The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-11-19
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Mr.. DEMONSTRATING that there is still
room for improvement in our school system,
and that IN to this date it is not absolutely
perfect. still, no one who knows anything
about the matter at all can feel that our school
committee are not working in the most intell
gent and thorough manner to bring our schools
up to the highest rank. Therefore it does not
seem necessary nor just that they should be
continually obliged to defend themselves from
attack without help from parents who may be
supposed to have fair opportunities to judge of
methods of study aud discipline and their eff
feet upon the pupils. l should answer your
correspondent in this wise:
A graduate of the High school who failed to
answer the simple questions given may never
have been provided with that all important ar
tcle which the rich lady desired to purchase
for her offspring-a capacity. Every grammar
school scholar is thoroughly drilled in
arithmetic. Is it any wonder that part of
them forget it when we consider the freaks
that memory is constantly playing, and is it not
very easy to bring it all back again with little
study? [ think no means have ever been de-
vised to ensure people remembering what they
have learned. In the fabulous country of
"Skitzland' we are told thas people totally lose
all the faculties which they do not improve.
1t is so here, to some extent, with studies which
are not pursued, therefore, wish my children
to learn methods of study and to get we'll
grounded in studies which they may need in
the future. Four years of French is not obi
gatory, nor possible; it may be taken two
years. AS many of the pupils do not wish to
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than chemistry. Department does not affect
the rank, and the lowest mark in department
will not prevent q scholar from advancing if
his average mark is over seventy-five in his
studies The skillful craftsman is not out
ranked by his inferior on account of speed.
Plenty of time is given and execution is mark
ed one-tenth of the whole value of the paper
A pupil who has outside help has an easier time
of course, but in the monthly examinations,
which alone give the rank, he falls behind the
one who has conscientiously worked it all out
for himself.
l went to the High school in Master Wool
sons time and, I honestly believe, all we
thought, teachers and pupils, that there never
had been High school before nor ever would
be one again. yet years have passed and live
to see High school far ahead of that in every
pdrtlCuldT. LII LITERATURE tH0y are learning 10
critically examine the best authors which we
simply read in those days A study which
they have been making of Walter Scott's writ
ings during the fall, has interested US all at
home, and some of the reviews they have
written of them would be fair journalistic
work. 1t is certainly vast improvement over
the old-fashoned style of school composition.
In mathematics and the languages they are
certainly as thorough as we were. In the
sciences they are farther advanced; while in
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truly wonderful.
1t is equally so in the grammar schools. the |
teachers having learned to impart great vari-
ETY. of knowledge outside of text books and
in the most taking manner, while the prima-
ries seem to have been completely reorgauized. |
Think of primary school children learning |
geology, botany, geometry, music and drawing |
as recreation, and learning so much Of them |
as to be sometimes able to teach their elders. |
Moreover, my children are delighted with their
teachers and constantly interested in their
StudieS as one of my children remarks, |
teachers now are our friends and companions,
they are always ready to answer questions and
help us in all ways out of school hours; and in
our classes they spare no pains to interest us,
and we have real nice cozy lesson hours''
On the whole, if your correspondent and as
"many others as possible, will give little
careful consideration to the facts of the case, |
taking into account the difficulties which must
always arise to impeue the march toward per-
lection, 1 think it will not be very long before
our school committee and tea .hers will feel
that they are receiving what they deserve, the
entire confidence of the public.
A MOTHER IN ISRAEL.