The New York herald., 1876-01-31
Grdfe-

or the 25 classes examined in French reported
excellent 10 good and fair The language is taught
in eight grammar schoos-three male and five female.
AS or instruction has been prescribed for the
French the grade OF progress OF these classes
cannot be given Few, however, had passed beyond
the simplest rudiments
AL the classes pursuing the study OF either OF thes.
languages have been under tho supervision of Assistant
Superintendent Scbem who reports that from January
to June of this year. the total number Of pupils
ined in German about 10 o00 and that the nstruc
ton was given in sixty i've male and female depart
ments of the grammar schools ''rhe method Of
teaching foreign languages" he states, "has un-
dergone since the beginning OF the century remarka
BILE changes and Is now, in the hands Of intelligent
teachers, something very different from what for
merly was The principle has been generally acknowL
edged that the way OF imparting the knowledge OF
foreign language should much possible adapt ~
self 10 the way in which children learn the native
tongue The principle also implies that the
very important medium for receiving in.
struction and that the training Of the should
not bo neglected TO favor that OF the eye From
a careful observation Of the comparative results
obtained in than 500 classes OF grammar
schools, which, during the past year have received In
structon in German. feel satisfied that young and in.
experienced teachers very apt 70 commit mistakes
by instructing too much through the medium OF the
eye, by devoting too much time to oral trans
lations from text books and to grammar, and by
duly neglecting colloquAl exercises Many OF our
teachers have obtained, through these exercises ex-
cellent and remarkable results. | have been highly
gratined to notice how perfectly all the children in
OF large eighth grade classes understood the
usual orders and directions when gwen in German;
how rapidly and correctly they could perform In Ger
the operations OF addition subtraction mutplca-
ton, and division; how well they could understand
and answer questions gwen In the German language
relative to objects in the school room OF at home In
classes of higher grade, very notable results have
been obtained by some teachers, who have used the
geographical lessons OF the grade subject for col
loQuaI exercises In n very short time the pupila
would learn understand every question asked by the
teacher in German and to it. do not doubt that
these exercises skifuy conducted, will not only in
very marked manner increase the results OF the Ger
man classes but also improve the pupils knowledge OF
''ihe question is sometimes asked. whether, in view
Of the many studies that have to be pursued by the
pupils OF our grammar schools two hours week
be given to German without retardng the progress
other branches For the formation Of an unbiased and
intelligent opinion this subject the experience Of
schools in which the instruction In German has been
given for several years. In entire conformity with the
prescribed course of instruction would seem 10 be OF
value II IL should be found that many most Of
these schools hold afront rank in English grammar, in
reading, in arithmetic and other studies among the
schools OF the city their experience II would seem,
will solve the question whether time for this particular
study be found without retardng the progress OF
the other studies Of the and the mental develop
ment OF the pupils in genera"
In relation TO this department OF teaching Assist
ant Superintendent Schem reports as folows:-
'The French language according 70 the present
regulations OF the Board OF Education, is taught IN the
classes ofthe two highest grades only IN ,ne sS1o0.
twelve departments OF grammar schools, OF which
three were male and nine female. In most OF these
schools only one lesson week Is devoted 10 tbs sub
iect; in none more than two II is obviously amost
dcult task and requires teacher OF more than ordi
experience 70 achieve nOthOlc Icsultn
In so short a time when only lesson a week is
gwen the total number OF lessons In the grade
is only about twenty; and the long in
terval OF one week between every two
lessons OF course makes reviews all the more neces-
sarv The excellent results which, Notwithstanding
these drawbacks have been attained IN some Of the
schools arc ali the more creditabe to the teachers As
there n as vet no OF instruction prescribed for
the French classes by the Board Of Education OF
the teachers have enormously believed that they
at liberty TO pay no regard whatever TO systematic
progress but might devote the entire time allowed for
French class Of the FIRST grade 70 review OF tho
few lessons learned by the pupils In the second grade
without any progress whatever To guard against such
a mistake in the future havo pointed in every
particular what considered fair OF work
TO be accomplished by the several grades"
This subject Is taught In part by special teachers the
aggregate salary paid 20 whom amounts TO about
$50 900 yearly. This special instruction s given chiefly
70 the classes OF the higher grades but those Of the
lower grades also supervised part by the special
teachers In many schools the accomplishments made
by the pupils Of considerable imporance In Others
but little Is done The system is not sufficiently uni
form and progressive and the course needs revision
l strongly recommend that this be done with
out delay, and that the system be reorganized
on the industrial basis now popular and so
successful IN Massachusetts, and other parts OF
tins country The first steps being taken In the
primary school, ana the practice carried forward pro-
grossivcy through all the grades Of the Grammar
School, the results reached would, without DOUBT
prove OF ncalculable value TO the pupils as well as
the greatest importance 70 the community In Us nnu
ence on the development Of skill In the Industrial ara