The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-13
THE HIGH-SCHDOh INQUIRY.
Industrial Education and Physical Culture
Discussed by Teachers and Citizens.

Discussed by Teachers and Citizens.
The investigation as to the thing lacking in
our public-school system, particularly as regards
the lack OF boy graduates in the High-school, set
on foot by Mr.. Bamberger's resolution of ins
quiry. brought before the committee on High
school, at the School Commissioners room, last
night, goodly number of teachers and citizens
interested in this momentous subject
Professor Grant explained at length the High
school course of study, which he showed to be
by no means too great for the pupils. and ex-
pressed himself strongly in favor Of physical
culture and industrial education. He explained
that promotions were not made on arbitrary
marks of percentages, but more upon the report
of the teacher. He spoke of methods by which
pupils could be retained in the High-school, some
of which were already employed there Book
keeping is taught as q preparation for business
life which includes two recitations week in
penmanship and two reeitations a week in
commercial law, in textbook suited
to the capacity of the pupils He spoke
of the High-school as preparing scholars
for college The High-school is not blest with
facilities for physical culture; as soon as it is
possible he hoped such a course would be ar
ranged and place prepared for It. He thought
forty five minutes day. so far as the girls were
concerned, would give them the time needed to
make necessary changes in clothing, leaving
thirty minutes for physical exercise
The Professor was asked ii he thought phys
ical exercise would increase the attendance of
the boys. He replied that he thought the estab-
lishment Of industrial training would have a
tendency to keep few of them, and that Prof.
Emerich had said if business could be abolished
haI,l u HOY ho yoti int oh.
school.
Prof. j. B. Roberts said he spoke as citizen
and parent and would be pleased to see the in
dustrial feature incorporated and that it should
be taught by capable persons, and rather
educational matter than trade-a training of
the mind and the hands at the same time He
thought the commercial course did not occupy
time enough and should be more complete. He
wished the study of languages could be made OBJ
tional in the first year, and that Latin should be-
gin with the first year.
Prof. Hufford was of the opinion that there
was tendency to want to get through the High
school without too much work He thought
there was too large liberty in the selection of
studies by the scho!ars-too many elective stud
ies He thought the course weak in mathemat-
les Boys leave High-school in order to work
and earn money. Didn't see that they could in
troduce industrial education and make it COM
pulsory any more than make Latin and Greek
compulsory
Dr.. A. W. Brayton spoke in terms Of praise Of
the teachers methods at the iHigh-school
especially of the attention paid to chemistry.
He thought physical geography too heavy a
study in the place it now occupied in the course.
He thought English strong in the course and
mathematics weak. Professor Roberts carried
on a commercial. course for several years and it
was great success. Why it was abolished he
never knew. He thought we ought to be proud
of the High-school. Out of over a thousand
High-school young men, ne had never heard of
but one who had been arrested and put in Jail.
Miss Martin said the pupils needed to be inter-
ested. They could be melted to composition
and drawing Botany was good study They
could take trips to the country and see things
and be interested. In this way the school could
be kept up.
Mrs. Hufford thought the desire of boys to
make money and 60 into society accounted for
so many leaving High-school or not entering the
school She thought more time ought to be
given to the teaching Of political economy and
civil government
ton, thought the age Of fourteen years critical
one for boys, and that it required determination
on the part of parents and teachers to get them
through that period. The boy wants to make
boys. He believed in thorough commercial
course in the schools. and that education must
be suited to the requirements of the people who
pay for it.
Rev. o. G. McCulloch asked if indianapolis
was behind other cities in the number of boys in
the High-sehools.
Superintendent Jones said our standing among
the large cities of the country in that respect
was not unfavorable. The number of boys in
the High-schoo Is 1.6 per cent. of the entire en-
rollment of school children in this city. In Co
lumbus, o., it is per cent; in Cleveland. 1 per
cent, and in Milwaukee, IS per cent It is not
question to peculiar condition here. In regard
to the number OF pupils in the High-school boys
and girls, in proportion to enrolment of
school children, the following figures will show
that Indianapolis is at the head Of the list:
Evansville, 81 per cent: Cleveland, &c; Toledo
9; St. Paul, 33; Milwaukee. Ia; Chicago. %
3.9; San Francisco 80; Detroit, Al; Pittsburg
rs; New York city, 1; Philadelphia, L6; Boston,
AZ; St Louis, IT; Baltimore. A; indianapolis.
Ga
Rev. o. c. McCulloch said he would beg off
from course OF study that included political
economy and civil government. He thought in
the school grades before they came to the High
school the studies were too numerous, and the
children's memories were broken down. He
cited the case of his own boy, who, except the
time taken for lunch, and but little recreation,
was stuying from A. NJ to p
M.-this in the ga grade. He thought
it question whether the whole
system ought not to be reorganized. He thought
it defective both at top and bottom. The first
education before the children arrive at the school
age of six years should be according to the kin
dergarten system, and in the middle there should
be something like the German turning system.
w nat ne would ASK was the serious cOnSlQ0ra-
ton of the question whether our system is not
defective and the survival Of an old
age. Teach what will adapt boy
to take hold of the things of this life. Revise
the grammar schools so there will be greal deal
of singing and of drawing At the High-school
there should be special system of industrial
education to prepare a boy to enter Rose Poly
technc school or other schools of that character
Let us equip our boys better for the struggle of
life than now doing.
Austin 81. Brown thought the school course of
twelve years too long, under the present system,
and thought it should be shortened to ten years
at least. He favored Mr.. McCuloch's views.
Rev. R. V. Hunter thought Mr.. McCulloch's
views were good. He thought the bent of the
chids mind should be consulted in education.
The meeting then adjourned.
The Democratic Congressional Convention.