New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-14
NATIONAL EDUCATION.
CLOSE OF THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. HAYES AN IN
TEREsrFD AUDnoR-THR VALUE OF HIGH
SCHOOLS DISCUSSED.

[BY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE.
| WASHINGTON, Dec. 13.-At the meeting last
evening OF the National Educational Assocation fres
dent Runkle OF the Massachusetts Institute OF Techno
ogy delivered an interesting address Industrial educa
ton, illustrated by series OF models In WOOD iron anu
steel, made by the pupils in the Institute last
year. He explained the OF study and showed
that educates mind hand together as easily ana
as quickly as either can be taught alone. Dr. Runkle
thought that industrial education could be given IN the
ordinary public schools 10 boys aud girls from
twelve years old and upward and at moderate expense
Ignorance" said he, is the most expensive product
that we have" He thought that shops to teach the fol-
lowing named trades coul1 be completed and equipped
at the cost estimated, viz: carpenter shop
20 by 80 feet, FOR sixteen pupils, at $500;
wOod-turning shop, size and number
OF pupils, S1,500 patern-making shop, very small
shop for vse-work, fling etc. 20 by 80 feet for sixteen
pupils 81 OOO shop for FORCES, 20 By 60 feet sixteen
pupils 81 200; foundry, sixteen pupils, $500; and
machine tooshop 20 by 60 feet for sixteen pupils S5,
600. He said that he had found by inquiry that
than one IN ten OF the iourneymen workers al
the several trades taught in the Institute could do as
good work three years apprenticeship and subse
quent practice their respective trades threeourths
OF the pupils could after Of lessons aggregat
ing 100 hours.
President Hayes who occupied seat the platform,
was deeply interested listener. lie examined with care
several OF the pieces Of handwork exhibited lie dld
not appear much disturbed by thoughts OF what was
taking place in the Senate.
series Of resolutions adopted advocating an adj
ditional educational museum fayorng more liberal
support by the Government of the Bureau OF Education;
expressing appreciation OF the bill proposed In Con
gress providing that the net proceeds Of the sales OF
public lands should be bestowed Oh the several sates
and recommending liberal provision in behalf OF educa-
ton in the District OF Columbia.
To-day the Department. met at Mr.. Smart, OF
chat ftl.i mad
informal ard complete report the best school system
for state Il contained the following recommendations;
State Board Of Education; State super
intendent to be appointed by the Governor,
and confirmed by the Senate County superintendent
to be appointed by the Board and local officers,
such as trustees and directors. The unit OF the system
as to territory should be the municipal town or geo.
graphical township, as circumstances require.
The system OF instruction should embrace
the State University, normal schools. technical
schools, village graded schools, and district
schools That the present organization IN several OF
the States teachers institute In each county, OF
which every teacher must be member and teachers
institutes associations in each town and city, com
posed OF voluntary members, recommended. Other
less definite suggestions were made, and the committee
was continued and instructed to report in detail at the
next annual meeting.
The subject High schoosthen engaged the attention
OF the meeting A paper on this subject was read by
Mr. Smart and elected long and very animated discus
sion Mr.. Smart said he desired to present the case
"a appears from ithe sohool-mastePs point
OF view After noticing the different phases
| OF tha subject he addressed himself to the
| question: snail have High School T. For about
four years. he said had been gathering by correspond
ence and otherwise the opinions Of prominent men, f.
six different states this subject about 10 per cent OF
! them were connected with denominational societies.
| Catholic and Protestant; some were teachers ;
many not; some were men of National rep
h1a MI, Of
all the opinions thus collected % cent were opposed
to high schools; 10 per Indifferent and 90 per
cent were favor though had certain objections
to the system OF high schools in vogue OF all those
whose opinions were thus obtained the most inluon
tiaI individuals were opposed high schools. The
| objection. the speaker said, might be summarized
IA follows: The common people do not need and ought
not higher education, for IL makes them discou-
tented, hard TO control, unhappy, and leads
them away from God; high school education
Il Objectionable because It draws the pnpil
away from religion, ana because no religion
is taught the State has no right To maintain schools
Schools are the benefit of the wealthy, and il Il
Just the many for their support High Schools do
To- be cut on the state Is Interested education only to
the extent of insunng good citizens and this object IL
education In answer to the first and second
When thew S~l sav 'd that Ryhcr Education
without strictly religious training make, pad men They
were taught respect for law truth, and JUSTICE lie had
heard deal Of this charging crime to public
schools but he Thought would be well TO consider that re-
iOus training and IN very great degree moral training
should be remembered that not than Onethird
OF pupils life rs spent under the control
Of the school that twOthirds OF it is subject 10
| the influence and teachings OF the nome ana
the church. Regarding thu fourth objection, he said
| II that be sound, then yOu may also strike down
every grammar school in the United states, for ma
ority OF the chdren never attend them" lie denied
that wealthy persons only send children to the High
| schools, and cited figures to prove it,
DR. Patton, president OF Howard University, brought
forward an objection that mad not been mentioned based
| Chicago, do not, he said, bridge the gap be-
| tween the schools and the colleges, and
come necessary establish academies feeders for the
colleges The standard Of education, lie feared IA going
actually downward IN Illinois by the high school system.
The discussion OF this subject continued by DR..
Dickinson, OF Newark ~ j.. Mr.. Newell, OF Maryland,
Mr. sheldon of Massachusetts, Mr.. Hancock, OF OHIO,
| Mr. Philbrck OF Massachusetts and General Eaton,
! Commissioner OF Education
A portrait PcstaOzzI presented by Mr.. HitZ,
General behalf Of Switzerland to the National
Education Museum. Ii received in behalf of the
museum by General Eaton. who made some interesting
remarks explaining that this one OF many similar
gifts from that Republic 10 which the Of education
| and liberty much.
Mr. Orr OF Georgia followed with a very interesting
| address on education IN the South He described aud
euOgZed the colleges and academies that hOurished Oe
fore and alluded to the Field schoOlmasters
OF the period Great improvement he said has been
made since the war, though Georgia was aud IS poor
said: The great state OF Virginia is trying to solve
financial problem by drinking herself out OF debt.
trying law to enable US TO use the tax on
OF liquor 10 help educate our children so that they
| shall not drink"
After a report from the committee appointed to wait
on the Committees the District OF Columbia and on
Education and Labor OF the House OF Representatives.,
and after the OF other routine business,
the Department adjourned sine die.