Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-03-09

the Schools.
The monthly meeting Of the publc school
teachers WAS well attended, yesterday. Com
meudable interest is evinced in $these gath
erings. Besides the teachers, Inspector j.
G. Donnelly and Sate Superintendent Bart
were present.
The meeting was called to order by Super
lntendent Wright, who proceeded to make
the following announcements:
TEACHERS MEETINGS.
Principals meeting, Friday, March IA.
Teachers of Fifth and Sixth grades, FRI
day, March 2l.
Teachers of Third and Fourth grades, Fri
day, April II.
Teachers of First grade, Thursday, April
II.
Teachers of Second grade, Friday, April
IS.
General meeting, 10 \. NJ. Saturday, April
-.
Teachers will be paid Saturday, March 20,
from to 10 A. NJ.
MISS LOU HUNTS ADDRESS.
In the order of exercises, as announced,
Miss Lou Hunt read from an address deliv-
OACA q CdL t'so Ny ~ u4dyOs VI OprlL5-
field, Mass, in New York, upon the subject:
'The Charge Of Goodness and Shiftlessness
in the Public Schools The address
abounds i'll sage reflections, aud is a COM
plete refutatlon of the indiscriminate charge.
On the contrary, the argument is advanced
and upheld that the schools become
the place for intoxicating regularity, order,
government aud rality, which is dissent
mated throughout the homes of tie country.
The and substance of the address is
aimed to prove that the public school in its
system, aims and method are Democratic
and an analogue of our country
The folio wing extract is taken bodily from
the address as worthy Of the space, paying a
just tribute to the Jealous and untring la
bors of our public educators:
'Finally the efficiency of any family, in
stitution school, church, depends greatly on
the character for Intelligence and morality
of the people who manage its affairs. I am
willing to make great allowance for this in
competency and the occasional immortality of
the $1,000 teachers in our American public
schools. But with all just discount on this
head, ask with confidence, is there auv
other class Of officials in the republic
which, on the whole, is doing more
work at greater sacrifice, in a better spirit
and with more commendable result? l be-
lieye no body of people in public or private
life, in our country, deserve the gratitude of
the nation in greater degree than our teach
ers of public schools. The vast majority of
them are young unmarried girls: but where
are the Listers who care for the children
with more loving tenderness, and labor more
disinterestedy for their instruction and i'm
provement than they?
TOO MANY STUDIES AND NOT ENOUGH STUDY.
Superintendent Wright followed with
few suggestions. He expressed it his belief
that in many instances the school course
was over-crowded. In other words, he be-
heved that too many studies were underta-
ken, and he thought a greater degree of pro-
hclency would be attained by "a strict adher-
ence to fewer studies. AS the term was ap-
preaching an end, he would consult with the
teachers in general in regard to some change.
He deemed it advisable, some change, and
asked that all the teachers give the matter
some thought. so that a general interchange
of ideas might follow.
Mr. Taylor was requested to give his ex-
perience. He in few brief words stated
that the pupils were generally overwhelmed
with too many studies. Too much
was required of them, it forced into strain
ed emulation and taxed them mentally with
a reaction affecting their physical health
fatally IN many instances. He believed after
all that the efficiency and excellency of a
school didn't depend upon the lot of studies
gone over, but the manner in which what
was taught was learned. He believed cur
tallment i'll the number of study subjects
could be made most advanta geously both to
pupil and teacher, with full justice to the
public.
Superintendent Wright then suggested
what stldles according to his observation.
colld be dropped without injory; and made
other suggestions in regard to transferring
certain studies from the lower grades to the
high school course. lie invited and urged
the teachers to give this matter their serious
consideration, and favor him with their ad-
wee. 10 bring the matter to the attention
OF The teachers, the superintendent then re-
TERED the Inject to committee for report,
composed of Mr.. Campbell Miss STANLEY
and Mr.. Slack.
TIE STATE SUPERINTENDENT REMARKS.
State Superintendent Burt was introduced.
He addressed himself to the meeting, saying
that the pubic schools and teachers need not
be alarmed at the prevalent criticism
against the system. We lived in day of in
vestigation, even the successful candidate
for President was subjected to an inyestiea-
tioE as to how he got the Office. Every pub
lie officer nowadays was compelled by pub
lie pressure to prove himself not a thief
He thought there was nothing to fear, the
record was all in favor of the schools.
In answer to the adverse criticism that the
school children come out inadequately
taught, he referred to the length of service
thus gwen by the child to the public, for the
average it was only five years, or in other
words he entered school as mere infant
and left at the age of sixteen. This
was the record of the AVERAGE
attendance. Taking into consideration
these facts, he thought the system gave an
answer to any cayil Or objection to it. The
superintendent then followed in a few prac
tical suggestions as to the course of study to
be adopted, and the time to be consumed in
instructing or to be devoted to such
course in full In reference to
st. Pauls schools, and equally appli-
cable to others, he found there
we're too many studies. From inspection he
saw there we're eight recitations day upon
eight different subjects. This gave about
twenty minutes to each, not sufficient for its
ethcacious teaching by any manner of means.
Such an accumulation Of studies retarded the
pupil by attracting or diverting his mind to
many different subjects. Fewer studies
should be undertaken, and greater time be
devoted to each one. In this respect he
especially commended the style existing in
the German educational system. AS next
objection, he believed that teachers generally
undertook to teach too many facts upon any
one subject. AS, for instance, in the
matter of geography, the pupils mind
was too often filled with minor
details, un1mportant in themselves and of no