The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-09-17

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,nt grades in such manner Us to pre-
vent conflict. Some of our pupils are
compelled to omit, at least one recitation
daily. The effect in such cases is appa-
rent Second: Heretofore, pupils have
been uniformly admitted to class reclta-
ton without having prepared the lesson
At first sight. this statement bears the
form of o charge against my German
teachers; but l do not intend 1t as sucn.
The teacher sees her pupils during reel
tation only, and hence can exercise no
direct influence in favor Of II preparation
of lessons"
Principal Mertz, of the Eighth ward,
says: al hardly feel competent to give
Iecided answer not having hac my at
lection directed to the matter heretofore.
| have asked our teachers who have
classes in the German, their opinion, or
rather tbs result ui their observation IN
the matter. Two sad that they had OBJ
served no difference ia the Standing be.
tween those studying the German and
those not studying it. Three Others SAID
that the scholars III their rooms studying
the German, were not standing as high
as those not stadying it, or words to that
effect. believe that AS b
general thing our pupils have
all they can do To accomplish what Is
prescribed for them in the course OF
study. laid down by the Board Of Educa,
ton, and every new study introduced
will add to the time required to complete
the studies of any grade, whether the
new study be German or anything else.
In the foregoing extracts may be found
all contained IN the communications oil
the principals, having direct bearing
upon the points embodied IN the reSolu-
tons OF the Board. The communications
themselves are herewith submitted.
The testimony thus far in the case,
sums up rs follows:
In the First ward school, the pupils IN
the lower divisions pursuing the study Of
German stand quite rs well IN their Eng
hsh studies Us those not studying uer-
man. In the higher divisions not so wei,
since the time given to German would De
q ven to other studies were the German
Jispcn,ed with. In other words, that the
German takes time from other studies.
The passage OF classes through the halls,
in going to and from their recitatIons;
creates disturbing influence.
In the Third ward the German has
been placed ut disadvantage, owing to
The crowded condition of the rooms.
Hereafter, owing TO better grading OF the
school, there will be little, II any, inter
ference.
III the Fourth ward,i room No. |. no
difference is noticeable in the standing Of
those studying German and those not
studying IT, Ia room No. = the standing
OF those studying German Is not so good.
In room No. 3, progress very poor IN
deed whether OF! those studying Ger
man or those not studying it, the commu-
nicutiUn does not say. "StroIIlns through
the halls to and from the German class
room has disturbing effect.
In the Fifth ward the German has had
no injurious or retarding effect. Those
pursuing the study rank among the most
successful, the "brightcst in their Eng
fish CLASSES.
In the Sixth ward. in order to attend
upon the German, lessons in English are
necessarily lost.
In the seventh ward, We are told that
the study OF German, conducted on the
present >y,tcm, does 'retard tine course
of study
In the Eighth ward the principal does
not feel prepared "to give decided ans
wrr.' Two OF the teachers discover no
difference, and three distinguish II differ
encr between those studying German and
those not studying it, the latter doing
better in Their English studies
This testimony, coming rs 1t does from
the'prln cipais and teachers IN the schools
in which German is taught, should not
be overlooked, or ignored i'll the con>ld-
Grafton of the subject before u. 1t Is
fairly >upposable that they may have had
better opportunity than Others oil obsefV-
me- the effects which the study of the
German has exertcd upon the progress OF
pupils in their English course.
In III. FIRST ward school, as appears
from the testimony, the study OF German
has had Il retarding influence on y IN the
higher GRADES or dlvlslons-malhly, IL i
presumed. in the Grammar schools, and
Tor the reason as stated, that some Eng
Esh branch is omitted or delayed. We
are left to infer that the gam or loss IN
this case depends upon the value or I'M.
portancr of the English study "omltted
or DELAYED" rs compared with the Ger
man. If, for instance, the study OF AIge'
bra has been delayed or omitted IN order
to give place To the German, the question
of gain or loss turns upon the relative
value of these two st.dlcs.
If, a. stated by several Of the Princi.
pals, the study of the German has taken
time from the English studies, and there
by retards pupils in their progress in
these studies, may We not say that tn,
study OF algebra, botany, mental
philosophy, or any other study
pursued in the schools, has eXerted
a like rcturGing influence, since
the time, both Of the class and of the
teachers, would, were such study omitted
be- given to other branches For instance
suppose there to be class in mcnt"
philosophy, numbering two, three or hall
a dozen members; and that this class dc
vote daily an hour To study and half al
hour to recitation. Now, all this time
given to preparation and recitation ii
this branch, would, were it omitted, OI
devoted to other studies; may 1t not then
be said that the study Of mental phloso.
ply cNerts II retarding influence upon tn,
progress OF pupils in their other studies
And may not the same be- said with re-
gard to every other braUch of study
since the time given To any study would
be gwen To others were this omitted?
Those Of the principals who seem tc
entertain the belief that the study of the
German intcrtercS wife the progress o
the pupils in their other studies, all agree
that the effect would be the same witt
any other study, introduced ana conduct
cd in like manner. Such being the cas-,
the, in curry arises-hoW, shall the Difficult
ty be met in the case of the German
answer. Not by putting it out Of tn,
schools Not by restricting or coniinins
tito the higher grades, rs the grammar
schools, or prospective lll9t
school; (Which would in effect rx
cluIn II olfoua.hnr.l Lut rutb,