The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-21
The School Problem,

To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal
'Come let US reason together" and see what
of all the propositions now before the Board of
School Commissioners foy the purpose of reduc-
ing expenses will be the least injurious to the
schools and the public, for I believe that no re-
duction of expenses can be made without loss
to the public and the schools.
Among the most important suggestions is the
consolidation of classes in the grammar grades
so that every teacher shall have the maximum
number Of scholars. This will compel many pu-
pills to go longer distances across the city to
find the grades to which they belong
and is supposed to save $4,000 am in favor of
this net merely because of the seeming saving,
Of money. but because it will make room for the
steady increase in the throng of children that
are constantly applying for admission into our
schools. l believe that every room so vacated
will be filed by children of lower grades, and,
consequently, no money saving will be made.
Second, Comes the proposition to dispense
with the supervision of drawing; saving, 81, 500
This l am opposed to, because it affects IL. 700
pupils who are now studying drawing in the diff.
ferent grades in the schools. Drawing consider
one of the most important branches taught in
our schools, because, while it trains the mind
it trains the eye and the hand. / am also op-
posed to this proposition, because 1t reduces the
supervising force which is already reduced below
the point of the greatest efficiency and below the
point of economy.
The third proposition is the temporary suspen-
sion of the teaching of the German language in
the primary and grammer grades. which carries
with it the supervision of that study and will
Sc, 3l2. so. This am in favor of as the first
or second step in Gripping our schools. 1t
affects about 2 900 pupils who are thus receiving
special instructions in that study with
special teachers and special supervisor
RI
regular course of studies and to the
regular corps of teachers provided for the IL 600
children in the schools, and the dropping of
this study and of the special teachers in. that
branch will not weaken the teaching force in
any other branch.
The fourth proposition is to suspend the nor
NAL school, to which am opposed. First, be-
cause at best it is doubtful whether it will save
one dollar, and believe it will net, unless we
are willing to take inferior teachers. l believe
that school has paid its own expenses from the
start in the superior teachers ir has turned out,
who have served the city at price much
below the minimum that it has paid for their
education. But if it has not fully paid in dol
lars, am opposed to its suspension because it
would leave this city of 100, 900 people depend
ant on the rest of the State or on other States
for its supply of teachers to fill the places of
those who are constantly dropping out because
of sickness or because they are attracted by
more liberal salaries than we paw.
TIE gentleman who introduced this PROPOSE
ton says he thinks it will also lessen the number
now attending the High-school, suppose be-
cause it will destroy the hope of many who are
now attending that school for the purpose of fit
ing themselves for teachers. And he also pro-
poses in the same connection to reduce the salary
of the principal to such an extent that he thinks
we will lose the most excellent professor, who is
now at the head OF that school, and hints at the
possibility of doing without principal.
The most cunning enemy of our school system
could not devise q worse programme for us than
this: The destruction of the normal school
emasculates the system and leaves our city a
dependency rather than occupying the proud and
independent position she now has.
The cutting off of the principal Of the High
school, or a reduction of salary so we can only