St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-03-10
Average

Madison, evening ......-... 1S9 JOB
Franklin, evening 119 80
Total .7.464 6,117
AS the result Of the semi-annual examina-
ton held during the last month eighty ne
pupils were admitted to the High school,
making a total enrolment for that school as
Shown by the preceding table of 321, the
largest number in its history.
The Washington school was closed on Fri
day, Feb. -, and its pupils. transferred to
the Franklin. All are comfortably provided
for there, with no over-crowded rooms ex-
cept in the lowest room of the first grade,
where double schools are necessary.
! have to report the resignation OF Miss
Jennie Rogers, principal of the Washington
school, to take effect at the close of the pres
ent school term, March q, and Miss A. NJ.
Hart of the Lincoln school, to take effect i'm
mediately.
Since the commencement Of the school
year ,056 pupils nave studied German, an
increase of 27l upon the number studying
last year. The resignation of Miss Ella
Scheffer, teacher of German in Lincoln and
Van Buren, schools. has been received, her
resignation to take effect at the close OF the
present term. In filing this and future va
cancies in this department, | recommend
that appointments be made after applicants
have been examined upon the following sub
jects: German composition, German gram
mar. German literature. English grammar
and theory and practice of teaching. Such
examination being in charge of the Commit
tee on German, assisted by the Superintend-
ent Of German and the Superintendent Of
Schools.
In accordance with the rules the evening
schools closed Friday evening, Feb. %. They
have been open ninety evenings and have
enrolled 760 pupils as follows: Madison,
40l; franklin, 800; Humboldt, 1919.
While the attendance has been less
than in former years, the results have been
on the whole satisfactory. The zeal of those
who were regularly present was commend
able aud the progress made was such as TO
indicate the success as well as the importance
OF this special effort to extend educational
advantages to those who are unable to attend
the ordinary schools. Taking into account
the additional amount received from the
state on account Of the increase Of our en-
rollment the expense Of the evening schools
is slight and the results are such as to war
rant their continuance during the win ter
months in future years as a part OF our
school system
READING AND SPELLING.
The most important subject in our course
of study is reading. Good reading is
both n means to Improvement in other
branches and an end to be attained worthy
of strenuous effort. Reading, spelling and
writing are the daily requirements of nearly
every one after school life is over, while
much that IS learned in school is forgotten or
its use rarely ever called for. The first care Of
our public schools then should be to see to it
that its pupils are taught to read and spell
well.
Rational methods should here be employed
and care taken that the instruction bC given
with a proper understanding Of the end TO
be attained. The basis of reading, at least
ms it should be taught in the public schools,
seems to me 10 be comprehension Of thought
Silent reading is nothing but gaining thought
from the printed page, while oral reading
adds 10 this comprehension, at sight, OF an
authors meaning the expression Of 1t in
such way that q listener may In time I'M
derstand Artistic reading would, perhaps,
include the appreciation of emotion and
feeling and its expression, but this side Of
the subject has to do with the elocutionist
and may be almost ignored in planning the
work of public schools, because, in the first
place. IL pupils clearly understand what they
attempt to read, matters of expression will
largely take care of themselves, and in the
second place not one out of hundred OF our
pupils has 4 taste for or will ever have any
occasion for other than what may be called
intelligent reading. Any instruction
then in reading based upon imitation of
the teachers manner or that does not re-
cognize as the fundamental rule that pupils
must have the thought before they are called
upon to express il is not in accord with the
plan for teaching reading in our schools,
We begin in the lowest grade with the
word as the unit, aud teach word by word,
combining words into short sentences, until
pupils have acquired a vocabulary, and then
teach them to fud out new words By means
of known sounds of letters which are sssoci-
stcd with tue printed characters. The school
reader is then taken aud sharp distinction
made between laboriously calling the words
an succession and reading. Reading Is an
exercise TO be permitted only when pupils
know every word TO be read at sight and the
meaning Of the sentences before them
When they are notable 10 express the thought
on the printed page il is taken as an evil
aence that they are not ready for the exer-
else, snd difficulties are resolved and the
meaning Developed before they are again
allowed to try to read. In this way.
with sentences COntAutpE ouiY known
words pupils are trained to read as
well when they are first called
upon as after many repvtitions. All through
the grades there is the same attempt to train
pupils 10 thiuE. to grasp ideas in their proper
relstious, and 70 do so at sight To this end
they are required to select the main thought
Of sentence aud the relation Of ali the other
parts to The main thought, aud to one another
ls shown. The meaning OF paragraph Just
read Is often required OF 4 pupil. without
allowing him 70 re-rcad il silently, TO help
him TO better understanding.
The use OF a given injection IS always re
ferred TO the expression Of the thought and
not 20 any rules upon the subject By such
training the endeavOr IS made 10 make read
lug a thoughtful exercise for pupils and 10 DO
away with the calling Of words which are
witaout meaning o. relation as far as the
rssder Is concerned
In addition there Is the attempt 10 ealti-
vste the reading habit among pupils 70 give
them love for good reading thst wiIl be OF
Great value 20 them in their future life L
i necessary for children 10 rsSd great deal
IN seGGire that facility Of express
xiou which wiz enable them 10