Morning journal and courier., 1883-01-06
SOnrnxI xrtN Gurrier.
Saturday, Jan. 6. 1888.
School Matters.

Report to the Board of Education Janu- ary 5th, 1883, by the Superintendent or Schools. During the term of four months now past the work of public education in this city has been prosecuted with increasing energy, and as general thing with promise of good re- suits.
 The monthly reports received in this office indicate that the schools have been unusually free from sickness, and that the average per cent of attendance has been reasonably high. The number of houses occupied by the dis trict is 35. The whole number of teachers employed in the day schools is 272. The average number registered during the past term is approximately 9,Ss5. The rate per cent. of attendance 95.
 At the opening of the fall teri change was made in the form of blanks so that the clerical work of teachers Is very much re- duced. Instead of weekly reports from teachers to principals, and principals to su- perintendent, form was provided somewhat simpler, to be used once a month only This method does away with the necess lty of term reports, and term and year reports, ana only requires that, at the end of the len months of the school year, the reports of the several rooms of each school be condens eo upon single sheet, and thus 8 summary oi the whole district is easily obtained.
 Another important change was effected III the means of conveying information to par ents concerning the progress and department of their children. The weekly reports previously used were intended to present percentage statement in each study, and involved constant atten- tion to marking on the part of the teachers, thus diverting their attention from the more important work of teaching. Besides, several hours had to be spent out of school each week in tabulating and copying results, tune which ought to be spent in rest or recreaslon' or still better in reading and study 1n connee- tion with subjects to be taught. Detailed reports expressed decimally are of little value to the parents and are specially designed to ! ensIaye and wear out the teacher, allowing no opportunity for self improvement or re- 1 taxation. The present method IS designed to ! furnish the parent with a brief but clear statement once a month, so that he may know whether his child, in recitation and ' conduct, is either excellent, good, passaoie, | unsatisfactory, poor or very poor, these grades of standing being indicated by the numbers from 1 to 6.
 l A teacher of clear perceptions, in constant I contact with her pupils, need employ but little time or strength in filling these blanks, ! and, what is specially important, the parent IS | able to see at glance whether his child IS Improving his opportunities.
 The High school has experienced a pros porous term. The course of study has been ' r6Y1S6u 50 LnHG bGuUGuLS pursuing bAC OAcoSA cal course are with slight exceptions, relieved of those studies which are necessary on ea trance to college, and which are part of the college course. As evidence of progressive spirit in the High school it may be said tha the students have undertaken the publication of paper, the first number of which wa I thrifty in appearance and matter.
 [ As one step toward the proposed change
 in our method of training teachers the Com l mittee on Schools decided to receive ftteel
 young ladies, members of the class graduated l from the High school last spring, for tel
 weeks without salary. The ladies in charg 1 of the training schools have given them In
 struction in mental science ana or metnoos
 teaching in manner highly satisfactory, ane
 high degree of intelligent interest has beel
 manifest in both training schools.
 l The amount of substituting required a | present on account of absent teachers VII
 interfere with the regular instructions Of thl ! kind Decided efforts have been made dur ing the last term to awaken a more thought l fui spirit and broader enthusiasm in teach ! ers The course of public lectures given Il the High School Hall were appreciated b, l nearly all, and it is said that quite nunbe
 of teachers have begun to study education
 science, influenced by suggestions recelye' | from them.
 normal class also was formed early il
 the term, meetings of which have been hell 1 on Wednesday afternoons after school hours
 The object of this class is to study meth
 ods of teaching and so to raise the standar ! of instruction. Attendance upon these meet ings is not made obligatory, but there ha been an average attendance of over 50 teach | ers some of whom are the most thoughtfu | and earnest teachers in the employ of th ' district I am satisfied that if a large nun { Der could free themselves from the slayer { of routine teaching and the sense of obhgt i | ton which many seem to feel to remain ! school an hour or after school hours, an ! employ all surplus time and strength Tn en i \ bracing opportunities afforded for gainin | fresher and broader methods, it would L
 much better for the schools.
 Grade meetings have also been held fc | primary teachers and will be continued in u $ higher grades during the present term. The evening schools have maintained { ! good attendance thus far with commend | ' able degree of order and diligence. Principals, teachers and janitors need \ act conjointly in securing equable temper . ture in school rooms with maximum qua | tity of pure air. It is next to impossible I do this if all are vigilant, but if janitors ps little attention to the temperature out
 doors and run the furnaces at full strengt ! on a warm day, as have often found to
 the case in the smaller buildings, the room V are sure to become overloaded in spite of z ! the teacher can do, and the result is a 10 | mental status for the time being, and }, health afterwards. Moreover some teache
 fail to observe the rule which requires phys | cal exercise every session with thoroue ventilation of the rooms.
 Teachers who for themselves contempla
 suicide, or who desire to see in their pupi
 the unrestrained working of Darwin's law
 the survival of the fittest," /" find here amp 't scope for experiment, but conscientious r |. gard for the health of pupils should lead to
 cheerful acquiescence in the spirit of tl rule.
 These remarks are not made in a spirit
 fault-fnding, but they suggest fault whic
 cannot be covered up, and shall not cease
 sound the alarm until health in our schools
 made of the first account, and all is done tn r. can De done to accomplish the desired en T What have said points to cases of negIe as well as forgetfulness. I am happy to ss
 that the cases are limited, but it is also trI
 that the shortcomings of the few depreeia
 the average standard and excite complain
 and criticism, which is most unpleasant
 those who are faithful and damaging 1
 the reputation of the system. l haN
 on a previous occasion reported col
 cerning the duties and functions of prime
 pals. Were I to speak now especially of tt
 teachers, would pay high tribute to the
 patience and devotion to study. The pa
 ticular thing to be desired at present is a 1 open eye to the progress which is going o
 in the great educational world about us, an l a determination to teach rather than to hea
 lessons to stimulate self activity rather tha | to cram the mind with dry facts; to rise u
 and throw off the shackles of slavery t
 routine and Journalism, and work not fo
 examinations merely, but to stimulat
 thought on living subjects, and give ths
 mental and moral training which is the sur
 guarantee of successful manhood and woman hood.