Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-01-01
SACRAMENTO'S SCHOOLS.
ANNUAL REPORT OF TEE sUPERINTENp-
ENT OF CITY SCHOOLS.
Suggested improvements to Obtain
the Best Results-Text-Book
Stndy-Staistics.

Suggested Improvements-How to Obtain
the Best Results-Text-Book
Study-Stasistics.
The following is the annual report of Add
c. Hinl>son, Superintendent of City Schools
for the year 1879:
OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
SACRAMENTO, December, 1879.
To the Honorable Board of Education OF
Sacramento city-Gentlemen When we
contemplate the magnitude of the machinery,
and the many elements that enter into our
great public school system, and the reforms
and improvements which the experience OF
those in charge thereof enables them to be
continually making, we can better under
stand why it is that no school system yet de-
vised is, or can be perfect, and we are made
to realize the great responsibility devolving
upon those intrusted with this great work.
However, in taking a retrospective view OF
the labors of the past year, we certainly have
reason for congratulation for the results &C.
complished, and the advancement made by
the public schools of this city. Having
learned from experience that radical and sud-
den changes in the management of our
schools-even when made in the direction of
reforms-are iinpolitic and unwise, we have
meved cautiously, and think with discre-
ton, yet have certainly kept pace with the
advancement made by other schools of the
country, and as result of our labors we are
gratifed to know that our schools will COM
pare favorably with those of any other part
of the State. Yet there is still
MUCH TO BE ACCOMPLISHED,
And many difficult questions to solve in de-
termining the correct theory upon which the
public schools should be conducted, and
among the many matters that are worthy of
serious consideration I regard as of para.
mount Importance the question, whether or
not we require too much teaching from the
textbooks ? l am of the opinion that we do,
and think this is one of the great evils with
which teachers and pupils have to contend,
and one that should be corrected at the
earliest possible period.
While the text hook routine is necessary to
some extent, the fact should be impressed
upon the minds of the teachers that this is
only means to an end, and the text books
should only be used as a guide and teachers
should be given more latitude, and be per-
mitted, as well as required, to draw upon
their own resources for food for the minds of
the pupils.
Children should first be taught how to study.
The great secret Of successful teaching is to
make pupils think and reason for themselves !;
the reasoning faculties will be developed in
proportion to the new and original ideas sug
gested by the teachers, who should not be
required to conhne themselves exclusively to
textbooks, which they will be to a great ex-
tent forced to do so long as a course of text
book study is prescribed which will require
the whole school year to accomplish.
The mind of the child. like the body, is
growth, and the sooner it is brought in con-
tact with topics of general Importance, out
side of the old groove, the sooner will its edu-
cationsbe completed.
MORAL TRAINING.
Moral training is also an essential element
in the education of children and while it is
not the province of public schools to impart
religious instruction, the teaching of good
morals, together with all the accomplish
ments and finer traits of character that char
acterize the true ladypr gentleman, should be
made specialties. In this regard, however,
our teachers have done their duties, and
/ doubt not that in every instance where
want of morality may be found in pupil
the cause can be traced outside of the schools,
and oftener than otherwise to the want of
proper influence and training at home.
INATTENTIoN OF PARENTS.
To attain the objects for which the public
schools are intended requires also the COM
bined efforts and cooperation of teachers,
pupils and parents, and the dereliction of
duty of either throws the whole machinery
out of order. Teachers must be competent
and willing to instruct, pupils must be in
dustrious and capable of receiving instruc-
ton, and parents must see that their chill
dren are kept regularly in school, and that
they apply themselves properly to their
studies.
In many instances teachers especially have
great cause for complaint against parents,
who too often are Indifferent to the success of
their children until the near approach of the
annual examination, when it is too late to re-
gain the lost ground of the neglected
usual for teachers to be unjustly
censured for the failure of their pupils,
when in fact the fault is with the parents,
many of whom permit their children to ab
sent themselves from school for good por-
ton of the year, and are then amazed that
the teachers have tailed to do their duties
If parents could be induced to visit the
classes oftener, and to advise and consult
with the teachers, and to keep their children
in school regularly, it would have a salutary
effect, but it is truly painful to know how
very Indifferent so many parents seem to be
to the interests of their children until near
the close of the school germany of whom
never visit school except to find fault with
or to enter complaint against a teacher.
If those parents would visit the classes Of
tener, consult with and assist the teachers,
and take one-tenth as much interest in their
own children as the teachers do, there would
be less ground for complaint, and certainly
the welfare of the children would be pro-
NOTED thereby.
TRUANoY.
Under the direct surveillance of the Traant
Officer, whose duty it is to visit the several
classes each morning of school, and to take
the names Of and ascertain from parents or
guardians. the causes for the absence from
school of all pupils suspected of truancy,
this evil has to great extent been broken
up.
VENTILATION AND HEAT.
The Importance of the proper ventilation
and heating of the school-rooms has often
been impressed upon the minds of the teach
ers to look after the health of their pupils is
their first duty, and they should keep con-
stantly in their minds the great responsibility
resting upon them in this respect, and while
the rooms should be kept well heated in cold
weather, they should at all times be kept
well ventilated and full of fresh air.
HIGH SCHOOL.
Our High School still maintains its we'll
merited reputation as a thoroughly graded
and well-organized school, in which are en-
ployed Principal and three assistants. |
would recommend to the incoming Board
the adoption of q resolution setting apart a
sufficient amount of our municipal taxes to
maintain this school during the Hext school
year. in order to remove doubt of providing
revenue under the provisions of the new Con-
stitution of this State for the maintenance of
this very important department of our public
schools.
GRAMMAR SCHOOLS.
Our two Grammar Schools are instructed
by two Principals and twenty-one assistants.
all experienced and efficient teachers. Their
classes are thoroughly organized and are all
doing well.
PRIMARIES AND INTERMEDIATES.
! Many of the teachers in the primary and
intermediate grades have had many years ex-
perienee in their profession, and have long
| established regulations as thorough teachers