The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-01-27
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

sociaricn of Indiara met Ia indianapolis,
aud as usual on such occasions number 81
papers by The leading educators were rad
Some ~ these papers were published Ivy The
Journal IL that city, the manuscript being
furnished by the aui iiors. A reporter ~ The
Journal took the liberty 81 going through
The manuscripts aud picking out the mis-
spelled words. These were very numerous
aud frequently we're words IN common use.
The Journal made some severe criticisms
upon the teachers for the iguoiancr or care
irss"ess manifested Ia these manuscripts
There has been considerable feeling
aroused Ia Massachusetts 10y the inve-iiga
tons # gentlemen interested In the pr"m"-
tiou uf knowledge ard the Improvement II
the people, these inves' iga' ions showing that
the gIsdusirs finn the public Schools were
Ism-mshly ignorant of nrahy everything
they should know, and That neither their ~
Elective nor their prrcep'ive faculties were
Ia the advanced condition oie would na'ur
ally suppose they should he afie attending
the schools Of The old Puritan Common
wealth.
The same fanlt Is olicrable in nearly
every section If III. cnub ~ where nycare.
ful rxamiral ion has been made. Indiana,
whose State Scl"ol Super inieudent lock The
prize nj Ihe Centennial Exhibition for the
hest essay an the 'rInmon Schools, aid
whose school fund is high IL, the millions,
is suffering from The same deirrioia' ion IT
| scholarship. In some parts If the State At
least, not 2 per cent. 81 the high scho'l
graduates can =" before their equity exam
liners and fairly gain first class crrifcaie
10 authorize them 10 berome teachers,
which crriiHrale only rqIirrs a fair
know ledge ~ the cOmIpon Euglish brauchrs,
with physiology aud Quilted b aies history.
| Not m,re than 10 Ia 20 per cent can serurr
seco.d grade certificates; no more than 20
{" 10 per cent can gel third grade cen ihra; rs.
while the rest rafige from fourth q AIDE 90
utter failures. IT this Is The case vii II high
srho"l g,aduaias, What can be expected of
tlose who never enter The high school ?
Aud uinstemhs Of The pupils who attend
the common schools, or errn larger pro-
portion, never de- reach Tie high schools,
What is the cause Of this? The question
is Az impor ant one. 1t applies TO every ser-
ti"n of The country. TIL. writer has visited
many schools IN the nIIberii, SouilI eru and
Western States; las seen many exsminar ion
papers, aud feels that The same evil prevails
through the whole fabric "f The common
schools. What Is that evil? The injecting
of the Teachers Institute Ia Deer Lodge
next week suggests The thought that this
would be very proper question for he ed.
| ucaiofs Then assembled 10 discuss. Ii Is
we'll 10 look into the matter before Il is too
late. Refusing To sdmt The existence of any
fault, ar 10 search for any rem.dy, will only
hasten the time when less experienced
hands will under axe /" correct the faults.
aid may seriously impair the public school
system.
| Among the errors al present pervading the
system and causing II Ia be less efficient
than II should be are. we think, the follow
| ing: The schools are conducted Oh the
theory that every pupil Who enters the pri-
mary grade will continue his studies mn III
he leaves the high school and cutters college,
aud the curriculum is arranged Ia fit him
for the high school aud college,. instead 81
f"r the Practical life into which nine out "f
every ten will enter before even the high
sclnol Is rearhed. The perrrpriyr faculties
arr too litile cultivated ~ the primary de.
| part m-nts, and The reflective faculties too
much So. weary Ing The young mind and Civ
Ing II a dist ssl- for study or beneficial read
ing. Too much red tape Is gradually ar-
| rIiunlaing ai",ipd The system. Teachers
are required 10 prepare and make ont So
many examination papers, reports, aud So
f"rh, that their energies are wasted on
these things aud the school room duties be-
cnine q secondary consideration. These,
| too, are apt 10 encourage the idea IN a teach
-r hat when he has fulfilled the duties pre-
scribrd by the regulations. he has done all
That can be- expected ~ him. Consequently
| he neglects TO siHdy III. natures of his pupils,
neglects 10 arqni,e III influence over them
| beyond what power gives. aud nrglecis 10
make the a. quaint ancr"f his pnpiis' parents.
IL this last feature especially man. teachers
are drrrlici. and The result Ia that fieqnrnil y
the two who are working for the child's
gond-ihe teacher and the parenl-will work
At cross purposes, whereas a mutual at
| qiIaintance would enable both To work to-
g.iher for the same end aud make that work
effective.
These few thoughts are presented in the
hope that they will al least arouse The teach
ers a. Deer Lodge county TO sense Of their
responsibility es, and To aid them to resolve
that her schools shall never bear The name
If graduating ignorant young men aud
women.
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