Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-02-21
DIsooRD IN SINGING.


Teachers who Could Not Conscien.
tioasiy and Would Not yote 80
Endorse Prof. Btii,s Ridiculous
short Route study OF Vocal Music.
There Is q pretty how de do" among
the teachers of the public schools IS .
consequence OF the attempt OF Prof. ].
O. Bill to teach them his quick-irip sys.
tenn of vocal instruction. It oan not be
said that the attempt has been successful
while there 10 evidence to show that moth
ing material will result from the expert
ment except agitation. Ths teachers are
discussing nothing but this question, and
the amount OF opposition which has do
veloped Ia remarkable, considering the
short time In which the trouble has had
time to develop. This climax was
reached on Thursday afternoon, whom
Prof. Bill delivered the last of his les
SONS to the teachers In No. / school. The
instructor devoted the allotted tins to
explaining his system and as compli-
msnt to his efforts Prot. Berlin of the
high school offered resolution thanking
Prof. Bill. After expressing recogni-
tion of his ability to teach vocal music,
the resolution continued by expressing
Aub ttlNuhb Va ln6 tDtbutth LIE ttuNtbb5
and the clearness with which he had sx-
pounded to them the manner OF teach.
ing music under the short cut method.
Prof. Berlin asked all who favored the
resolution to rise. A bomb could not
have created greater CONSERVATION than
the fact that 10 or 10 of the teachers re-
manned seated, and some OF them arose
when the negative side was put
Aprincipsl of primary school was one
ofthose who did notsupport the resolution.
She explained that refusal to vote Tor
the resolution was based on the fact that
she could not oonsoientiously vote for
that part of the resolution which seemed
to imply that she oomprehended the aub.
ject and was qualified to teach music as
she believed that she could not Miss Mil
Ter. principal of the girls department Of
the high school, said thet abe felt tlsat the
results of the lessons would be lost upon
Psof. Bili's departure and implied that
they had not learned enough OF the sub.
jeot to teach 1t and that the whole quss-
tion would go back to Its original posi-
ton as many Of the teachers were incom.
petent to teach vocal music without fur
Their instruction. Others expressed them
selves similarly.
TIE outcome of the matter 10 not yet
apparent. When the subj sct Ia discussed
in the B ard OF Education, there will be
wide divergence of opinion.
The Hp rit of opposition to Professor
Bill manifested itself In an emphatic way
way at the first lesson. His manner was
anything bnt pleasant, and his bearing
| was said 20 have been as offensive as his
| proposition TO teach music In 80 few les
sons is ridiculous. He even lacked the
tack 20 put his pupils In receptive
mood, but conducted himself in manner
which induced the teachers to resent his
conduct as ungeltlemanly.
Said one OF the teachers: nHe seemed
to treat us as though be were very con-
descending in going to the tronble Of
teaching us at all.n The adj .etives dis
| courteous, oyerhearing and others were
also applied by several teachers to de-
scribe his conduct. Apparently, hia
actions seemed to indicate that he con
sidered his work rather disagreeable and
that he waited TO get through with II as
smoothly as possible, and did not want
to be catechised too much. He expressed
the latter sentiment on one occasion when
he thought that he had been asked enough
questions.
That the result of the whole experiment
Ia unsatisfactory goes without saving,
No teacher CLAIMS that Prot. Bill does
not understand his subject, but, on the
contrary, all are unanimous that be
qaamR. te r-rp~ - r-.s.+,- MUS i. II,
teachers, however, cannot foiloW the 10
structlons which they hsva reosived
lacy claim, plsusibly, tnst the instruc
ton was not sufficient to give them
comprehensive idea OF the subject whil
many say that they are totally inoapabl
OF teaching music because they have no
the slightest gift In that direction.
All the teachers who were seen sale
that they would make an effort to teacl
the pupils but the most of them despaire
of the results. The teachers have eao
been provided with pitch tdbe and vii
devote q short time each day to vocal In
structions. By the time the Board o
Education meets again on February 25th
the matter will have been thorough
aired and some decision may be reached
The teachers themselves want to hay
special instructors for music lessons br
claim that they have as much on nan
as they can possibly do.
Prof. Bill visited several Of the school
Friday morning and save instructions. Fl
realizes his position and has expressed
desire to rsturn in April aud continue hi
instructions SO as to be able to prove tht
he could accomplish what he had prom
lied.
A member Of the Board of Educ alto
for come years said Friisy morning: 81
ar outrage on our teachers, meaning th
putting of additional work upon thel
when they are already very busy, in ia,
rushed. He laughed OF the ridiculou
ness of the short route system, and col
kidered Prof. Bills manner unpleasan
He stated that Messrs. Bailey aud Pyle
the school board were responsible for Il
experiment which cost the city $400.