The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-24
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.

-~~~~~AA$ssS
Schools?
To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
What policy shall dominate our upper schools,
shallowness or thoroughness9 The immediate
occasion of the reopening of this important
query is the action of couple of our colleges.
These two schools are within the circle of what
may be called reputable higher schools in this
State. They do not belong to the number of
schools, foundin no other State in the Union, as
here, which care nothing for the kind Of work
they do, but only for the numbers they draw
and the money they make. The latter class are
the business enterprises which dub themselves
normal schools and business institutes.
The recent action of these two reputable
schools is this: The one sends out circular
announcing that its professors will scatter
themselves broadcast over the State to work in
teachers institutes, free of charge; the other
that it will organize whitewashing institution
commonly denominated summer school" for
the purpose OF coaching weaklings who could
not otherwise enter its preparatory school, It
is the duty OF some one to raise his voice against
the policy which is behind these two individual
acts The motive is bad one. These schools
want to get ahead of some other school in point
of numbers. They have descended from the
proper plane OF the school and even of high and
honorable business, to the petty advantages and
sharp practice of the wheat pit, the pork deal,
and the bucket-shop. They will speedily drag
all the other reputable upper schools of this
State into the same policy and practices. The
latter will be compelled to adopt this policy and
practice in self-defense. There is absolutely
nothing wrong, if they have the time and
strength in the professors of these colleges Tail
OF them) going broadcast into teachers insti-
tutes to work. On the contrary, both professors
and teachers would be benefited by the contact.
But, as said before, the motive is wrong Not
only this. but the suggestion came from an IN
nj nv II tod Az 50
abnormal schools. previously mentioned. Their
professors" loudly professed to be full to the
brim of the true normal "idee" and to be able to
fill the teachers of institute full of the same.
80 eight or ten years ago they began to run
hither and thither over the State working in
teachers institutes, for the public good-of their
pockets. At the same time they incubated the
summer school, which has grown by what it fed
upon until it is like 'jimson" patch run wild
The summer school, run to excess. as it is here,
IS an evil, because it keeps hundreds and thou
sands OF young people from better preparation
and education. We do not want or need more
work In this State The quantity is all that is
to be desired under existing conditions What
we need is better quality in the work of our up
per schools. Our colleges are mainly, doing
high-school work instead of true college work.
So long as this is the case they would better
give their attention to quality instead ct GUAM
Cty There is not an upper grade school In the
State this minute but what has more students
for Every student college takes over its real
capacity vitiates its instruction. gives too much
work to it's teachers, overloads it's classes with
numbers and debilitates its discipline.
Our colleges are lacking in thoroughness.
This is their greatest deficiency. They have
students money, apparatus and departments in
abundance. curriculum on paper is only
remote condition of thoroughness. We have
plenty of thoroughness on paper. The pripci-
pal conditions of thoroughness are these: I.
IN a licf uvh m tar n
their lines Of work. 2. Sufficient time, by
teaching few classes ner day. say not over three
hours each day, to allow the constant working
no of fresh matter and to allow of an elastic and
vigorous physical energy. Anything of work
more means routine and grind utterly devoid of
any originality and inspiration. g. Glasses
sufficiently small to allow personal work with
each student on the part of the teacher. 4.
thorough preparation OF the student for the
work before entering on it.
Now it is respectfully submitted lif the new
moves of these two colleges are not intended TO
counterfeit every one Of these conditions Men
who wear themselves out through twelve
months labor per year will not long be skilled
experts, if they skurry round from the calculus
to the multiplication table and back again
More pupils mean more classes to the teacher.
less time for the teachers preparation. and a
general letting down of work. Active compe
tition will lower the standard of entrance. swell
the size Of our college preparatory schools and
vitiate the work generally. The evil effects of
poor work in our upper schools permeates all the
lower ones The upper schools set the tune for
the lower ones. Our college professors can do
more for the cause of education by staying at
home, perfecting their work, freshening them
selves. and otherwise seeking the conditions for
thoroughness, than by any amount of miscella-
neous Institute work or any number of summer
schools. The greatest good can be done by
these professors this is true of ali the colleges
of the State) at home in their regular work.
SILEX
GREENCASTLE April %.