National Republican., 1885-01-15
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Gen. Birnsy's RESOLUTIONS 20 Reduce
the Number OF Studies and Teachers
Duties.
The resolutions introduced by Gen.
Birney in the school board, referred to in
the report of the Tuesday night meeting,
have caused much discussion among
parents and teachers. II adopted they
would revolutionizo the system OF in
struction in the District, and are supposed
to have been introduced partly in defor.
ence to the popular outcry against over
taxing both pupils and teachers. In re-
sponse to many requests they are given
below in full:
Whereas the daily programmes" fIrn.
ished 10 the teachers for their guidance pro-
vide for weekly examinations us follows: In
the fifth grade one or more In the sixth
grade, one; In the seventh and eighth grades,
two respectively, making from forty to about
eighty examinations yearly, according to the
Whereas said examinations are written and
fix the standard for each pupil by percent
ages" thus acting us constant stimulus to
the few and n encouragement TO the many,
with injury TO tine health OF all except the
most robust; and
whereas none of the weekly percentage
written examinations are authorized by any
rule ofthis board; aud
Whereas each pupil in the seventh or eighth
grade is required 10 furnish, each month, in
said examinations and in compositions and
spelling exercise, ut least twenty pages of
written matter, amounting for school OF fifty
pupils TO about ] 600 pages month, or 1900 or
10000 year; and
Whereas by misapprehension OF the rules
OF the board many teachers regard 1t as duty
to be performed outside of school hours to ex-
anime critically every word of this immense
mass Of writing and interline corrections
| - a and auN
drudgery, which compels them often to burn
| the midnight lamp, impairB their health, robs
them of elasticity and lessons their teaching
| power, while the corrections so laboriously
made, are hardly glanced at by the pupils;
| therefore,
l. Resolved, That said weekly examinations
and percentage rating In the tifth sixth,
seventh ana eighth grades shall be discon-
| tinued forthwith
D That compositions and written spelling
| exercises shall be distributed among class
mates for criticism, and the teachers duty
| in regard TO them shall be limited TO hearing
critIcisms and making remarks thereon TO the
| class.
8, That the work required OF teacher out
| of school hours embraces records, reports, and
preparation for giving lessons, and II shall not
| be Increased without the express order OF this
board.
Whereas the pupils of the first grade, being
mostly children OF the tender age OF or 4,
| are taught in twelve different subjects; the
| pupils OF higher grades, 10 the seventh inclu'
| siye are taught the same or still larger num-
| ber and those of the eighth grade are exam
| ined for percentages in eighteen different
| studies; and
Whereas such multiplicity OF studies is un'
| favorable TO thorough education, embarrassing
| to teachers and causing u most injurious strain
| upon the nervous system of ambitious pupils,
| especially upon that of girls, therefore,
| RlsOlusd That the number Of studies in each
of the eight lower grades should be greatly
| lessened.
2. That the studies Of music by note and o
! Prang & Co.'s drawing books shall not bI
taught In any grade lower than the ffth,
| 3. That each superintendent and supervising
| principal Is hereby directed 10 report In writ
| Ing to this board at its next meeting wha
studies ought in his opinion 10 be dropped
from the course prescribed for the eight lower
| grades.