New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-18
SCHOOL SYSTEMS COMPARED.
PRESIDENT ELIOT ON THE EDUCATION OF
FRENCH AND AMERICAN BOYS.
INEERroRITY OF THE AMERICAN SECONDARY
SCHOOLS POINTED oUT-THE CAUSES AND
THE CURE-AN INTERESTING DEBATE


INTERroRITT OF THE AMERICAN SECONDARY
SCHOOLS POINTED oUT-THE CAUSES AND
THE oURE-AN INTERESTING DEBATE
Providence, R. J., March II specIaD.-At the
( monthly meeting and dinner Of the Commercial Club
of this city last night large number of prominent
educators were gathered TO discuss and TO listen TO
discussion educational topics with special regard
10 the relations existing between the functions Of the
grammar school and the university Three presidents
of coleges four professors Of Brown University, the
State Commissioner Of Public Schools, the City super
ntendent Of Public Schools the Mayor Of the city,
and Senator Aldrich wero among the guests. After
the dinner H. W. Ladd, president Of the club introduced
President Eliot Of Harvard College. who spoke sub
| stantially follows On Secondary Education In
America and France: o..
have no doubt that this subject was given me
American secondary schools could be and should DO
s s n BY and 0 dsa French
secondary schools That comparison proved that tho
s sxern on &c me p %Prs Of s s %
PRODUCES them earlier to serious subjects. and e gen
sisht, tie american at thirteen The French boy BEGIN.
aS ssu sSd the sO&sRa =
Greek history the French boy begin, natural s5S h
Sstssr subjects: The, The French boy finishes ..sss
at s s single
subject touched In the American programme IN which
practice. but the prosramSo Of the Boston Latin
from 's0 tAirtsea a'1 70 eighteen Years Of age
gTamnss viii co&~ines any reasonable person Who
knows with what precision schooi programmes ere
rule much greater total attainment by the time
he is eighteen than the American boy has any chance
10 make, at the best American schools, by the
time he Is nineteen.
There IS no reason to be found IN tho nature or
quality Of the American boy as compared with tho
French boy for this great superiority OF the French
secondary school compared the BSsS ton schools
because the German gymnasa are decidedly superior
With sno our Schools would be- even more
The first Of these causes OF the nfcnority OF our
habiually entertain concerning the possible attain
| ments OF American youth. AS nation we are sup
have low estimate of the mental and moral powers
of our most fortunate youth; 4 single Illustration
elaborate course Of instruction IN mental and moral
philosophy, and gives to that subject nearly two
studies at nj that ago the writings Of several tde
greatest philosophers Of France and q IS he universal
in their yeees, called the year q phlIOSSPhy, BY
%0 ia q s srG cos q ao s INC
slider the Freshman class which averages nineteen
& n &c A. e S
| manner, and has deliberately excluded sll the IN.
s MAJORITY Of American colleges taSe up the study
Of mental and moral philosophy in the junior or
| two years old-and even then only in elementary
There seems to be desire on the part of we.to.do
/ parents to shield their children nom LABOR,
responsibility and carr They are con St1ad
that this prevalent underestimate Of the intnlsStnh
and moral force and Of the capacity t9r LABOR Which Which
| CAUSE of the inferlOrity Of our schools
Tho second cause of inferionty IS bluntly thiB-wo
schools teach their pupils more than American schools
l "a, YaafAfn m 10 MIN ~
our secondary schools much larger number Cd In
By every device witch loving intelligence can In.
vent smooth the path of their pupils 50 th9 they
On bad one In spite Of the familiar pgoverb, there
royal road No learning Sot,s s fS ssebs, snd
problem concerning the future Of high and normal
b how Tt to G RGs
me 10 depend in the long run. first OF, on REMOVING
paaiion Of public money for their benefit, and
secondly. on irnplantng in The minds OF thn.r
care as wen as that Of the state city One change
in public school policy VIII IN my opinion ultimately Ultimately
that one change to your candid consideration der Al;
part Of the benefit GeTSd dn ong hES ana
there is another part which accrues chiefly 10 the
them. It is right that the state. city, should
tribute largely 70 The support Of the PHnS nI jSa
ash stss Or s from se1s SUCH but
not also Right that the small proportion Of the popI
don TO Sh tSe common indirect benefit should
tribute 10 s support In my l Iag 20 n SSE PSO
ported BY ices Just As the French Ecee s.,i ARE
SsSVe The s0a pS sne mDd would be
ceased to depend entirely upon money raised sS Sy
tasaon and that g1S and smey SSn now Sec
ondiy the amount Of the fees would b an important
sS school soe Of d nG several hundred pupils
which would meet the cost Of valuable IMPROVEMENTS
| welfare ~ The schools would be greatly increased
II Is almost impossible to feel gratitude toward an
Du.s1 x Sh Sa Is svoWsSy for interest
Institution DO church ct. scS9 Se or inspire hpSP tSer
students with the greatest devotion In the interest
e ATs" hs Sesss contribute
In e yo who Ss have a. at sear Ss
SMn N SAYING tsas Of Il the community une IN wish
Ing not only to antan but to improye a he pnI
c high and normal sS ,spt ana smSIton and raise
the average level OF knowledge, intelligence ana cnAe
pres,aant r. v adams Of Cornell University, fol-
lowed ana spoke on Secondary Schools In Germany
and the United states" He began by referring 10
tho fact that tho German boy is ready TO enter me
university at about the when the American boy is
ready to enter college, It IS unquestonaby true he
declared that the preparaon Of the German boy has
been mnch more thorough and much moro compre-
hensive than that of the American The explanation
is found partly IN the greater efficiency OF tho Cor
man teachers and partly In the organization OK inc
schools All the teachers have haa thorousn uain-
! ing M. oplv an the subjects which they arc 10
teach but also in the art Of siyns %oSe and
| therefore Inc how fn going from one school 10 an
other goes into the new school with the same rsS am
velopment president Adams deprecated the I'M
Willingness sometimes found u Amsres ca % ,S prom N
Judgment there was no way In which the secondary
schools OF this country could be SO much improved
as BY general familiarity win inc ways Vi INC
secondary schools Of Germany. 49,. ,..,,,.o =,
Francis A. walker OF the Boston ihsn a g 1 0l
dustriai Edeatlons but prevented from attend
Ing BY illness President Robinson, o. bsown, to S
cation BY which young man could DO trained "
General Morgan. Of the Normal School, and Pro,