Daily Republican., 1882-09-11
The Public schools.


The question Is now pressing itsel
upon the people in a way that canuo
be ignored. 1t is weak and. foolish fo
those i'm mediately interested to shirl
their duty and attempt to cast tho re-
spOnsibillty upon Others. We admi
that this matter concerns all and ye
there are none who seem intelligently
looking after 1t, and who make the
subject their particular business. L
there was an intelligent, honest, per
sonal supervision with determination
to get at the effect of the working Of
the present system, such q state OF af
fairs as was exhibited in girls school
No on FRIDAY last could not have oc
Cured. 1t evidently was caused from
an honest sense o. duty, hat it was
nevertheless a plain exhibition of inca
pacity and misconception Of the true
mission of a teacher.
The existing condition of affairs ought
to be and l might say must be correct.
ei. 1t should be the business of those
who suffer, and furnish The money &c
pay the teachers, 70 see to it that these
public servants arc OF the proper kind,
with qualities that Capacitate them fol
the trae performance Of their high call.
ing.
The question might nov he asked
what is the true qualification for q
teacheI? The first aud most essential
au uid be AN nOnest, JEALOUS and fer
vent desire to develope true woman
hood, and true manhood in the scholar;
without this condition in the teachers,
they should be, at once, ruled out and
disqualified Notwithstanding their 9th.
or requirements.
That We are now suffering FROM the
effects OF this disqualification on the
part Of most Of our present teachers il
evident or we would not have brought
home to us the fact that our children
who have arrived at the age of accoun =
ability and discretion and who are
now in the higher grades of studies,
and who as a rule are making every
effort possible to meet the requirements
of the present system. repeat we
would not have brought home to us
the fact that our children have been
abused and belittled by a system of
straight jacket education, and an as-
sumption of authority and a use of
language entirely out OF place and I'M
called for, on the part of public ser.
wants; and which could not take place
if they were actuated from love, and a
proper knowledge of their mission and
duty. Our teachers should be given to
understand, that teaching is not mere
mechanical performance, 80 much
work for so much pay, we must have a
higher motive than this. We cannot
afford to place our children under such
an influence as this.
The time has certainly come fer a
radical change, and this could be best
brought about by altering tie whole
system of public school education.
The present one is in a great measure
an outrage and wrong upon the physi.
cal, mental and moral health of the
scholar, and founded upon miscon.
ception Of the whole subject.
That this question of education is not
understood by us might be
clearly demonstrated if we woulG 90
elsewhere for information. Let US in
Vite discussion of the Quincy system
and thereby profit by the experience of
others.
1t is not possible for the mind to
JAKE in and retain more than a Ger
Jain amount at one time, and this
should be fully digested and the princi-
pie clearly fixed or fastened on the
mini, leaving the details in q great
to be worked out by the pupils
N their own way, and with their own
'orm and originality of expression.
This is the true plan of education.
There are many of US who have gone
through the process as at present car
led out, who could not answer
he questions now required by the
children even after we have had long
Years of contact With men and things;
n fact we have learned that a great
leal of what is required is practically
Useless, and all we can expect to attain
s a general knowledge of the subjects
lnder consideration without being par.
ocular about specific details, being well
ware that to make any particular
)rancn a success requires US to devote
vi our faculties to that one branch,
Ilmost to the entire exclusion of all
,tbers. How useless then to expect
lefinite and exact perfection in so
many branches as our present over
Durdened system enforces. The effect
# this course in great measure is un-
loubtedly to be numb and break down
he mental powers, and render the
cholar practically useless In after life.
'pace will not permit the continuance
f this important subject at present,
nut it is to be hoped that others will
AXE it up and the question will be fully
W.