New-York tribune., 1879-01-02
NOTES ON EDUCATION.

A memorial asking Congress to appoint q
commission consider what be done 10 amend our
orthography is going about seeking HGners.
Apparatus for teaching the metric system
has been distributed TO the Boston gram IT schools
and the primary schools will soon be similarly Snpphed
Williams College is discussing the question
OF withdrawing from the intercollegiate Literary Asso
claton. Since 1876 one has been willing 10 90 'he
extra work the Greek contest would require
A course of study embracing six years mas
been prepared for the Girls Latin school IN bos.'h
"a that the number OF pupils viii be raised 10
at least 100 10y the entrance examination next june
President White, of Purdue University, sald
the other day that there dangerous tendency I'D 'nS
country for colleges spread, to put on UNIVERSITY
nirs and that what especially need is spechc euu
cation.
The report of the Committee on Legislation
Of the Illinois Teachers Association says tna' vs.
economy districts TO own and furnish io
the use OF. tho pupils. The MASSACHUSETTS AS'0'
holds the same opinion.
The Baltimore Health Department has Just
aonc sensible thing I'm sending 10 each school In the
city circular insisting that child should De aio"eu
60 return to after dphthera oriscariet le'e
without the certificate of q physician
The largest sum expended in this country
for each enrolled scholar is 10 be credited 10 "'
Cherokces Of Indian Territory. Each pupil IN their
smallest sum per capia-se cents-is paid by Alabama
April 3, 1878, n bill passed the Illinois
Legislature making eligible TO all the school
offices ID the state. At tho next election, November,
1873 ten ladies elected county superntendens.
These all served their four years term and many OF
them were reelected in 1877.
Every girl who passes through the Boston
schools now receives three years instruction IN various
kinds Of needework and is capable Of being an expert
seamstress 1t said that the benefits resulting from
this instruction seen in the improved appearance OF
the cnidrens clothing the schools, and are felt III
thousands of homes.
The University Of Vermont has 100 stu
dents The agricultural department Of this institution
provides Winter for farmers who are busy
during the other The subjects treated are
agricultural chemistry, botany, physics entomology
stockbreedng dairying, fruit culture, Foad-maGihg'
farm accounts and bee culture.
group of girls from several of the London
ward schools who have been studying cookery at South
Kensin gtOn, have just gone through public eIamina-
tOn n the Demonstration Kitchen They we're very
young creatures ranging in age from twelve to fourteen
but they cooked and served up admirably many dlshes
simple and difficult The great success OF the English
culinary teaching ought to encourage those wsc persons
who are organizing similar instruction in this city,
1t is said that many persons who are too
young permitted TO teach in the public schools OF
Maine At the examination of fifty teachers in one OF
normal schools it found that IL cent began
teaching before fifteen years Of age. 1t is asserted
further by q speaker before the Maine Educa-
tonal Association that the great mass OF the 120O
committeeman employed in the different towns in the
State are ignorant the teachers of the best
and means of school management.
The popular disposition in country school
districts to change teachers frequently, ersey crit
icsed the meeting OF the Michigan teachers 1t
wassserted that when thoroughly good found
that teacher should be kept as long as possible even
though little higher salary than usual is asked And
of country schools said TO be their
efforts cover much ground few studies, ono
study well and thoroughly mastered is better than the
smatternS Of many things and no one thing done as
should be.
This bit OF common sense relating to the
study OF geography from The Phadcipha Ledger:
The fewer names and figures the scholar remembers
the better, provided in place Of mere lumberroom Of
facts his mind is impressed with the leading and char
actersic features OF country and especially OF his
own Instead burdensome array of figures let there
be simple method Of comparison and the scholar who,
taxing his native country fixed basis. can measure
Its greatness by with the extent the popua-
tion the wea th the manufactures of other countries
has really learned much OF what geography ought 10
teach"
The recent report of Mr.. Potter, American
Consul at Wiirtemberg mentions the large number of
Americans studying in Europe with something OF dis
appreciation. The governmental institutions OF the
United States says Mr. Potter and the whole current
Opractca life under them. different from those IN
Europe that the wisdom OF sending American youths 10
be educated where they will be constantly subject TO
teachings and influences that incompatible with the
Institutions upon which the prosperity and existence of
their country depends, aud under which they
must lve may be safely questioned" In
stances known where, TO learn the German Ian
guage American children have crossed and land TO
enter large school in southern GERMANY in which the
textbooks or Grammars used were printed and pub
lshed in Boston and New Haven. and the instruction
given by eminent ana gifted professor who acquired
The mastery Of the German au1 other languages in
America. But while American young ladies and gentle
men and children pursuing studies abroad they nat
uray fall into the free and easy OF the social life
that surrounds them and uncOnscously imbbe q love
OF foreign customs which makes them restless under
moral restraints and weakens their attachment the
laws and systems OF their native land, and thus, with
rare exceptions they become unified for nearly all the
paths Of practical. energetic life under the republican
institutions Of the United States"
Principal Thurber, of the Worcester High
School. wisely advocated before the Massachusetts
teachers, the other day. the abolition OF the public c
plays OF scenic character winch are by old custom
now used to give splendor to the close OF the
school year, and which do not grow naturally out OF the
work that has been done during the course
but an extraneOus, lncOnGruou5 aud unassinila-
Me addition TO the course. Thus he added
will be cleared away obstacle 10 the inculca-
tion Of that sturdy morality whose soul is noble, ee-
waited motive. Abolish too, all those public displays
that are usually justified by the assumption that 1t is
well to give boys and girls confidence before public
audiences. Reduce the impedments 70 genuine teach
ing TO the smallest possible amount by thus pruning
AWAY things that have no concern with education
proper and then apply vigorously the moral element of
thorough unninching honesty III all the lesson work.
DO not give diploma unless the statement winch ii
makes is strictly true and that without any stretching
~ tho meaning OF terms Give this diploma without