The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-01-26
PRIMARY Edueatlou In Public schools,

WHEELING, ". VA. JANUARY &c. 1859.
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Primary EdueatlOh In Public schools.
While the ISTELLIoESCER does not claim
10 have initiated the discussion that began
three years ago in regard to the compara-
tive failure Of the public schools Of the
county to answer the ends for which they
were Instituted, It does claim to haye laid
hold Of the matter in its very incipienCy
realizing It's great importance, and to have
followed 1t up persistently, and to have
succeeded in evoking consideration and ag.
itation Of the subject within the wide circle
Of It's exchanges, and also among number
OF the active friends Of education in the
private walks Of life. We believe that this
agitation has done and is doing great good.
The newspaper readers Of the country have
awakened to the fact that the public
schools, as they were going, were running
away from them, and becoming constantly
more expensive and less efficient. A pub
lie demand has been aroused that the
schools shall come back to the idea on
which the whole system rests, and that the
expensive fungi Of one sort and another
that we're fastening themselves on the sys.
tenn shall be Topped of
We observe with pleasure some very
sensible remarks in the New York Posl in
regard to the manner in which the school
system has been abused and perverted in
that State, In the course Of an article in
reference to the falling Of the school attend
ance, it says
''The communication which Mayor Low
sent to the Brooklyn Board OF Education
last Tuesday may throw some light on the
question. The Mayor took the ground
and supported his position with statistical
and other facts-that the primary depart
ments were 10 q degree sacrificed to the
grammar departments; that the interests OF
the younger learners were neglected while
undue attention was given 70 the fewer and
more advanced scholars. The neglect OF
the former appears in the insufficient ac-
commodation allotted 10 them and in as
signing TO very large classes Of the younger
children the most inexperienced teachers
ItisobvioHs that both pacticesa blunders.
On sanitary grounds alone the youngest pu.
pilsshould be least exposed to overcrowd-
ings AS to the capacity Of their teachers,
as much learning may not be needed for
the instruction OF this class, but experience
may be even more necessary. The Mayor
says that Boston has found il advantageous
10 employ experienced teachers in such
cases. Even outside Of Boston common
observations and common sense might
suggest as mnch. While theyounger child
rem are thus neglected, great eagerness Is
shown in the maintenance Of schools for
the older ones. The Mayor notices ten.
dency TO stand the pyramid on the wrong
end.' He is by no means the only one who
questions whether any community has q
right tn give higher education to few at
the expense oil the many He says that be
fayors making our public school course
complete and thorough and that he is not
opposed to higher education in our
higher schools Whether he believes,
as growing number OF persons be-
lieve, that this higher education
should be furnished to those who desire il
and are capable OF it at private expense,
and that schools which are supported by a
general tax should undertake nothing fur
Their than thatelemGntary instruction which
is needed to make intelligent and good citi-
zens, or whether he believes that the more
advanced branches may be introduced
under proper restrictions in the public
schools, he says distinctly enough that
in these schools primary education should
not be subordinated othe higher To the
extent that this is done the system will
lose its popular character The people OF
Brooklyn are indebted to Mr.. Low for di-
recting attention to the mismanagement Of
their public schools in this respect. The
people outside Of Brooklyn are also indebt-
cd TO him for suggesting similar possible
mistake in other parts OF the State. II the
tendency is to setour educational pyramid
on the wrong end;' II less and less care is
taken for tho mass OF children, who are
equal to the acquisition OF the rudiments OF
knowledge, who have time to ACQUIRE
these, and who desire to do SO, or at least
whose parents and guardians desire as
much for them; and il more and more at
tention is given to that higher education OF
which comparatively few have the ca
pacity, the time and the desire to avail
Themselves, it is worth while TO INQUIRE
whether the falling off in attendance men
toned by tho Governor is not accounted
Tor ut least in part, and whether we may
not expect further movement in the same
direction. What the State needs and what
the taxpayers pay for is a popular and not
select system OF education"
The above structures of the Post while
they may not apply specifically in every
community, yet they have such general
bearing on the proper management OF
schools everywhere as to make them worthy
Of attentive consideration from all true
friendsof popQiHr education, and especial
fy OF primary education. We notice that
they have aroused approving comments at
Louisville, Ky., and that the COlrier-Jo Jour.
nal is moved to remark US follows upon
them:
"The "mismanagement Of the public
school system specified is a growing evil NIL
over the country. There exists a class Of
educators who have succeeded, in some
quarters, in attachinga stigma to the man
who ventures to insist upon making
the primary departments the paramount
feature OF our public school system. These
educators have been exceedingly inso-
lent and have obtained control Of School
Boards to such an extent that they have
succeeded in working great deal Of mis-.
chief The larger portion OF the pupils OF
our public schools have to leave school and
go TO work at an early agC. 1t is manifest.
" important, therefore, that the primary
course should be as thorough as possible,
and that thora rball to 40 LII. r n
room for tho younger scholars. The pres.
ent tendency, however, is to spend the
most OF the money on the higher education
and on the select course to the neglect OF
the primary departments. There are lust
and proper limits to the expenditure Of
the funds for public schools Elementary
education is necessity; therefore taxation,
lor that purpose Is clearly right, and tho
right to tax ends when the children OF the
pupuage in community are provided
with nlnmantaPV AlnCnfinn ty Zee f,,II.n,.