Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-06-14

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price of board and living expenses have |
the past two years. It's customary to ap- |
point the teachers not later than the :
close of the school year, June 80, and
Board revision of the schedule of salar-
crease Of compensation of grade teachers,
before appointments are made. The
present plan of grading the salaries ac-
well and has furnished the best incen-
and faithful labor. l would also suggest
cants for positions in the cOrps.of teach
vacancies may be filled and appointments
the rules new appointments are made
for but one term, and confirmation only
made upon the presentation of certifi-
superintendent, 1t may be well to grant
to those who satisfactorily pass the ex-
animation, only partial or provisional
certificate of qualification.
The prevalence of truaacy and its
of the Board. During the past year be-
tween one ana two hundred cases of sus-
pension have been for truancy. This
scenes the weak point of our school dis
cipline, and the one school offense: (which
under our rules has no adequate punish
ment. Suspension is of the nature of
reward to the habitual truant. Upon
the street corners and wandering aim
lessly about the city, may be seen while
the schools are IN session, boys f school
able age who have no desire to avail
themselves of their privileges. They
belong to families where there is nothing
to inspire them with desire for useful
life, or where parental control over them
has been lost. OF these are composed what
we see denominated by our city press
from time to time as "The Rice Street
Gang and "The Ramsay Street Hood
lums." What shall be done with our
incorrigibles Either special school
should be established which would en-
able us to eradicate these communicating
influences from the ordinary schools and
at the same time give proper care and in
struction to those who if driven from the
schools, will grow up to swell the ranks
of illiteracy and crime, or the assistance
of the police should be invoked. AS in
many other cities an ordinance relat-
ing to truancy, should be passed by the
Common Council and by the cooperation
of the police authorities this evil will be
reduced to minimum.
The course of study Iof our High school
should receive the attention of the Board.
The completion of the new building will
render possible many changes of prac-
tical character, both in the extent and
the methods of instruction of the school.
These should be carefully considered.
They must at first be tentative, and be
adapted to public demand and the facil-
tiles of the school. The success of the
evening school last year, will doubtless
| be warrant for its continuance, and here,
too changes suggested by the experiment
already tried, which will add to the eff
cheney of the work, demand considera-
ton.
In the matter of instruction in music
and drawing, the results have been SUCH
as to Justify what was to us an expert
ment. 1 bellve that music has won for
itself a firm position in the feelings of the
patrons of the schools. The interest
manifested in the concert lately given by
the pupils of the public schools gave
strong evidence that the Introduction of
vocal music into our course of study had
met with hearty and general approval
AS to the position of drawing there can
| be no question. Taught not as an &C
complishment, but with its practical re-
lations to the future occupation of the
pupils in constant view, it is par excellence
the practical study of our curriculum. A
year ago the Board adopted Walter
Smiths system of industrial drawing, and
instruction has been given in all classes
below the High school under the super
vision of the Superintendent OF Penman-
ship The increased and increasing
number of schools and the natural
advancement of the work in drawing so
as to include the High school, with the
necessity of more supervision as the work
advances will make the present arrange
ment impracticable. Whatever other
changes are made in the course of study
of the High school, undoubtedly very
soon instruction should be given in the
making and using of working drawings
and in mechanical and geometrical draw
ing and architectural draughting. To do
the best for this department a skilled
teacher should be employed to take charge
of the work in all the schools, giving
special attention to the High school,
where the practical advantages of the
previous training will become apparent.
In the consideration of reforms in our
school system, it seems to me wise COD
servatism should temper radical views
Innovations there must be or there will be
no progress, but experiments should be
made with caution. In the present state
of public sentiment, which seems to de-
mand that the whole work of the home,
the church and society shall be relocated
to the schools, there is danger of losing
sight of their true function, that of train
ing children for usefulness and success in
any pursuit in life. An increased interest
in public education is manifesting itself
in the criticisms which are so rife, and
which, from time to time, find their way
into the public prints. Reforms are sug-
gested which will change the whole
character of the instruction of the schools.
They are made responsible for the con-
dition of public morals, and reproached
because they do not supply substi-
tute for the defunct apprentice system.
Temperance, social science, morals and
manners, cruelty to animals and kindred
important subjects, are pressed upon the