New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-01
THE EACHERS, CONTENTION.
Subjects DISCUSSED YESTERDAY.


SUBJECTS DISCUSSED YESTERDAY.
SCHOOLS FOR DULL AND ILL-BEHAvED CHILDREN
Co-RDUCATIoN OF THE skXEs-GERMAN IN
THE PUBLIC MISUNDERSTANDING THE MOTHER
TONGUE IN THE FAMILY.
There was a good attendance yesterday at
the sessions Of the convention OF the GermanAmerican
Teachers Association A. schneck of Detroit delivered
au address which proposal for essential change
in the organization OF the public schools OF America
"The present time" he said, demands special
schools, adapted 10 the condition OF children VINO ny
their unfortunate constitution hindrhnee TO the
progress OF the general OF scholars, aud are III
danger OF falling into mental and moral decay. Under
the existing school organization special treatment for
these unfortunate children is almost impossible IL IS
fundamental principle OF all proper educailonai
methods to regulate the mode OF teaching according to
the talents OF the individual child. The existing
methods are in conflict with this principle. This
fact does not affect so badly children OF
average ability and the majority are OF this class
But many individual pupils mentally below the aver
age Their natures are dull and they lack will-power
The passions and instincts OF others impede mental ac-
ton. Others suffer from neglect at home For all these,
the existing school system is positively injurious.
Those who naturally Predetermined cannot even
with the best intentions, keep with their class.
The tasks given to the majority not suitable to them
either TO gu nifty quality They lag behind and
become discouraged, and lose all desire TO learn.
This tendency increased by the worry and dssatisfac
ton OF the teacher who naturally looks upon these dun
bad elements the OF all the annoyances Of
the schoO-roOm. The ill-behaved and the unbrdled,
unbending nature the schOolroOm, suffers equally
with the dull. under existing school regulations The
school teacher is always at with him. He becomes
suen and unry in consequence, and the school assists
in training candidates for the house of correction.
II is almost impossible in the crowded public school,
Mr. schneck continued for the teacher TO devote the
rrN.
tendency TO help those who best able to help them
selves Much Of the best Of the teacher ia wasted
In keeping the unruly elements under discipline. As
society resolves not TO burden the school
with refractory elements, the question OF corporal
punishment will be solved. In the special schools
provided for these elements the rod Will not be wanted
because these refractory natures VIII be freed from the
surroundings which excited I'll behavior. I desire the
establishment OF special schools also, for those children
who keep pace with the present school regime
The interests Of the great OF pupils demand this
the interests Of extended and improved education and
the interests OF society in general demand That part
of the rising generation which is weak by inheritance
ought be removed from educational influences that do
them more horm than good In special schools they viii
reach the highest state Of perfection Of which their
moral and mental natures capable Better deprive
these bad clements OF public school education alto
gether than 70 allow them TO lower the tone OF the
schoolroom aud TO impede the progress Of the
venton, by vote approved Of Mr. schnecks views.
Mr. Schroeder, Of HOboken delivered address the
"Co-education OF the Sexes in Primary and Grammar
Schools" He maintained that at least 10 the end Of their
sixteenth year. the age at which scholars usually COM
plete the grammarschOol girls could be and
ought be instructed in the same branches and In the
ing detrimental 10 the moral or higher social
natures Of the sexes, tended 20 the harmonious
both sexes. The mutual influence of the sexes,
the other, necessary 20 the perfect ntelec
al n M mi 4.
CO-educatiOn OF the sexes the speaker affirmed wns also
the ground against the development exercise
OF impure imagination In children. Tho separation
OF the also at the expense Of grading OF CLASH
combining male and female pupils twice the number Of
graded classes would be possible The speaker though
personally favOring co-education IN the nigh schools
limited the force Of his remarks 10 the primary and
grammar schools and so far his views were approved by
W n Hamann. OF Milwaukee, presented the report
OF the committee the kiyderggrten. lie spoke nat
terngly the development which the kindergarten
TEN had received Florence. Mass and Providence r.
l. In Boston and In many small towns OF the East how
ever he found that 700 much prominence was given TO
mechanical routine ia kindergarten work IN sections
where society almost entirely AugloAmerican In it's
composition, he had found far enthusiasm for the
kRdsTTIten Than ne had expected m, roror =, ,n
Committee the Study Of the German Language In tho
Public Schools. In substance that IN few small
cities East and West German has been dropped from the
school curriculum On tue otheI hand' III larger num-
Der OF towns aud cities German has been recently Intro
duced or more attention awarded II. The committee
believes that wherever sufficient Time and attention has
given to German It's value educational factor
the different systes OF applying instruction IN German
Special teachers In German are not favored the system
being regarded inefficient, too expensive. and
hndraDce TO English instruction. such system cost
ST. Louis, last year. $4,000. The system OF German
American schools also objected TO on the ground
that II tended separate children Of different national
tiles The system most commended was that In practice
in the public schools OF Cleveland and Cincinnati where
sehoOErOOns set apart for EngshGerInan lnstruc
ton and the classes In German kept parallel 10 the
English classes special teachers not employed, and
had been found that the children taught the English
German classrOoms were ON an average prepared TO
enter the high school earlier than pupils solely
instructed i'll English This due 20 the superior
mental discipline obtained by thinking In two Ian
guages.
Professor A. schen, Of New-Jersey, lectured IN the
evening at the Turn Hall, " How To Foster the
Mother Tongue in the Family Circle" The subject
viewed with much interest by the German public, ana
dearest memories carried from the patefnal home
through the journey OF life clustered about the mother
tongue. When the language spoken In family differed
from the ruling language of the country IL usual 10
call the former the mother tongue. Properly, the
mother tongue the language Of the mother OF the
child and the In when she instructed IT, So long
as believed that the child ought 10 receive It's first
mental development under the influence OF the domestic
circle long would IL be necessary for children and
parents speak the mother tongue and TO foster its
use the family circle. On psychological grounds, IL
was advisable that In speaking families of
the United States Intercourse between parents and
children should be carried In the mother tongue and
not IN English.
Reports OF committees will be heard at today's session
OF the convention.