New-York tribune., 1879-11-13
NOTES ON EDUCATION.

west virginia mas IL SCHpOi popui"'i'h vi
2O6274 and the school apportionment Tor tbls year
amounts TO 1922 033 81
Bowdoin now admits freshmen who have
been examined 10 the satisfaction OF the faculty by the
students own academy or high school teachers.
Ii Is reported that the grammar school
teachers of Philadelphia have asked for depression IN
the qualifications foI examination the Towne scicn
tic school.
In the education of the blind at Boston an
excellent step has been They now taught to
tune pianos and extremely successful IN their work.
which is praised by leading musicians The city has or
three years mrustcd 10 these blind timers all Tie pianos
in the public schools
Harvard has now 1920 students and 167
instructors the medical school contains the largest
number-2jl-of students In the grammar school
there were 30 students in botany 20 in chemistry aud
in geology. ueh good work is expected from tue
arboreium and the professorsip OF arboricuitWe" oh
are being established
The public school teachers of New-Orleans
have not yet been paid for their services durns sep
tember and October; aud no provision has been made
for November aud December. and either the schools
be closed the teachers must work for nothing
placed the lowest living rate
The work OF instruction cxcelenty done despite these
discouraging circumstance
In Pittsburg the principals of schools with
six or more receive salaries of S3oO
Principals with less than six aud more than three as
sisiants viii get 81 900. Teachers responsible for
schools with three teachers or less 500 Assistant
principas-First year. 5000; second year, and over,
$3.50. Grammar DeplTtment-Frst year. $500 second
year, $500 third year. 5000. Primary Department
First year 5000; second year $500 third year, SlO0;
fourth year. $3.50; fifth year, $500. Primary teachers
having Charge rstycar pupils. of three years expe
rience $500 Preceptrosses the High School (of whom
there are fourl. 7O0-a reduction of $500.
Superintendent Harrington, of Bureau County,
H. has wisely prepared schools under his charge
excellent series OF questions concerning the political
Offices aud duties Of the township. county. state and
Nation the constitution Of the courts OF the State
Legislature and Of Congress, and other practical mat
ters postal service, and the arrangement of town
ships and OF schools Two copies of this interrogation
paper each school district and conspcuously
posted the schOOrOom and teachers requested 10
give oral instruction upon these questions from time TO
time until the pupils familiar with each subject
At the recent meeting of the New-Haven
Teachers Association interesting discussion on geoe
raphy was held. Professor Brewer who for eighteen
years has conducted the Yale examinations in geogra
phy said that experience showed that the pupils from
high schools who applied for admission o. Yale we're
much better schooed In geography than those from
coege-fting schools He advocated the use OF globes
pictorial maps, aud said that live In i'm
portsut belt the countries with which in COM
mercial relations ought be arranged In the mind.
Principal Burton, OF the Washington School, thought
that geography ought 10 be taught by the products OF
the countries aud Professor Brewer agreed with him.
The proposition now before the Boston
School Board OF making the appointments of the public
school teachers instead OF electng them an
uuay advocated by tue newspapers OF that ,ty and
by many distinguished men. Nearly all recommend as
well the giving Of pensions TO supersnnuated teachers
President Eliot OF Harvard. declares that the perma
uent appointment OF teachers would raise the profession
in eyes OF the public, and would rouse wholesome
ambition in the teachers He says also that teachers
being assured of continued employment would be VIII
ing 10 take lower salaries, knowing that by such en-
gagemept their salaries would not be cut down. He
recommends pension system established IN France.
whereby small percentage OF the salary or the ind-
vidual employed by corporation, government, etc,
should be reserved. and equal amount added to IL
each year, the to b. invested and form fund,
the interest the whole amount thus deposited and
added from year year being added 10 the total
BY this method o. adding and compounding the interest
with the principal, q rapid increase would take place,
so that the end Of twenty thirty years service
the person in whose behalf the fund was created would
have enough support him for life. or TO purchase
handsome annuity with.
For considerable period an ordinary degree
has been made attanable at Cambridge IN such man.
ner as to leave large part OF the free for special
studies The previous examination or "htte-go " is
passed during the first and may be taken immedL
ately matrcuation-that IS, In the students first
term. The general examination for the B. A. degree
follows the second year. and II this difficulty is sue
cessfuy sumounted the student Is free to devote HIM
self for the remainder of his the special sub
iecis connected with his future calling III e Thus the
student intending TO become physician or surgeon re-
ceves during the early part OF undergraduate life the
same adv aniagcs OF general training In arts as his
companions who destined for the Bar the Church
During the OF his he begin his studies at
AddenbrOOks Hospital or in the lecture OF the
medical professors of the university Hitherto there has
been opportunity for theological students to obtain
special guidance In their theological studies They have
had it true the lectures of the Regius and Lady Mar
garet professors divinity hand but there has been
no pecuiar training for their future calling. The
" Ridley College at Cambridge will receive stu
dents after degree has been obtained. and will offer
students still the university every intellectual assist
ance they need.
Superintendent Stone, of San Francisco, says
that he is fully convinced much observation and
consideration that the greatest obstacle In the way of
efficiency the schools Is the OF written and
oral examinations, and the degree In which these have
taken the place OF that direct and skifu teaching
winch alone will educate "a child He advised that a
simpler plan be substituted and only TWO written exam
nations month be allowed, requiring not longer than
an hour a half each Mr. Stone spoke of the unwis
dom requiring written examinations In promoting
pupils from the eighth grade to the seventh adding
that there should he written examinat at all IN
these classes. but the principal should promote
according TO her Judgment and that OF
the class-teacher, ana there would be no harm
In applying the same rule TO the seventh grade
Those school directors who imagine that machine
teacher is good any other should weigh well Mr.
stones declaration that the great need of the schools
not more faithful and industrious teacersior there
nothing 20 desired In this respect-6ut teachers of
more available knowledge In all directions We may
have every appliance of education in profusion' he
says but as IS the teacher is the school, and the
teachers must full Of and varied EN-
thusIasiic capable Of developing 10 the