Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-05-11
EDUCATIONAL.
THE MONTHLY MEETING OF THE
PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS.
Assignments for the High School Exhi-
bition-Addresses and Reports of the
Teachers--Discussion on the Best Method
of Teaching Geography--Personal Men
ton.

Teachers--Discussion on the Best Method
ton.
The regular monthly meeting of the pub
lie school teachers was held yesterday at the
High school, Superintendent Wright presid
ing. The exercis IS were unusually interest
ing and instructive. The attendance was
larger than usual, and for the first time
all the male teachers were present.
The exercises were opened by Superin-
tendent Wright, with the following an
nouncements:
TEACHERS MEETINGS.
Friday, May Is, teachers of 9Th and 9th grades.
Friday May %, teachers of Sd and 4th grades.
Thursday, May 20, teachers of LIST grade.
Friday, May 80. teachers of I'd grade.
Friday, June 6, principals of 9TH and 6th
grades.
General meeting Saturday, 10 A. NJ. June z.
Teachers will be paid Tuesday, June Sd, 1879,
from 81 to o'clock P. M.
EXAMINATIONS.
Following the above, the superintendent
announced that examination for promotion
in all the classes would take place in the
following order:
Arithmetic Monday, June %.
Geography Tuesday, June, "a.
Spelling and Language Wednesday,
June 25.
History and General Lessons Thursday,
June 26.
Oral examinations of the First and Second
will begin Monday, June 8.
THE HIGH SCHOOL EXHIBITION.
The committee appointed to select pupils
from the senior class to take part in the
graduating exercises or exhibition at the
end of the present term, reported the follow
ing assignments for excellence in scholarship.
l. Eugene McGrorty
2. Henry Observation-Disclosures and English
Grafton.
l. 8. Charles Johnston-English Grafton.
4. Nellie Ford-Essay.
The following parts were assigned for ex-
cellence in English composition:
l. Lizzie Askew-Essay Progress
2. Carrie Chaffee-Essay, THE Poetic Ap-
probation of Nature
8. Henry Randall - Defamation, ssThe
Mother of the Graceful
4. Samuel all-Declamation, 'Cleo-
patra's Needle"
The committee also reported that the fol-
lowing essays deserve high commentator
for the excellence of the ideas which they
advanced, and the grace and style in which
they were composed:
l. ''Means and Extremes"-Written by
Henry Nicols.
8. Light and Shadows"-Written by Alice
Boyden.
| OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
| ho sc %Lo
troduced by an essay by Miss Cummings
who selected as a theme, sOur public
schools" or more properly plea for thei,
existence, usefulness and benefits conferred
Miss Cummings essay was an eloquent and
able review of the benefits of knowledge
history being taken in confederation
of her opinion. She traced the
rise of historical nations to fame, power and
position, and showed advancement was made
through the medium of intellectual cultiva-
ton. The essayist in applying her research
to our country or system of education, pre-
sented both the opposition to the system
noting the prevalent arguments, and
the manner in which the system was advo-
Gated and even urged to afford higher edu
cation. In response to the opposition claim
that it untitled the ordinary boy or gave hin
a distaste for work, she contended that ht
acquired application and habits of industry
by the course of study enjoined. She failet
to see why or how idleness could b.
acquired in school. The essa.
throughout showed evidences of thorough
study, and from it q full acquaintance will
the subject, and the essay was an enthusiastic
exposition in favor of the present school sys
tenn, though admitting there was room TO
great Improvement and advancement. Th
want of space precludes the possibility O
even giving brief synopsis of the admirable
address.
Miss Flower followed in recital, to which
voice and action gave most pleasing eff
feet.
UNIFORMITY IN STUDIES.
At this stage of the proceedings Superin
tendent Wright called on the several com
mittees for report in regard to establishin
uniformity in studies and teaching through
out the schools in this city.
Thereupon Prof. Taylor made repo,
upon the mode of teaching geography an
the extent to which it should be taught. b
summarized his objections to the preser
method by saying there was too muc
mechanical method in teaching the study
also IL Was COO nuCA tuoo 10, W
much time was devoted to the study of d.
3 tails, and recitation upon isolated and incor
! sequential facts. He recommended that
3 should be taken up in the third grade, an
discarded in the sixth grade. At present
was taught for six years.
This brought forth mild an
short lived discussion, during whic
t Superintendent Reynolds, of Mortified
! expressed different opinion from tt
J. adopted report. He said he had heard nun
erous criticisms on the present method
: teaching geography, but yet these same cri
q les, teachers, failed to present any other sy
S tenn for adoption. Studies were instr
: mental, and others we're the application
Q such studies of that class. He believed geo.
9 raphy was eminently one. The profess
: didn't believe SO firmly in oral geograph
Q so called; all oral teaching or recitatie
q was on the ebb, its day and the Juror for
: having passed. He believed in the use
n text books, and that they be read careful
IS and frequently under the supervision of Il
X teachers. Analytical and syntheti.al pla
,. were the ones adopted, the latter being fiji
+ introduced and resulting in complete failul
q ,7o@ II vuoo tho %ruo euetnrn Init teacher h.