Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-04-19

tive state. Thoughtful men in all our
towns aud citiea are carefully studying
this system. Their clear common sense is
needed at this time. Their we'll consider
ed suggestions and criticisms deserve at
tcntion. Into this structure, now rising
in such gigantic proportions, the more
practical wisdom Of the doers must ever
60 hand in hand with the matured plan
ming OF the thinkers.
/ invite your attention for few mo.
ments TO candid consideration OF some
thoughts concerning Our educational work
nsk you to consider them, not from the
teachers standpoint, but as educated and
interested men outside the profession are
doing.
PRIMARY WORK.
In the primary schools, the bolies Of
children require more care rt the hands
OF teachers. Children grow rapidly. ITab.
its Of life, methods Of training, aud con.
stitutionnl differences affect this growth,
even before the school days begin. Then
the wearisome confinement OF the school
room checks it, the weaker pupils suffer
ing soonest aud longest. In time, wenri.
ness follows. This finds Temporary rest in
improper positions of the body or limbs.
4 utNt pbHlllIflN FDilil DGEOIlG lHOTG nNklINl
than the correct ones. Hence comes the
partially deformed men md women. Doc.
tors have long protested against this too
close confinement of the school room.
Also, the same amount of work, in the
SAME time and under the same conditions,
lays burdens upon some too Young and
feeble to bear them. The duty il to de-
velnp the mental growth only 80 far and
"a &. ..I. n. 1
health. The little ones need fewer hours
for study each day. and require more va
ricd exercises, physical and mental, during
school session. Six hours Of severe study
is task for many men, and how much
more for child!
Again, the care of the eyeaight of chill.
dren devolves upon teachers. A too early
Use of books is injurious. Charts nre bet
ter. The Use Of the pencil can be taught
by requiring all the letters, figures and
drawings to be made very large. Care
must Ec taken that these young eyes are
not used too long without rest nor at too
short a range, nor in too feeble n light.
But lastly, these minds should be trained
by comparative teaching. The child
thinks in images, pictures and concretes
II knows one thing by ita resemblance or
relation to another. The hint is given the
teacher here. Instruct through these pic
lures and objects. Show by the actual
measures the difference between the dry
and liquid quart; by actual measurement
that Asia is nearly five times the siso oi
the United States. Make plain all the re.
latiOns Of any object to surrounding ones
There is force in this kind of teaching
we know little Of. In word, the Kinder.
erN ri nj noaIo hOtb A., Al.
OF children's bodies, the preservation oI
their eyesight, and in respect TO q right
development of the mind. 1t may not bt
the kindergarten rs we know il to-day
but the germ is there. The dificultie,
that now hedge it in will disappear, and
its spirit will give us the primary instruc
tion of the future.
GRAMMAR SCHOOL WORK.
The grade, in the majority Of our Unior
schools, requires that n course in reading
spelling, arithmetic, grammar and geog
raphy shall be completed, reviewed and .
final test examination passed before .
pupil shall be entered as a student in tn,
High School. The most Of those who FIN
ish this course, either never enter, or &c
but partially through the High Sshoo
work. Is such an education sufficient fol
the great mass of the people? We claim
it is not. II it is tTue that the education
of the mOsses 10 paramount to all Other
interests, then the demands and needs O
the masses, in this matter, ought to b,
considered. To those whose time anc
opportunities are limited-these comprise
the majority, owing to poverty, loss Of pa
rents, and other CAUSES "A partial Higl
School course can hardly be Of the great
est advantage. To them, other studies
would be worth infinitely more. Would i
not be wiser to raise the Grammar grad,
two years; make the reviews Of the ele
mentary branches more extended ant
thorough; add to the course, physiology
natural philosophy, history Of the United
States, bookkeeping, and the simpler sci
ences? At the end Of this course diplO
ma could be granted certifying to the worl
done.
In such a grade, men could be NOR,
thoroughly prepared for business life, an,
to those who could then enjoy High Schoo
privileges, the more careful preparation
would ever be most valuable help. /,
our smallest villages no additional cours,
would be needed.
HIGH SCHOOL WORK.
approach this branch of the subiec
with Homs hesitUtiun. "ShaII the Higl
School remain as it is?" is being thor
oughly and earnestly discussed.
A bill is before the Legislature of tn,
State, asking that all High Schools b,
abolished. 1t seems to me that such a bill
ought not TO pass. II the State, by public
taxation, supports the common school ant
the college, il would be suicidal to the ed
ucational system as n whole, to destroy IN,
connecting link between the two,
Much OF the discussion in respect to thi,
whole matter, hinges on this: Has the
State, or the Corporation, a right to levy
upon the taxable property within its limit
for the support of High Schools? Is il
just? Is it advisable? Can Corporation
take from any man a part of his earnings
Tor any public purpose? II we assume
that law is the instrument through which
the value of property is preserved and in.
creased, then it is right that certain per
cent. OF that property should be given for
the enforcement of such law-and if edu.
cation tends to produce better law and
higher civilization, and is factor in in.
creasing the general good. money appro-
priated for its diffusion shonld be contrib.
uted by all Also, in a government where
any may be called upon to lead in public
affairs, common prudence sue gests that all
be prepared in the best possible manner 10
assume such leadership.
And it is also advisable, since the sup.
port Of High School system will cost
Infinitely less than the support of more
inmates in our jails, infrmaries, houses of
correction, asylumS and State prisons. To
dispel the one is to lessen tho other.
II II be wise to maintain the free High
School, in what should il consist?
Having finished the work of a grammar
grade, as indicated above, the course of
instruction would include Latin. Greek,
French and German, the natural sciences,
studied in connection with apparatus and
daily experiments, Geology, Botany, Ele-
ments Of Surveying, History, some knowl.
edge OF Literature, aud such kindred
branches az the wisdom Of experienced
teachers might suggest. Teachers thor.
onghly at home In the subjects which they
would be required to teach, should he de.
manded. A good library would also he