New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-12-01
EDUCATIONAL REFORMS.


We understand that several of the foreign
Commissioners, especially interested IN the
cause of education, have delayed their de-
parture to investigate our systems OF puDhc
and private teaching Mr.. Tamak, Commits
siOner from Japan, with his wife and several
associates, has already given six months to
this examination, visiting the principal cities
OF the country. 1t may surprise our readers
to know that in many respects the Japanese
schools are far in advance of our own. The
Brazilian Commissioner, also, DR.. PHILIPPE Ga
Motta, is about to visit New-YOrk and Boston,
TO carry away any new ideas which we may
have discovered in this problem OF education
Much of the rapid advance which Brazil has
of late years made in her educational system
is due to the zeal of DR.. da MOtta.
We are less concerned, however, with the
ideas and hints which educators OF fore gn
countries may gain from our teachers than
with the ideas which our teachers may gain
from them. With all the incessant chatter on
the subject of education in this country, our
schools need a thorough reformation. In the
cities the management is always in danger of
being brought under political influence. The
houses are poorly ventilated, the teachers poorly
paid, and we all know the kind OF work to be
expected from cheap flues and cheap teachers.
The books given to the children are, too often,
not chosen because they are the best fitted to
instruct them, but because the publisher pays
n percentage for their introduction, which
will account to many a Woodworking father
for the fact that he must buy a new
set of grammars and readers with every new
year. Object teaching, so largely IN use III all
countries where education is made science
and not n means of money-getting, Is scarcely
known among us outside of expensive kinder
gartens. The child of the poorest peasant In
Sweden and Prussia in this respect has bet
ter chance for the development OF his brain
set before him without the cost of penny
than is offered to the son of the rich man
here. We need but hint at the difference be-
tween the gymnasia of Europe and our own
colleges. Teachers know what we mean, and
fortunately parents are finding 1t out Tor them
selves.
The Permanent Exhibition which the Phila-
delpbians propose To maintain in the Main
Building il to contain, we understand, 1ull
educational exhibit, in which other countries
will take a share. A model primary school
and higher school will be shown, with all the
appliances necessary for each. Ii this Is done
thoroughly, and with a genuine desire to show
the best system of teaching wherever IL be
found, the benefit to our own schools ought
indeed to he incalculable. But to make 1t
thorough it should offer hints and actual
achievements from the best schools abroad,
especially those of Prussia and the northern
countries of Europe There are in this coun-
try many teachers Jealous in their work-art-
lists not moncy-makers. 1t Is true that they
are so poorly paid that their zeal needs to be
great to keep them from thinking of the
scanty fire beneath the pot that does not boil
But an exhibition such as this, TO which they
could come and find the best work and learn
how to do it, would do much to keep that zeal
at fever heat