New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-20
NOTES ON EDUCATION.

Hinder President Pctte's administration Upion
ssolege has escursd endowments of about $5OO0
snd the number Of students has more than doubled
Dartmouth College has during its existence con-
sarre the degree Of b. A. upon 4,275 persons, 2l4O
Of whom are now living
kretiring fund for Harvards professors has now
been fairly started. Twenty-one thousand doiiarS
have already been contributed VI
The permanent school fund Of Iowa is now esti-
mated at $3.454 All; and 1t will be increased Oy
further sales of school land. The length OF the
school year in that State was last year lao days
School attendance in Georgia has had remark
able increase. From 49,576 in 1871. 1t ran up to
.226 B27 in 1870. OF the latter number, 79'4So
were colored children.
The University of Berlin has now more than 1000
students--the largest number ever yet reached by
auy German university. The University of Basel
has 335 students, twenty-five OF whom are Ger
mans.
One OF tho beliefs stated at the recent meeting OF
the Rhode Island teachers was that the time nas
come for deposng arithmetic as the most mportsnt
study for children, and substituting the study OF the
English Language.
! The law allowing women to vote on all school
matters was adopted in Vermont with only one dis
sentr vote in the Senate and only three or four in
the House. Women are now eligible 20 the offices
of town clerks and town superintendent OF schools
n Vermont.
The educational progress made by Tennessee since
1872 is described an wonderful. In that year in
some of the counties there not single school,
either public or private. In 1875 there were 3942
schools In the State; last year there were ooZZ In
1876 the average daily attendance was 130,Soo;
last year Vt was l9l,46l.
The Indiana Legislature is now considering bill
making education IN that State compulsory. This
bill orders that in the common schools only the toll
lowing branches shall be taught: Orthography
reading, writing. mathematics. mot beyond alge-
bral geography English grammar and the history
of the United States; provided that cites and
towns may have graded schools. IN when addltional
and higher branches may be Taught.
The resort to Harvard has gr1wa wider during the
past sixty, or particularly during the past fifteen
years. The percentage Of students from outside
Eew-Engand has increased the resort from the
Southern States has fallen off but the increased re-
sort from, the Middle and Western STATES has more
than made good this loss; the medical school Is as
1t has always been. essentially New England
echooi and the resort TO the law school has some
what narrowed of late, chiefly in consequence OF
loss of students from the Southern and Middle
States.
Professor Bancroft, of Brown University in o
recent address, commended the thorough study OF
the English language to schools. He said that pu-
pills should be taught composition upon careful
plan; the foundation should be laid by giving to
the pupil the works of the best authors, and also
him understand and follow out the plan in the smD-
lest matters of composition. Many teachers. ne
said, think that the way to write Is to write and
he added that Indefinite aims never accomplish any
thing but indefinite results.
Northumberland FAY. of Rhode Island, has
been making g sensible speech IN which he advo-
Gated the establishment of scientific schools and the
providing Of industrial education in all correctional
institutions for youth. He pointed ont the absurdty
of keeping boys eight or ten years in q Reform
u4...C hair nUff
shoes and then sending them out INTO the world
with no trade whereyith 10 earn an honest hVlng;
scisnt,So seSoais for industrial education is one
which cannot be made too often.
Dr. Blaisdel of Providence. at the recent meet
ing Of tho Rhode Island Teachers Institute, made
an excellent address school hygiene, IN the course
of which he recommended the. appointment oil q
medical Inspector to superintend hygiene in all the
public and private schools Of the State. DIR. Blas-
deli added that such an inspector should have good
salary--hs work we'll defined by special laws-and
have full authority to carry out their provisions u
trammeled by outsiders. de should appoint locaf
medical inspectors in every town and city IN the
State and these should have charge OF the hygiene
OF the schools in their districts.
1t is refreshing 20 that the surprising neglect
of the study of history in America subject of
discussion lately by the Massachusetts teachers
The average Americans ignorance of the events OF
the centuries nearest his own is disgrace to the
school system which educated him. The schools
should pay more attention to this study; but 1t
must be said that it can't be taught as so many
other branches are-by rote. II the dry bones are
not made to ye--if the pupils be not made to take
o Keen and intelligent interest IN the men ana
women who move through their ;ext-books-then
their work is worse than idle. AS In every other
study, all depends upon the teacher
The question of corporal punishment is discussed
by The Eiaqston freeman in an article full of earn
estness and good sense. Teachers" says the
editor "are rs frail and uncertain in temper as men
in occupations, and until thvocaton rs elevated to
the rank OF profession. with salaries adequate to
employ the best talent the schools must continue to
suffer from human infrmity. To learn to govern
oneself is greater achievement than to MAINTAIN
the discipline Of fear in school OF even bad repute
And when stalwart, vigorous man is seen aiming
himseN with rod against the boy of i've or fifteen
wears he deserves to become object of contempt.
Let him 20 back 70 the time when he was boy and
was whipped. He viii be able TO remember how
harmless and innocent his intention. bow little
Thought he had of disobeyiDg his teacher, how
cruelty and ignorantly be was misudged, and how
Kind word. earess perhaps, or any manifestation
of friendship OF sympathy ana forgiveness WOuid
have won him to that teacher for all time."
President Eliot says in his new report. that the
citation considered as an opportunity of examining
student to SEQ whether ne has learned the lesson
of the day apd to give him mark of merit or de-
merit has well-nigh disappeared from Harvard. 1t
has become for the teacher an opportunity to give
conversational instruction by asking questions
addressed either to an individuaior to the class,
with view to correct misrepresentation and to
bring out the main points of the subject Glea- of
the details BY explaining the authorio hand or by
contrsyening reinforcing, or illustrating his state
rents for the student it has become 90 Oppor-
tunity to ask questions, to receive, either in o
critical or In docle spirik the explanations and
opinions of the instructor TO review the lesson or
lie Ma avn y,, ep az tranaatn0 Of stating