The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-11-18
T PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
A Look Through the System
by the Miner Man.
ROFESSO DAVIS
Interviewed on the Subject A Great
Showing Need of More Appro-
priations to do the Work.

IHE MINER CdllCu upOh
Davis of the public schools, and accompa-
MED by that gentleman made a tour OF liz
spection visiting several OF the classes ot
each grade. Mr.. Davis was found to OF a
thoroughly capable and conscientious gem
tleman fully equipped for the arduous duties
of his station and in love with his work as
an educator. Since his assuming the charge
of the schools there has been a marked n
rapid Improvement, but much remains TO
be done, He and his associates are ham.
pered by the lack of funds, and to-day
while the system is as rear perfect as the
means at command will permit,
there is vet much to be done, to make the
schools of Butte compare with those OF
the Eastern cities. The n essential 10
money and if the superintendent Is supphed
with that commodity there will be a still
further marked Improvement. The central
building should either be sold or renovated;
The shabby edifce used as the High School
would be improved by a irst-class fire and
several other buildings that are rented Tor
school purposes are better adapted Tor
barns. Notwithstanding all this, there is
not to-day enough room for the pupils, and
there are q number of children kicking In
vain at the doors of the school houses Tor
tuition, that should he freely at their dis.
posal in a city OF the size and wealth Of
Butte.
THE SCHOOLS
There are under the control OF Superln.
tendent Davis twenty-four schools OF all
grades divided as follows: Seventeen prl-
maries, five grammar and two high Ihey
are located in various parts OF Butte. walk
erville and Centerville, and the seating ca
pacity of each is tested.
The system, as organized by the Superln-
tendent, is an extensive one and compre-
hends for a thorough course twelve years
of study. He divides it into twelve grades
and three classes. The first O in the
primary department, the second fourth the
grammar and four in the high school. Ac-
eording to his theory one school year should
be devoted by the pupils to each class, Tor
no matter how precocious, he is averse TO
the system of ''cramming,' h a is too pre-
yalent in the public schools OF the country.
The total enrolment for the school dis
trict is lat, and on October ~ there
were reported in attendance 1882 pupils.
and for the month OF October a daily aver
age Lis. During the same month there
was added to the rolls the names OF 397
new pupils.
COURSE OF TuD
While using the prescribed text books,
Superintendent Davis is OF the opinion that
there is a better way OF educating than by
mere memorizing, and to this end he en-
courages and directs that from the prima-
nv grades to the highest, what may be
called object teaching, shall be utilized.
For instance, in the lower grades the ordl-
nary object teaching, the horse, the cat, the
apple, is used, and in the higher grades. the
newspaper, with it's fund OF information, Is
introduced, and the maps and globes
brought into requisition and the pupils re-
ouired to show the exact locations OF the
stirring events of everyday life in all quar-.
tiers of the world. The above is only used
as an illustration, but the idea is carried
out in all branches of study.
As evidence of the complete system now
in vogue it may be mentioned that the
course of study is divided into four genera!
branches-language, numbers. natural and
miscellaneous. These in turn are divided
as follows: Language into conversational
reading, writing, spelling: Numbers-all
the rules in arithmetic. Natural science
lessons in plants, lessons about animals,
lessons about places, and lessons on colors'
Miscellaneous comprehends lessons in
drawing, singing. personal habits, cleanll-
ness, general conduct, politeness, truthful
ness, chaste language, unselfish feeling,
physical exercise, free gymnastics and
marching.
.. Tbs abayel Hit OF Dastt" 49ikss:y sT@ Of course rise
varied according to the status of the class,
and in the higher grades the languages, the
higher mathematics, geometry, chemistry,
geology, zoology, rhetoric, physics and lit
eratlre are taught.
HOW IT WORKS.
As an evidence of the care taken by the
superintendent in instructing his teachers,
the following rules prepared for the guild
ance of those in the eighth or highest class
OF the grammar school, will be OF general
interest:
Grammar. Text book used. Routine
parsing reduced to a minimum. Gram
NAUTICAL work should be largely in con-
nection with the careful study OF suitable
selections, with special attention to the
thought and expression Of the author.
Reading, The Fifth Reader used. Works
OF the best authors read, selected accord
ing to their influence in producing purity,
strength and energy.
Writing. Composition in connection
with general lessons, with careful attention
to writing, spelling, punctuation, capitals,
expressions, etc.
Arithmetic. Taxes and duties on i'm
ports. Equation OF payments. Ratio
and proportion. Partnership. Miscel-
laneous problems. Generalreview. Natural
science. Physiology; carefully applying the
principles, pass from the seen to the I'M
seen and from the easy to the difficult;
teach the subject according to the following
scheme: skin, qualities, structure, use,
care, muscles, same; bones. qualities,
at ends, depressions and ridges on the sur
ia re Then follow a. njlmhQr nj nfhpr
minor points, and the instruction that, in
all cases, there shall be an exhibition,
either by charts or bones.
Geography. Work with the text book.
Asia and Oceanica taken. A thorough study
of the United States and Canada is taken.
United States History. Study with text
books to W~ashington's administration;
topical study with familiar conversations;
information sought from all sources; his
torical poems, stories, ETC.; illustration by
pupils, maps, etc. Places always located.
Miscellaneous. Work in music and draw
ing graded in advance OF previous work,
carefully following manuels. The study OF
occupations continued throughout the year
IA a basis OF written work. Trade articles
sold in the place; names OF those engaged in
trade; how goods are transported. Com.
merce, American ports of entry, principal
exports and imports. Hunting, trapping,
fishing, etc. The professions, preparation
necessary for each. Moral conduct. Prin-
ciples enforced BY precept and example.
MIXING OF THE SEXES
There having been considerable comment
on the part of parents regarding the seat
ing OF the boys and girls in adjoining seats,
The MINER representative made some in
quires on the subject. Superintendent Davis
frankly answered that the system prevailed
in a number of the schools in the minor
grades and met with his entire approval.
That the matter was entirely optional with
the teachers OF each class, and that the la.
dies who had adopted it were among the
best teachers in the city. By way OF ex-
PLANTATION be said that the rule had been
found to work we'll, That it was only ap-
piled where either a boy or girl were natu-
rally disposed to be mischevious when
seated with their W sex, but that great
care was exercised by the teachers in ar
ranging the enforced companionship and
that the results had thus far proven bene-
fetal. A mischevious boy or a mischevious
girl seated Immediately next to aquiet COM
panion of their own sex. would distract at
tention and prevent the good ones from
paying attention to their Studies, while un-
der the rule of putting a boy and girl to-
gether the natural bashfulness OF both
would prevent them from INDUCING in any
mischief. Prof. Davis said that in addition
to the care exercised in locating the chill.
dren under these circumstances if a parent
complained of it there was a change made