
official architects and pedagogsls VINO possess lhs
highest existing qualifications for this particular ser
vice"
One of the interesting statements Of the report
| is taat concerning the growth IN public favor and
patronage Of she public schools Inere IA an impression
quarters although OF course tnose VINO taEe ne
schools are gaining IN tho struggle 10 MAINTAIN
6st tsy are omnr eTcuad Wills the paSS COL:
have gained year BY year. the number attending prl
| THO following figures OF interest: The number Of
persons in the ely between the ages Of and Is Years
was SC ga for the year OF $3.50 TAs number
Of ssnoO districts was 49, and The nnmber Of sgh schools
was .; grammar schools. 10; primary sSAooi 4lo
schools for licensed minors q for deaf mutes Kinder
garter evening schools I6; evening drawing schools,
s. whols numOer Of day aud evening schools 49s; in
crease for year. o. Tue schoOhouses had seats for
soeut eis ihe whole number Of teachers was 269,
OF whom l9s males and 1901 females, an Increase
for tho year Of $50. The whole number OF day pupils
Was a. 9l2 Of 10 per cent TO the estimated
population OF the ely and Of 70 cent to the entire
seeool population. Tue aggregate whole number OF pu
pLa belonging 70 day ana night schools was o. 6a 1ho
| total number OF pupils enrolled Vas $3.50 OF whom
1892 were males aud $3.50 were females Iho total eA.
pendltures Tor all school purposes was sSOS4o ~ OF
which COS Is for schOOl-boasss and LOIS Tie
tatal coat for sohslar tbe day schools 31 81
In "a wears the n Der Of pupils belonging the public
sehoels mad doubled and the OF teachers had
tTshLed d minsbng the number Of pupils 70 teacher