Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-08-13
MORE CRAsIMING.


EDiroR REPUBLicAS In the last two issues
Of your paper your readers have been treated to
two lengthy articles upon the "Cramming Pro-
cess" in our public schools, in which the writer
attempts to delude the people by casting untruth-
ful reflections upon the school officers aud teach
ers of this county. | am free TO admit that the
subject Of these articles is admissible Of argument
but 1t is evident that the author only selected the
subject as a subterfuge for malicious attack
upon some who have outstripped him In the race
OF human progress. The motive that prompted
"Citizen" to express himself In the manner be
did, reminds me Of the comparison 90 frequently
u sed to illustrate human achievements. Suppose
there Is great horse race, free to every horse 10
the world, and free to all the mules, and all the
the donkeys. At the tap Of the drum they come
to the line, and judges say SIS IL go" Let me
ask what does the blooded horse, rushing ahead,
drinking in the breath Of his own swiflness, with
his name nying like banner Of victory, with
his veins standing out all over him as il net Of
life had been csstaround him-what does be care
how many mules and donkeys run on that track 7
But watch the scrub animal, with his chucklo-
head and lop-ears, with his tail full Of eockle-
burrs, jumping high and short, and digging In the
ground when ho feels the breath Of the coming
log cared mule. lie is the chap that jumps the
track, and says, "I am down on mule equality"
SO il is in the great race for higher attanments
in these days Of free schools tree thought and
free speech. Mr.. Old Fogy steps proudly on the
race course, but Is sooa passed by the earnest
ambitious youih-a babe, perhaps, when the old
veteran reached his lnsjoriy-snd thea II Is ths.
Old Pogy cries out, "a am down on free schools !"
especially the "cramming" Of boys, when 1t ena-
bles them to outgenera their venerable sires.
But to come to the ject matter Of eur article,
desire briefly to defend the earnest workers in ou
Common Schools from the malicious charge Of
incom potency and unfaithfulness in the discharge
Of duty. "Citzen" charges the Superintendent,
Teachers and Directors with inhdelity. lie charges
the Supsrin tcndent with granting certificates to
those unqualified to teach, aud from the tenor Of
his article 1t Is evident that he has been teacher
and dishonorably discharged, or perh APPS, still
lingering on the threshold Of departed greatness,
signing for the time when the First Reader and
Childs Primer will make up the sum total OF q
Common School education, that he may stand 4
leader among the Knights Of Modern Reform.
That Superintendent may make mistakes in is.
suing certificates, am willing to admit but the
law gives to him discretionary power. 1t is his
business to grant a license to all who have the
lawful attainments, and state the degree OF pro-
6cerey in figures ranging from to b,--the form
or signifyng Every good, the latter very poor"
.'Citlen" in his last article says that the law
makes n certificate running FROM 70 incompe-
tent and invalid, wherein he shows his ignorance
Of the law. lie dwells at some lengsh upon the
why's" and "wherefores" not being exacted Of
those under examination. | know 1t for GER
tainty that the public examinations are honest
and searchiug,an much more practical than they
were some years ago that those licensed to teach,
manifest more teaching power, and accomplish
more 10 one term than the teacher Of ten years
ago did In three.
In speaking Of testing the ability Of appn-
cants and ascertaing their attainments, have a
faint recollection Of Superintendent who asked
his teachers chow higha blue oird built its nest,
and chow many nails horseshoe had and
"if the man in the moon was an old bachelor or
a man of a family and II the teacher failed to
answer these intelligent ~ interrogatons his H.
cense was withheld aud what is more astonish-
ing, 1t was Superintendent Of Clearheld county
that did Il, But we must remember that these
times were In the pamy days Of the system, be-
fore the "Cnmming Process" was introduced,
and when the "whys" and "whercfores' were
made the sovereign Of power.
"Citixen' made one or two statements that
should like to sec reconcilcd. He made iorcible
plea for higher aitainmen's, (perscns ~ least
capable Of teaching the alphabet and multiplied
tion table), and gave the Superintendent hint
that he should be more rigid and drop from tho
list Of applicants ali not found deserving Of NO. l.
Apropos TO this he turns upon the State Supcrin-
tendent and Indignantly refers TO bis notice 70
upotlntendents 10 reject the poorly qualihed,
and pronounces II an outrage and great In
Justice to beginners. Mr.. Wickersham express
ing just the same opinion exactly upon incom-
potency as Mr.. "CtiIen," yet he denounces ihe
iormer as dcmagogue, but Of course applnuds
the latter. Another example Of mule equality.
lie makes the bold aud untruthful assertion
that few, " any Of the teacbers employed hve
years aeo are now teaching 10 the public schools
of The county because Prof Houek didn'i see
h,u loa Winter | have taken the trouble 10
Investigate this, and hnd that 90 per cent. Of
those employed Ave years ago are doing good
service Ia our schools at present. lie hsp AZ.
tempts to nattle the people BY announcing mat
.the system is nearer failure to-day than II has
aver been" | need not attempt to prove the
utter fallacy Of such statement. II 10 the on
spring Of deception and prejudice, successfully
refutsd By comparison, reason and common sense.
m the "Cnren" Who has made those marvellous
revelations aud contradictory statements had
h,en schooled under the "cramming" dispense
lion his equivoeatons and distressed condition
would, Of course, DO atthbutable TO tue a'te
Effects Of that process. However, he being afep
resentAtive Of "ye olden times" and chookiun OF
,be clements Of purity. truthfulness and reoim, ),
n. ,hould Puritan lke) have told "the tfutn' 'ne
rbols truth and nothing but the truth. 49,,
I would say, Mr.. Editor, before closing ,n,s
.,,,oIs that nv eyes are not closed 10 the weak
l.
nlsce, [ Of The Common School system but what
L ID In our social and intellectual economy ,has
Ia neyfeot1 Lam likewise prone 70 admit tna' W
some Of our cities aud towns the law regniAuhs y
The Common School system is tfamp'ea u1as'
foot. aud 10 made the foot-siool Of bigouy, 'sh
NV and personal ambition, thus imPainns .n'
nripciple aud weakening public confidence pa.
I cannot, dare net. and will not remain sueh'
when some inscriptions, uniformed ana ussa,
ue.ted enemy Of social culture aud inteilec'sa'
sebieysm.nts seeks to leave the impression WV
The people Of this county tha, their children srs Ss
ips subjected to the pernieioos evils o. ."ps,n,
,,s,n,pr, and that the class Of earnest ae,o'o.
and scholarly ladies and gentlemen that ins.,uo,
them are a class Of cgousi', wholly unlua'"ssu
"a Instruct even In the elementary branches. ~
~ an uomIt,ssied charge, and great injustice Va
shoss who sacrihce time and money lot the I'm
s,ovsmsnt Of their Intellectual powers
/ believe our county has as deserving ,ehoo'
.mss,s and teachers as any county In the State
ana will make true, competent men ana women
out Of the children placed under their chmEs
providing the material given them u 'u'o'p"'''