Daily Republican., 1880-06-26
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
n Talk with CIty superinteadehs
j. w, Harlan.

Prof. J. W. Harlan, Superintendent
Of the Public Schools told q RHPUBMcAN
reporter few days ago that the schools
Of this city were in a batter condition
now than at any time during the ninf
years Of his connection with them
This excellent state Of affairs was due
largely to the teaching, which was
done more intelligently. Previously,
he said, the teachers were careless; now
they were patient and pains taking,
The Professor called attention to the
teachers training school and extolled
Its merits, saying ii was very bene'
fetal institution in preparing thosi
intending to teach for Efficient and
valuable work. He drew comparison
between younger teachers who come
into the schools now from q course in
the training school and those who hsd
previously entered without having had
such advantages, and Eatd that thu
former were worth twice az much as thu
others. This, however, applied to olasesl
end not to individuals.
The Professor, in alluding to the I'M
provements In study, spoke OF the Kin
dergarten methods, which had been in
troduoed and the best features of which
prevail in our lower schools. The sys
tenn taught in the public schools o.
Wilmington is q combination Of all
methods. Much in kindergarten is to
be taught to children under six years
Of age, but children are not received in
our schools until they have attained
that ege. However, the result Of this
mode Of teaching has been very beue.
fetal.
Superintendent Harlan went on to
say that he was now making HIS closing
examinations for the year. 30 far as
his examinations had gone he found
the classes in much better condition
than formerly, while the children sp-
pear to have better understanding Of
what they had been tsught. "My
prir ciple." said, he sis that the child
should not be taught to memories any
thing until II thoroughly understands
1t. Now this has been observed more
carefully in reading during the past
year, especially in the primary schools
where attention has been paid not 81
much to elocution, as 70 enable ths
pupils mind to grasp and comprehend
the thought Of the writer. In this
particular line what is known among
teachers as the Quincy method, has
been of great help in our schools for
several years past. Ia plain words the
idea Of this method is to put into prac.
tice in the schsol, what has been put
into books heretofore as mere course
OF theoretical study"
The closing Of the year was coming
now and the schools we're all preparing
for the closing exercises, The Super
!ntendsnt said that he and the
teachers hoped to make item interest
ing for the parents, and were desirous
Of their presence in order that they
might see what improved methods Of
teaching had beon introduced into the
school system. Owing to those improve.
ments the Superintendent said that the
pnbllc schoOl system OF wilmington IS
now as good as that of any other city.
The only thing of which he had to
complain was the absence of the girls
and boys from the Grammar School in
the latter part of each school year
about the first of May. This was a
yearly occurrence, and IN consequence
the children lose the benefit OF that
much instruction and when the fall
tsrm opens they are behind in their
studies. He felt confident that it
would be TO the interest of both pupils
and parents to put an eud TO this here
after.
In concluding his statement the Su-
perintendent spoke of the valus Of the
education afforded to young men by
The Wilmington public school system.
He was confident that the business of
needed young men thus
educated, and that they would be in de-
nand more than any others.
SCHOOL CLOSING ExERCIsRs.
The closing exercises will take place
IS follows:
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