Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-01-08

with facilities Tor wise, lathe
and forge work, have been pro-
vided for the raining of its pu-
opinion that the g i;e5t benefit that will
pills in this Girec on, but | am of the
result from this viii be the stimulation
Of our cities to the incorporation of ele-
mentary industrial training INTO their
schemes of public education.
The discussion OF the plans for our new
high school building IS calling attention
to the desirabilitv of making some pro-
vision for instruction in industrial art;
but even here it seems to me that we
shall be commencing too late,' and
that our experimental school would
be furnished with better facilities, and
would commence under better conditions
if the board should erect a one-story
structure, supply it with power to be
used in the turning of lathes, and place
it in charge of skillful instructor, who
should teach, not trades, but fundamen-
tai processes, that train the eye and the
hand, and have definite relation to ali
trades. Conditions could be imposed
that would prevent too great number OF
applications for admission to this school,
of which one might be, certain standing
in industrial drawing. such scheol, L
hel1eve, would commend itself to pubic
favor. and would cause a deeper interest
in popular education, and would secure
liberal provision for its support.
It would, too, in my opinion, secure
better results than could be obtained by
engrafting an industrial department upon
the High school, or including workshop
in it's equipment. Of course the erection
of the new High school will permit many
changes of a practical character in its
course of study Natural science may be
taught not theoretically, but by giving
pupils an opportunity to make expert
ments and to observe results. Drawing,
too, which is without doubt the language
of the mechanic arts, can receive due at
tentiou-not that system which aims
merely at the production of artistic cop
les, and the cultivation OF taste, but that
which finds practical application IN all
of our industries. 1t seems TO me tnat
the time is not far distant when 1t Will be
proper for this Board to attempt the So
luton of some of the difficult problems
of industrial education, and that we may
investigate the results of experiments
elsewhere, and profit by the experience OF
Others l suggest that the subject be re-
ferred to a select committee, or to one OF
the standing committees OF the Board.
In conclusion l desire to report upon a
matter Of vital Importance to the schooI.
We have been improving our school &C
commodations, until now for the most
part our schools are housed in convenient,
tasteful and creditable buildings. This
has added much to the efficiency OF our
work; but far more important than any
attention to merely external advantages,
is the the seeking of good teachers Tor
all our schoolrooms, for the schools Will
be successful or fruitless in proportion to
the character of the teachers. AS eXpe-
rienced instructors resign, unless their
places are filled by those of equally sue
cessful experience our schools must de-
teriorate. Our present plan of holding
examination, and filling vacancies from
those who pass the required list has
not proved to be method that will secure
the best teaching talent from the fact
that our examinations attract but few
teachers, and we are forced to pick over
a few who possess not many of the quail
ifcatlons of a teacher. The improvement
of our schools demands such change IN
our methods as will enable US to secure
better material for our corps of instruc-
ton. Among our teachers we have many
skillful and successful educators, and 1t
is admitted that oftentimes inexperienced
and immature persons work out their way
to success but it cannot nevertheless be
affirmed that the constant appointment OF
such persons would not be rulnous to
any school system. Of the fact that
our examinations attract but few
who know how and are apt to teach, the
examination of applicants held December
oath and Goth, furnishes an excellent IL
lustration. OF the sixteen who
presented themselves, ten had failed
at previous tests and several of these two
and three times. But one or two had any
experience in graded school work, and in
the oral examination very many exhibited
an utter ignorance of everything pertain
ing to teachers work. The old method
of teaching reading by beginning with
the letters Of the alphabet and drilling
upon these abstract signs from A to 4,
without recognizing the laws of associa-
ton or using concrete illustrations, a meth
cd that is not employed to my knowledge
in any system of graded schools in the
country, and has not been for years, was
the only one used by many of the appli
cants, and to my surprise several who had
taught more than one term in rural
schools had never heard of any other.
The questions prepared were simple and
clear. They were in no sense puzzles,
nor did their answers require a remem-
brance of unimportant details. Only the
ordinary common school branches were
taken up, and in but one set of questions
was there anything like a professional
test. Out of the fourteen who completed
their work, two of the original number
having withdrawn shortly after the
commencement . of the examination,
but three passed, and of. these
two have no experience whatever, one
being a pupil in the junior class of the
high school and the other has no knowl-
edge of graded school work.
Examinations like this one prove con-
clusivelv that we cannot rely solely upon
our own school system for the supply of
teachers. Teachers must have training
and special preparation, and | know OF
nothing that will be of more benefit to
our whole system of schools that will be
afforded by the ample accommodations of
the new High School than the opportu-
nifty that Will be presented of training
this ta.ent at home. The selection of the
very best teachers that can be obtained is
a matter of transcendent importance and
one in which only considerations of fit
ness of applicants should have