New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1880-01-14
Too Many Studies in the Pablo
Schools.

''Our schools are burdened with
too many studies, ologies, isms, and
crotchets Of eccentric examiners, who
exact Of others what they could new
er do themselves" lately said an ex-
periencod teacher in the public
schools; and there was ample justi-
fication for the remark.
A boy or girl who has only few
years to spend in school, and who
must leave it to earn a living, has
no time to waste in learning things
not necessary, and hardly time to
pursue those branches which are the
prime objects Of documentary train
ing. Our most intelligent and faith
full principals of grammar schools
are we'll aware Of this fact, and would
gladly simplify the course ofinstruc.
ton, hut they are rowerless to do it.
Crotchety trustees and commission
ers have fine theories Of EDUCATION,
which they are bound to try at the
expense Of both teachers and pupils.
The above from the Mankato Re-
view, deserves The most careful con-
sideration parents, Of teachers, and
superintendent. It is fact which
all thinking persons must have no.
ticed, that very large number of
those who leave the public schools
and who are forced to work their
way through life without pursuing
more advanced courses, are sadly de-
ficient in those branches of knowl-
edge of which they are obliged to
make the most use. A consider.
able portion Of their time has been
spent in getting slight smattering
Of goloies, osophies, technical gram.
mar, also duodecimals, allegation,
cube root, etc. in arithmetic, while
comparatively small portion Ct
time has been bestowed upon the
practical application of such knowl.
elge as is found to be the most es.
sential in all ordinary walks of life.
Would It not be better for the
masses Of those that go forth from
the public schools to be able to
write a short business letter or a
newspaper item in neat and
correct manner, and to possess a
little less of the so-called Scientific
knowledge? But the question arises,
who are to blame for the continu.
ance of such work in our public
schools? Undoubtedly large mum.
Der of parents, school officers, and
teachers must bear the responsible.
ties. It is we'll known that a much
better sho,0 can be made with a it,
tie smattering of the "higher branch
es'', and there are hosts Of parents
who take exceeding delight in hav.
ing their children make grand dis
play of their attainments before the
eyes Of their neighbors. Then there
are teachers of a similar calibre to
the aforementioned parents; they
like to have their pupils show their
parents and others that they are
learning great things in school, and
that they (the teaehers) must
therefore be justly appreciated for
their earnest efforts to secure such
gratifying results. Now. in order to
avoid a great deal of such superficial
instruction in our schools, in it be.
comes necessary to leave out those
things tn at are merely meant for
show and to come down to solid,
practical knowledge such as every
one needs to possess.
Louisville Special: Bishop Nc
Closkey has issued decree prescrib-
ing that parochial schools be estab.
lished everywhere. It was as fol.
lows: .'Now it is our will and com.
mand that, where there is Catho.
lie school in a parish, parents and
guardians in such places send their
children or wards who are under nine
years of age to such Catholic school,
and we hereby direct that this obi.
CATION be enforced under pain Of re-
fusal Of absolution in the sacrament
Of penance. The edict causes con-
siderable commotion in Louisville,
as some seven thousand children at.
tend the public schools.