The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-07-15
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Is, IssO.
THE CHARGES REFnTEn

The CHARGES REFUTED.
The Committee appointed last Spring
blythe taxpayers Of School District No.
!, to investigate the charges against the
efficiency Of the public schools Of Port
land, haze rendered their report. in
nearly every instance rcfuung the accu-
sations Of the enemies Of the common
schools. The report is quite lengthy;
Therefore these columns viii admit por-
tions only Of it,
In reply 10 the assertion that "lhe
machinery Of the schools has grown TO a
too expensive and cumbrous SYSTEM
the Committee find that, while the tax
to support the schools has increased but
20 per cent in thirteen years, the cost Of
the police department has increased 50
per cent in five years and the FIRE de-
partment A per cent; that the increase
OF school population in the last four
years is four per cent greater than the
increase in expenses in that time; that
the growth Of the school population has
required annually more thorough
grading Of pupils, and more buildings,
rooms aud furniture, and teachers Of
more skill and devotion, in order 10 DO
good work 10 all the classes.
In refutation Of the criticism that too
too many studies are crowded upon the
pupils, the Committee state that such
studies only are pursued as are author
lied by law, and that they are much the
same as in the old-style schools, but
that "the present systematic course
gives definite and better results Of study
to larger numbers" The Committee in
this connection take exception 90 the
number Of readers, Biographies, arith-
metics aud grammars used. They es-
pecially denouuce Clark's grammar,
which is almost universally recognized
as the finest textbook extant on the
subject In particular should it be re-
tained in the High School, where its
complete analysis OF sentences and care I
ful explanations OF the idioms Of the
English language can be comprehended
by all who are qualified to enter the
school. After the Committees lauda-
ton Of the Portland schools for keeping
pace with the times, il is in bad taste TO
assert that grammar, one Of the princi-
pal studies, "ean be taught orally with
a few varied sentences on the black
board in two or three terms" Clark /.
would laugh at the construction Of num- f.
erous sentences in the report.
In reply to the charge that "lhe High I.
School is not proper part OF the system
Of public education" the Committee re- I
port that they find "the High School
only an extension Of the grades aud
classes'-its name "only a term to de- f.
note the necessary advance grades OF
large public schools like those Of Port .
land.n The name is convenient, but
not essential. If offensive, il can be
dropped, though its classes remain.
The Committee recommend, in refer /.
ence to teaching languages, that Eng /
lish only be free, and that tuition be .
charged for instruction in foreign jan
guages.
To refute the charge that the criminal
aud pauper classes come from the at
tendants Of the common schools, much .
statistical matter from the school re-
ports Of great cities is employed, show
ing the falsity Of the assertion. In
Portland, the case is as follows: "OfI
the 60 graduates OF the High School, IS
(SS per cent are engaged in useful work,
and S IL per cent? are in professional
study. OF the 30l graduates Of the
grammar schools, Il3 (37l per cent are
pursuing higher studies; lG7 ,559 per
ceuD are in useful work q q per cent
are unknown 3 4 per cent are Of ques-
tionable character"
Taken as a whole, The report is salts
factory to the Taxpayers aud the up
holders Of the public school system. It
was adopted at the citizens meeting at
the Court House last Monday evening
without a dissenting voice. However,
If the friends Of common education .
think the war on the schools is settled .
by this report, they greatly mistake. |
The mutteTings are already heard, and
next year the assault viii be renewed. /
Let friends all remember that "eternal
vigilance" on their part is necessary TO
keep of the treacherous hands Of the
enemy.