The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1878-08-31
MISCELLANEOUS.
PUPILS AND PARENTS.

few weeks ago we made some reference to this
tinuing the discussion of the subject the Phadel-
phia Erening Telegram says:
''The demand made in the Nation for a common
sense school for girls would be allowed to stand
unchallenged. There was not much prospect of
its being filed, but there less likelihood
of professional teachers permitting such an attack
upon routine to go unanswered. Accordingly we
find remonstrances in the Nation and elsewhere to
the common-sense view. The writers might as
well have spared themselves so much trouble, for
their case is not in the least endangered. The
great majority of parents are with them, and they
are in no immediate danger of seeing old things
reformed But this discussion is not the less
curious one, and it is full Of interest for those who
care about educational matters. The inquiry was
for schools for girls and young women in which it
would (l) not be attempted to teach much, but
where il would be undertaken that what was
taught should be thorough, and where ~
else, gymnastics, and out-0f-do0r life should be
prime considerations girls being constantly taught
to consider health as of vastly more consequence
than book cramming Now, it would be thought
that sensible person could be found to dispute
these propositions. We all know what becomes of
tenths of the so-ealled education impaired to
boys and girls by the approved methOds,-that it
is mere parrot work and is forgotten at once upon
leaving school, Languages, music, and very
few other studies mark exceptions, but for the
most part there is very little to show year after
graduating for all the time and money spent in
the process. Rightly looked at, youth is a time
of preparation for active existence, and this prepa
ration should consist first in building up the body
and second in so dseplining the mind as to ena-
Bile it hereafter to store away knowledge; not to
burthen it with a of facts which it is unable
to digest, but to teach it to intutivey select what
4 rlNto~ fboku hapff orafar
the world, which is the true school, it may be able
to rightly reason and to assmilate knowledge
Thus we should have no smatterers or pretenders,
but our girls, while not knowing aibrary Of things
by rote without understanding them, would know
the few really essential things well. But the
teachers tell that common sense is not practical
Bile. And why? Well, principally, because OF the
rivalry between parents no less than between
schools We are assured that the reigning desire
is not to have less of the parrot work but more OF
it; that the girl is thought to be in the best pro-
cess of educating who is committing the most verb
iage 'tO heart and that paterfamillas thinks he is
getting the worth Of his money if his daughter
is not Studying as many books the girls in the
opposition school over the way, and going few
better We are even reminded that many parents
regard school going only as a relief at home, and
one of these letters declares that it is no uncom
mon thing for a teacher to be told that the girls
are not sufficiently occupied and give too much
trouble at home, and consequently that 1t would
be desirable to add few more studies to the
roster. Clearly, the hunt for the girls model
school win not be an easy one and just as sure is
it that the folly of parents is the chief cause OF the
trouble"
The season will soon be at hand for our schools
and female seminaries to reopen and proceed with
their routine of instructions. We have often
thought there was not enough of praeticabiity ex-
4
women, good wives, mothers and valuable mana
gers of domestic affairs, than the usualroutine
hitherto taught in schools is necessary. To COM
prehend well the geography of the kitchen and
other home landmarks with the theoretical and
practical knowledge of housekeeping are all i'm
portant.