The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-02-24
1876 1869 1926

Children in private and paroehal schools
Children sa is IN fSafe aHS Schools about the age
Number enrolled between ages and H.. 1854
Number not enrolled between ages
Number enrolled between ages II and 81. A 2s9
Number not enrolled between ages II
ana 2l......+.. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. SOP
The greatest good Of the greatest number
should be the rule in the public schools as In
other public matters. To secure this, it is evident
to give the best education possible to the pupil
leaving school at from 10 to II years Of age. The
course should be complete, not in embracing a
long list OF studies which can be but mperfectly
mastered, but in embracing those studies only
which are OF most value for knowledge and for
education. 1t must be remembered that studies
are OF value in proportion as they develop and
discipline the mind. Studies which give mental
training are OF prime Importance and should re-
time in which to accumulate a knowledge OF
simple facts. 1t should be the aim Of school
WORK 10 deyeioP the mind, to make the pupil
him to think, to make him self-relianf.
The course should be well balanced There
should should be be-, a proper proportion of studies
giving knowledge OF those common facts which
all should know, memoriZing studies. But 10
should be remembered that these studies are Of
attention as is profitable, but they should not be
pursued in detail to the waste of time which can
be better employed, and Of effort which can be
Memorizng in its ordinary sense is not properly
education, but great deal of memorizing must
be done in school. There are two FORMS which
may for convenience be called verbal and intellt-
gent memOrizing. Verbal memorizing consists In
committing the text book word for word, In the
hope OF remembering it at recitation and examina-
ton. Intelligent memorzing consists IN study
ing, understanding and digesting the statements
of an author and making his wisdom part OF
ones own mental capital Teaching for marks
encourages the first form; good teaching the lat
ter We have heard pupils repeat verbatim
page of history, who, on questioning, did not show
any intelligent idea of theSubiect. We shall not
probably see any improvement in this matter un-
III less Stress is laid upon the marking and rank
ing system. The system OF stated written exam
nations with the resulting marks, is destructive
of all individuality in teaching and scholarship.
The marks do not by any means show the actual
progress and standing of the different classes
and pupils though assumed to do So A large
part of the present examinings and markings can
be spared with advantage to the schools We
could thus avoid much mental worry of teachers
and pupils, and by proper use of the strength and
time saved could get substantial benefit and pro
gress.
Probably the next great departure in commoz
school education ia cities will be the Introduction
OF manual training. Experiments in this direction
are now being made in various parts of the com
try with promise OF excellent results Further
experiments will doubtless show how this can ba
made prontable part OF common school work
D. ID. MCALPINE, for the Committee