National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-02-09
AN EDUCATIONAL ERROR.
Textbooks and Lecture Recitations

Textbooks and Lecture REGULATIONS.
Under the above title the New York Tribune
recently gave utterance TO some thoughts so en-.
tiTely in accordance with those which have been
frequently Illuminated through these columns,
that we cannot resist the temptation to reproduce
them in the hope that they will attract the atten-
tiOn of our own educators. The Tribune says:
Through the American system OF education,
from the college to the district school, there runs
a grave fault. 1t has too much rote aud routine.
1t wants vitality, freshness, independence. The
young man throws away forever his Homer and
his Virgil with no comprehension Of the heroic
strain nor Of the first rich grOwths Of art nVen-
tiOn and intellectual expression. The average
boy in the average expensive private school re-
beats his Latin 6eclensions and mumbles his Uni
ted States history with no Intimate knowledge Of
his work, and not much interest in 1t beyond the
momentaTy excitement of recitInE literally and
getting it over. College authorities have borne
testimony to the failures Of the preparatory
schools.
THE average girl in the average expensive
private school takes her French and her music,
and her this and that Of serious learning, and
emerges coated with accomplishments and
information, and utterly incapable of making her
education available if hand necessity should by
chance knock at the GOor. There is the average
public school, Pupils rise at tap Of bell, pupils
march at tap Of bell, fold their arms at tap of
bell. end recite as mechanically the exact words
of the book. There is constant toll and trouble
about textbooks, as If memory were the emily pos
session to be cultivated, and the textbook the
only great agent Of education. 1t IS 10 TRUTH the
thorough and enthusiastic teacher 1t is only
help and a reference. When 1t is used as a col
lection of printed sentences to be repeated to the
letter, IL is Hfeless. 1t is a treasury Of facts
dates, figures and rules around which the teacher
may group illustration and argument that 1t be-
comes Of vivid value; We need more listening
and less talking the part Of the pupil and less
listening and more talking on the part Of the In
strucrof. It is time that the parrot system
should end.
at is a pleasure to record here a method pur.
sued In one Of our colleges under an original and
accomplished head. This method can probably
have no more descriptive name than the edi-
wide and Intelligent comments and comparisons
from the teacher. He shows his students in the
simplest manner possible the progress Of thought
and achievement In those branches Of human
knowledge which they are studying. He brings
down the dry bones Of older time, and bids
of this For instance, q professor Of history in
this college is master Of the art of modern war
fare in theory and in actual practice, and in
teaching the ancient modes, maneuvers and in
struments Of conflict he skillfully compares them
with the modern, and makes both old and new
worthy to be called thorough, for 1t gives the
Juice Of mems thought and work. 1t is such In
structiOn through all the branches that we an
ticipate in the school Of the future. We look to
see the teacher grow more and more into the lee
turer, awaking and interesting the dull minds
yelOping the bright ones. Such instruction only
men and women especially fitted by nature
and study for their work can give; and 1t is not
improbable that the revolution which would sub
stitute this method for that now in use would
solve more than one OF the troublesome problems
book would perforce come better teachers and
larger salaries"