The Portland daily press., 1881-10-17

one OF serious earnesLness VI PuiPooc, "AiooS
presence acts alphabetically to awaken con-
scientious earnestness in the pupil.
Among the great improvements in the
modes of instruction l might refer to the
grading of scholars according to the branches
which they are studying. 1t has the dlsad-
vantage CT depriving idle youngsters of the
stimulus of seeing better and higher scholar
ship and catching up some of the scraps OF
learning dropped during the recitation of the
older ones; but this is trifing compared with
the advantage of having each teacher have
definite work to do, and having studious
scholars enjoy in the schoolroom uninterrupt-
ed time for their particular studies. The
great disadvantage of graded schools, how
ever; and one which it is very difficult to
overcome; is the tendency which the system
has to keep bright scholars back, dragging
slowly year after year over the alphabet OF
things which they are fully competent to mas
ter without mental strain in single year. 1
have repeatedly seen bright industrious
scholar made gradually lazy and dull by being
held back year after year to keep him IN the
regular course of annual promotion. 1t is not
only an injury to the scholar, but to the pubic
whose servant he is to become; it is not
necessary aoncomitant of the graded
system; vet it is an evil which
infallbly arises under the system unless
the teachers and supervisors are constantly ON
the watch to suggest and effect semi annual
promotions of the brighter and more indus
trious pupils.
A second great improvement is the introduce
tion and more constant use Of the blackboard;
and in the same general direction, the teaching
of drawing, in the higher grades and the use
of various means of developing the magma
ton of forms ill space in the lower grades.
These steps are in conformity with the general
plans of Froebel, whose kindergarten methods
| regard as in all respects admirable, although
l cannot agree with his explanations and rea-
sons. In addition to drawing and in conJunc-
ton with it, writing is taught. In the earliest
DAYS great attention was paid to the three arts
of reading, writing and cyphering. Afterward
writing was somewhat neglected, but about
six years ago new departure was taken, and
there is nothing in the public schools of this
city which / now look upon with more salts
faction than the universally OF good hand
writing, unless it be the introduction of vocal
music. The cultivation of the ear and of
good taste in music, is another Of those things
originally attended to, then neglected for
awhile and now pursued with more intelligence
zeal and success than ever,
But it may be Justly feared lest the intro
duction of so many new pursuits into the
school room may take from the attention
proper to be given to the three arts OF read
ing, writing and spelling. hayeIalready con-
fessed that it was so tor time with reference
to writing; but the fault was effectually
remedied six years ago and writing
is now better taught, the pupils make more
proficiency in it than ever; and partly be-
cause they are taught drawing also. The
time will also come, and hope speedily, when
reading and cyphering will experience similar
1xrl r,xNr I'M
only difficulty is in getting them applied. The
school committee of the city was found some
years ago to have become unwieldly in size.
A new law reduced its numbers to seven, and
deprived its members of pecuniary eompensa-
ton. They could not afford therefore to give
full time to the visitation and oversight OF the
schools. They chose gentleman who, IN our
neighboring city, had shown himself prac-
tical superintendent of schools, OF great WIS
dom and efficiency, and appointed him super
intendent of our schools. But they have not
given him any thing more than executive
powers they have not been eager to ask his
advice and be governed by 1t. Vi course, he
does not complain; and he may tor aught
know be even offended at me for thus COM
planning without his knowledge; but l, as
citizen, do complain that the wise head which
devised and organized the practice school on
frequently, and allowed greater play in the
general management of the courses of in
struction, and methods of instruction He
has, it is true, accomplished a great deal in
his quiet wav but l think he could readily
do more, if his advice was sought and fol-
lowed, toward bringing every department OF
instruction to the satisfactory state to which
writing and singing have been brought.
The early fathers required our selectmen to
see to it that the children were taught their
catechism. as well as the art of reading and
writing the English tongue. The constitution
of Massachusetts and that of Maine make 1t
the first duty of the teacher to impress upon
the children sentiments of piety, reverence,
honesty, chastity, sob iety, kindness, industry,
truthfulness good manners and good morals.
And these are the important things; nothing
merely intellectual can compare with them.
For teaching these, no new and wonderful IN
vention has been made; the graded schools,
the blackboard, natural history, geometry,
kindergartensobjec s,phonetic type, vocal music
all these act Indirectly and feebly, on the heart
and the will. The first requisite in the COM
mon school teacher, as well as in the Sunday
school, is to have the fear of God and the love
of his righteousness in his own heart. Unless
the teacher have genuine fear OF God and love
of righteousness in his own heart, no attempt
OIL MS Will ever SucCeeu III dWuhcliuS thCu
in the children; their little eyes are sharp to
detect pretended or assumed sanctity. But
on the other hand, if these prime requisites be
in the teachers heart, they will shine out of
his eyes, they will be seen upon his face, they
will betray themselves in his tones,and he will
early impress them upon his pupils And,
repeat it, / believe that this thorough conse-
Grafton of heart, this thorough conviction OF
the paramount worth and importance OF duty
was the secret of DIR. Shailer's power with
teachers and pupils. The religious life and
moral earnestness which was in him COM
municated itself to the teacher, and through
her to the scholar. But it was not simply the
moral and religious feeling in him which gave
him his power; it was the spirit also OF love
and of sound mind; it was the kind, judi
cious wisdom of the advice and suggestion
which he offered, asked Vt unasked, when he
saw the need.
We dedicate this house not only to the SER
vice of God in the service of his children. not
only to the work of public education and the
training of the future citizens of the republic.
but also to the memory of that faithful citizen
who, i'll our city, nobly served the church and
the school for full quarter of a century. The
three great elements OF the political and social
pre-eminence of New England have been the
church, the school ami the town. A church
in which the brethren were acknowledged and
consulted as brethren, electing their own over
seers as their servants for Christs sake; this
was the first element of democracy in the in
FAINT commonwealth. A state in which the
government was, in the smaller element of
towns. purely democratic; and rose to repre-
sentation in the larger combinations OF county
and state, only from the unwieldiness of so
large democracy; this was the second ele-
ment. An education free from the trammels
of routine, managed by democracies of still
smaller extent than towns this was the third OF
those institutions which have trained the men
New England to the leaders in all the States.
And in at least two of these, the services Of
DIR. Smaller are worthy of remembrance and
honor. Upon this elevrted spot we place this
hall and associate with it his name. Long
NAV the successive generations. of children
learn to pronounce that name with reverence
and love. Long may successive generations
look from the hill. upon the lovely waters of
the bay, and upon the Atlantic stretching be-
yond the rocky isles. The ocean shall be for
them as for Newton, and for Swedenborg, the
emblem of the boundless expanse OF truth ;
upon whose shores they walk with wise
teachers, to gather from its pebbles and Its
shells some faint whispers of its fsthomless
secrets. Long may successive generations OF
children gaze from the windows upon the dis
, L ChOcOrua,