New-York tribune., 1879-05-15
NOTES ON EDUCATION.

The attendance upon the Milwaukee puphc
schools sll.3ll; OF this number 7749 study "erm"o'
Drurv College will receive an addition 10
IT'S pernanent fund of $4,000 in July next from an
Eastern friend.
The Louisiana State University is about 10
nsk the Government for Barracks property AT n"on
Rouge for the use of the institution
AT the teachers examination in Baltimore
last week coIored candidate presented himsTH ana
nassed crcditably He viii probably be placed il one OF
the coored schools.
Changes will be made in the coming year in
the Dartmouth curriculum. The number OF op'lonai
studies will increased the study of modern LANGUAGES
will he better provided for, aud Latlnseleh'ino
course will be organized.
celebrated foreigner is said to have OBJ
served after visiting number OF American schools tha'
American school children are good rcciters but very
poor thinkers And they will continue TO be WhNe
teaching is made more matter Of memory than OF
thought.
Mr.. C. L. Flint has been chosen president
OF the Massachusetts, Agricultural College III the pace
Of Colonel W. s Clark who has resigned Is stated
that Mr. Flint will only hold the office temporarily ana
he has gwen up the secretary OF the State Board
Of Agriculture.
The Syracuse schools are now once more at
work The Objectionable resolution has been rcscinded
in the Common Council and SO have been prouided
for the temporary fund and $4,000 for the permanent
fund nothing being said about the purchase of that
stumbng-olock Of schoolot.
The University of Virginia has at present
965 students 1t intends to provide this year Summer
courses in pure aud applied mathematics the lee tor
which will be $50 each, $50 for both. The term VIII
begin July IL and end September D. The Summer course
of law lectures will be continued this year
The American Institute of instruction will
Il, .1,a O. 10
and IL. Mr.. Northrop, secretary OF the Connecticut
Board Of Education. will give address on The High
School Question; and Mr. j. W. Dickinson, secretary oi
the Massachusetts Board win speak on " Oral lnsruc-
ton" Many other addresses from equally welEknown
persons viii be heard. Railroads and hotels have
offered members reduced The rate from this city
by Sound lines is 80 so: by rail-, $11 so.
Professor Langtry, at the Saratoga Teach
ers nstitae, the day, made some observations
on grammar which 10 be commended to many an
ignorant teacher in country districts lie pointed out
that the study imposed upon children before they are
old enough to understand appreciate it and that II
is association and imitation that correct speaking
rather than grammatical ANALYSIS. The boy in school
who can parse POlock's "Course Of Time" will often
make the blunders in Conversations the names OF
terms in grammar without meaning To children In
how many district schools in this country are grammar
classes the members Of which made TO realize that
the dry bones grammatical rules not the rich
substance Of clear and correct speech The very best
memorzer in the grammar class is often incapable Of
writing decently correct letter.
Principal French, of a Pennsylvania Nor
NAL School, has been making some excellent sug-
gesions in regard to what he calls business day"
IN schoOls--Onc day a month, fortnight or week
set aside the learning of particular thing in
fresh way. He recommends that on OF these days
each pupil should be requested to bring some good
magazine or newspaper and read therein something of
real value which will bring out questions from the au-
dltors. on another day ne suggests that each pupil
should taught write correct and entertaining
letters, and make and receipts. Again he
suggests geography asking pupils for instance to load
vessel at with such articles needed in the
West Indies Mr.. French carries his recommendations
and illustrations through many branches Of study. and
they all good. But it might be well for teachers to
consider whether occasional day is enough which
TO give teaching that calls thought ana practical
knowledge instead OF mere memory. little OF such
teaching put the school every day would be OF in
calcuiable value
The simple arithmetic OF plain sewing should
be taught public schools in preference 20 what is
known the geometry o: dress The more ambitious
scheme tested in the Indianapolis schools dur
ing past quarter with Indifferent success Tne Com
mlssioners sent blanks TO the parents Of young
ladies. requesting to these questions; /.
Have you found your daughter cOmprehendng and
enjoying the instructions this branchf 2. What is
your estimate of the value of this work
10 your uauSnleIi DO you lDiuh IHc
time given to this study could be more pro-
ftaby given to o the ordinary school branches" 2"
There were 459 blanks sent ont, and 359 returned.
These abuatcd by the clerk as follows: To the
first question: Yes, 1G9; no, ia; Indifferent ID To
the second: Favorable, 1872; unfavOrable, lS5; In
different s. To the third: Yes, 1866 no, 156; indif
erent, 5. Almost without exception the ladies VINO
visited the schools. recommended that of plain
sewiog pTecede the instruction in drafting and cutting
A very good suggestion in reference to sim
plcty dress at the approaching graduation perform
ances the schools under consideration by
mittee OF the Boston School Board. Another committee
IS cOgitating upon proposed order providing that les
cons 10 be learned out Of school shall be such as a
scholar OF good capacity learn in hours study
at most and shall not be required from the primary
scholars those in grammar schools below the third
class Oher changes proposed TO the Board by special
committees taking out of the hands OF primary
school pupils the spelug5ook and arithmetic thus
forcing oral instruction; the providing of reading
book containing standard fairy tales the changing Of
the course OF study of the Public Latin school from
eight years and the admission Of pupils at twelve
years Of age instead of nine and the arranging Of
teachers three classes that Onethrd Of them may
be elected Tor term Of three years. The
Committee on High Schools recommend: l. That the
city be divided into High school Districts q That the
regular course OF instruction be years. 3 That
advanced be established 70 be pursued only in
the English HIGH or the Girls High School. The
mlttee believes that shorter with what might
be called advanced grammar school studies. would be OF
more practical value and attract and retain pupils
The employment Of special teachers Of French and Ger
man should the committee thinks be discontinued aud
those studies should be taught by the regular teachers
under the supervision Of one Frencn and one German
director. The committee also recommends that the
sludy of photography now pursued III the Girls High
School discontinued, and states that OF the
large number OF pupils who have taken that study has
pursued it employment after graduation. 1t may
perhaps be permitted say that such study has
place pubic school and should never have been put