The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1884-03-27
Defects OF the Public School System.

These defects or rather the most glar.
ing ones are clearly set forth in n
diShearten ,ng article in the North Amer
lean ReUie'0 for February. So much is
accomplished for our youth under the
present system, but so much more of
practical value should be done for them,
that it would be difficult for the sagest
of our sages to determine with accuracy
where reform should begin, or, harder
still, where il should end. That these
defects are serious ones no obSeryant
person will attempt TO deny.
The sum and substance of the wants
set forth in the article alluded to arc
those of practical, everyday, work-a-
day preparation for the life which every
boy or girl encounters on launching
forth into the world for himself or her
self. He remarks, with great truthful
ness, that our children cannot all enter
upon "ideal careers" which we all adj
NIT. 1t is deplorable fact that much
of the fitfiul, fragmentary bits of in
formation acquired in superficial way,
and for no especial purpose, are of so
little definite gain. Far better had
they all been merged in the acquisition
of some one useful branch of knowl-
edge, fitting one to enter intelligently
upon some specific department of busi-
ness or labor.
We are told that "nibbling in all d.
rectlons and eating nothing spoils the
appetite and ruins the digestion"
True again; and it might be added that
nibbling and crammlng are equally dis
arranging to the mental system. To
60 l. II, 10.
we are told that the most important
need for boy or girl, on coming into
this world, lis to he trained into ability
to earn an honest living Then fol-
lows the remarkable statement that in
the public schools of one of our cities
the attendance in February, 1888, was
"a, 723. Only about half that number,
or $3.50, went through the primary,
and entered the grammar department,
while only about two and three-fourthS
per cent, or 1910 graduated at the
grammar, and entered at the high
school. OF this remnant 800 reached
the third year, and only forty-n;ne of
these were in the fourth or advanced
class.
This shows conclusively that the high
er studies, for which the most eYpen-
sive tuition must be provided, and TIE
most costly apparatus procured, are on
ly enjoyed or used by fraction of one
per cent. of all the children ,ntering
our public schools. 1t came to our no.
tice only a short time ago, that in some
school forget where-boXes of ools
were to be provided. and the boys in
structe1 in the trade of the carpenter
and mechanic. We were recently adj
miring the precision with which an old
lady "set the gathers" in a garment she
was making. Il was taught said she,
Ito make shirt when very litt'e girl
at school, and was obliged in running
gathers to take two threads and leave
two threads, and / shall always run
gathers on that principle"
"A principle in rum ng gathers"
laughs some gay & ri. Yes, indeed. 1t
is Just that which is wanted: a thor
ough, minute understand NC of how to
do even one thing completely ard well.
As a general rule, a child will very
early in life develop taste for some
particular amusement or oacupat on.
The sagacious parent or teacher, by fol-
lowing up this incl nation of the child,
will best promote its interests by edu-
eating it in the way of its legitimate
bent or purpose. Not little of the
want and crime so rife in our land is the
direct, though unintentional, result of
the abuse to which children are sub
jected in not beng instructed in some
one reliable direction which would ena-
BILE them, when thrown on their own
resources for support, rs e great pro-
portion of them are, to erform skilful-
ly and intelligently some one branch of
trade, or it may be some needed accom-
plshment. Now that the subject has
been agitated in different quarters, we
shall look and hope for speedy move
ment toward reform in this all-import-
ant direction. Golden Rule.