New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-07-08

American p,ps to converse in German BY the time they
close their grammar-schooI course
Prof. Z. l.. YoumaI,s says in regard to SPELL
ing When child enters school there should be no
break 70 it, earlier mental uufodDg but s Is just what
generally occurs. Instead Of going on with its hor"
mental exercises it is turned of INTO aruhch ihehe"
exercises. Instead Of sin employing ITS thought mans
upon the properties and relations OF things symbols
are substituted for things and the whole acton OF 'he
mind becom a manipulation OF symbols The memory
is not only loaded with verbal signs hut these are ar
btIary and contradictory; aud an accuracy Il OK
acted in retaining them when consumes III in
mense proportion OF the time, ana aiter Woih'
ing eveat mental mischief, generally ends IN i"luIe'
Toerabe spelling is, OF course, an important 'ht' ou
we do rot believe in dwarng or Supplying the NINA ~
gain It, Let it be taught incidentally, and in subordina
ton TO the regular exercise of the higher faculties ana
the end will better served than by trying 10 make
the prime accomplishment of education Perhaps III IT,
gard to fundamental REFORM but little u 10 DC en-
pected the present generation OF teachers; pu nap
ply for the hopes of humanity, there Is an arahseo
by which the present generation OF teachers is destined
10 be taken ont OF the way
A petition has been sent to the Constitutional
Convention of Missouri asking that the free school sys
TEN be abandoned in that State Cniously enough TINS
petition s signed by quiet. honest taxpayers oil the ufI
districts and country townsville very class OF men VINO
most closely the working Of the school system
ard whose special benefit IL is said 10 be estapthe
They say the system in Missouri IL a faiinfe' anu
cite the expense OF ten years to prove II SUCH Ihy Ut
clare that the time the pupils is taken up with the OF
branches ard oloEics 10 the neglect OF the
sudjcs which are really educational: that the school
taxes arc very nigh that tie expenditures are Kept secret
from the people and that the schools cost more thah iy
produce. The Illinois Ste Register says OF ths mat
ter: Whether the indicmcnt against me SCHOOLS III
Missouri is true we know but well may be- since
fin
came system is IN vogue The failure OF our school sy'
TEN Is notorious paipable and undcabe After ail TIE
money paid, wh is known 20 hc not less man f''V""
600 per year this State tie schools fan to produce
ready writer's clear speakers. or accurate naihemah-
ciaDa. The public school pupils, who are nov enjoying
ber Summer vacation, do not speak Ene but rao's
made I'D of the nggcrsns OF the Southern dialect and
the provncialisms Of Ncw-YoIk NcwJeiscy, and New
England They cannot write readily or iegiby Inc!
cannot cipher oXpcltly correctly ana tDey cannon
read under standing Of their bearers or Their ""
These are facts which be tested by any parent NJ DIS
own home ald they facts which certify TO the srheh
ing truth that school system is failure, aud which
moi only create opposition f. the school sysc but which
give that opposition strength"
In his annual report superintendent W. 7.
Harris OF It Louis says concerning grading in The public
schools There is perpetual dnl.nnon OF pupils III
the i-lor grades Occasioncd ny final Withdrawal from
school and on Tie other hand there i perpetual acces
sion Of numbers below. NOT 10 ItHNuSt Itii"-
civ would leave the Glasses of the bisiniccd AMI most
experienced teachers very small while the classes OF the
teachers Of least experience ami smaller Salaries would
be filed 10 overlooking, and il often harp n that pupils
are refused for want oi IL these grades wien there
j. mu room in The upper grades. Instead OF adjusting
This IL the end of the year let il lee done ~ often
as needed by promoting few OF The best pupils ~
each class 20 the next higher. This viii NOT (g Isolate
the poor pTls by tlcms Ives for into eaeh class ihc
hest pupils viii from below To- nor VIII II III
thc uppcr classes with brilliant superficial, pre-
cocous children, for Tie test OF promotion Will he
maiury-aliliy do the work OF the higher class and
II any other standard is used the evil VII speedily correct
itself inrsrluch as the immature pupils TINS promoted
viii remain at tie bottom of the Higher class ana viii
not get promoted again until after they are rooined by
llc rest of their class 90 Norwi it ayeis,se ca'
mnils t. change teachers any oftcner than tie old
systcIn II each teacher has classes and oneiouri
If each class is promoted and joined to tie next every
ion wccls the average stay Of each pupil in her room
will be two year, if one-tnird ia promoted each time
one ycal and half VIII be tie ayclage stay under eacl
TEACHER The maturesi and alct pupils viii stay less
lime tan the average while fhc immature &d weak VIII
STAY for a longer time. Tine maIcst and obcst pupils
med less ndi,ual help and less psychological study
Of their idiosyncsi,es Tie part G the teacher Oi
course It that these promotions aye followed
by review OF studies ,hc pant ri all glasses into which
promotions are made"