Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-04-02
The Waiter Of Sr'.,nol Rcee-vs,

Editor of the Ereaing Stdr:-l have been much
Impressed with the discussion had. by CORE
spondents and editorials in regard to the
"Schocl question:" and inaSmuch as / take
wa1m interest il our public schools. be, leave
to submit few ideas. and these are gathered
from observation aud BY experience as former
trustee:
lst, one OF the fundamental errors co insists
in building from the apex to the base, instead
OF the reverse; that is that the primary schools,
which are the foundation and real test OF future
usefulness, are not rated as they should be. T.
requires more skill, patience aud knOWedye OF
Child nature to teach primary than gram
mar school, and who are selected to teach them?
Mostly girls out Of the normal schools who
have about as much idea Of the wants and way
wardhesS OF young humanity, as Polar bear
This is No discredlt 10 them, where should they
learn it from?
Cd. The criminal extent Of crowdlng 90 aud 10
scholars In one room, not only to their physical
destruction, but to their mental and moral IG
Is systematic torture, and the wonder is that
teacher and scholar stand it half as well as
they 90; particularly Is this again true OF the
primary schools. where It is impossible TO teach
more than 90 with any degree of progress ur
comfort. The primaries ought to be kept in at
the highest three hours.
I'd. l say teach advlsedly, for very few schol-
ars are taught, they are simply heard in recita-
ton and as a matter OF rigid discipline, the real
object Of sending child to schools studlous-
1y avoided, either from want Of knowledge on
the part Of the teacher, or because the rules
made by the board OF trustees prevent them
expected to learn at home" what is the b)lnd
en- and sacred duty Of the teacher to tmpart
The home hours OF the scholar should be for
recreation and interchange OF thought, and not
for examining.
4th. Too much time is devoted to non-essen-
tlalS, for show, and the real prime objects OF
school ethics neglected, and the young teacher
oreVen Old, is more anxious to have a child q
model behGred Ounce than bright Scintiiating
wild irregular genius. The rules CT the School
are more essential than the moral NJ mental
yttfNl-a
enforced as the laws OF the Modes and PeroianS
and unfortunately ,cithoui discretion
9Th. crying evil, senseless exactIon, are
these cast iron rules; "a ruler drops" "a shoe
misplaced" ga side glance" ''a smile at some
passing thought" a ripping laugh az some in
bocent word" and the autocratc sentence
Child flames, what rude boy" etc and In
this way Is sOWn broadcast discomfort. fretful-
ness, want OF respect for the teacher, contempt
for zeal and useful rules. and many a promising
Child is sent home broken in spirit, liberated in
body, gloomy In mind ana all for want OF that
elementary knowledge, that wise discretion
must oe leit with the teacher. and that no rule
Is universally applicable. especially In teaching
children.
9th. Instead Of devoting and hours to the
Rotations ard some OF them frightfuliy mono
tone and machine like, one hour each day ought
to be devoted TO the physical training o. the
Child by competent, careful teachers. The
body should keep pace with the brain; neither
should be overtaXed. II the teacher is, as has
been so beautifully said, the 'mental parent
OF tie child, she should s.ow as much anxiety
Tor the scholar as she does in drawing her sal
airy OR getting her vacation.
The guild OF 'public teachers is a noble one:
no one hon0rs them more than l. no one knows
better what great sacrifices they ought, but
winch put few OF them do bring. We pay them
literally; no class is better paid for the amount
OF labor performed. Therefore let us have an
intelligent board, who will revise rules in con
tt1Es a with Nature and her laws; board
that can meet for discussion of live questions
outside OF text books, and then let us have
teachers whose greatest ambition it is to teach
an school, and let the children play at home.
s. w.
MARRIAGE LICENSES have been issued to Rich
ard X. Morris and Lucy Queen; Daniel Murray
ana Anna j. Evans Solomon r. Briggs, of New
York city. and Susie E. Kleinhause; Ned Roy
and R0saDna Watson; Alfred H. Stephen ana
Maivina Zibbie; Conrad r. Nicodemus and Mar
garet A. Tenley; .ChaS. W. Shiles and Mamie
SaXty; Jefferson Johnson and Eliza Sevoy; Rich
ard johnson and Gwinette KOoneS; w II. w
Thomas and Louisa Brown; Everett Jones and
Louisa Hunter.
DRESS GOODS! Dress Goods. Dress Goods
immense stock just received, at Tovson's, CSC
Ia. ave.