St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-05-10

or some other street."
Referred to Real Estate Committee.
From the Building Inspector
Calling attention to certain changes
made in the plans and specifications for
the new Lake Park school and quoting
requirements of the building Ordi-
nances.
Referred to Real Estate Committee
for investigation and report.
From billiard & Burton
Proposition to sell certain lots as a
school site at given price.
Referred to Committee on Schools, to
report on the ACCESSIBILITY of securing a
site in the locality referred to i'll the
proposition.
REPORTS.
From the Superintendent
ST. PAUL, Mimi, May 6.
To the Board of Education, st. Paul,
Mimi.
GENTLEMEN: 1 have the honor to
present to your consideration the fol-
lowing report of the condition and prog
ress of the public schools of this city
during the month of April, 1889.
The statistical portion of this report
will be limited to few items.
The number of pupils enrolled
The number of new pupils admit
ted is. s72
The whole number admitted dur
ing the current scholastic year
to May l is. Observation-Disclosures. Ia, 427
The whole number admitted in the
year 1887 and 1888 was . IL, 200
The whole number admitted in the
year 1886 and 1887. Is, 429
The increase from 1886 to 1887 was. TIL
The increase from 1883 to 1889 is. 1927
This is showing that must be graft
flying to all who are interested in the
growth of our city and our public school
system, indicating, as it does, that the
increase from May, 1888, to May, 1889,
exceeds the increase from May, 1887, to
May, 1888, by nearly 60 per cent.
The new system of testing the chill
dren's fitness for promotion is working
as well as could be expected for an in
novatiOn so complete and radical. The
first and most difficult task is the educa-
ton of the older teachers in the philOsO-
ply and theory of the new system. 1t
is by no means easy to convince teach
come to look upon mental power as
measurable in percentages. and to be
ascertained only from categorical an
swerS to set questions, that they are
wrong. The theory at the basis of the
new system is the same as that under
lying all true education.
The great object of education is the
cultivation of mind power, ability to do
mentally. The educated man is Supe-
riOr to the uneducated in that he can
use himself and nature to better adj
vantage.
II this be true, it is evident that the
true ground for the promotion of pu
pill from one grade to another is his
ability to do to advantage the more
difficult work. This cannot be esti-
mated in numerals, nor is the ability to
answer, either in examinations or in
recitatiOns, certain set questions. suf-
ficient test. But the wise teacher, care
fully observing the child's growth from
day to day. ought to be able to pass
mate accuracy. Il found teachers afraid
of this Judgment, seeking relief in the
use of class book, in which each reel
tatlOn received its numerical estimate.
This have prohibited. In the main
we are improving. and | am satisfied
that at the end of the year the results
of even this brief trial will justify the
change.
In regard to the Manual Training, l
beg leave to urge upon the cOnSidera-
ton of the Board the needs of the girls.
Certainly no knowledge obtainable by
the boys has more evident bearing
upon the physical and moral conditions
of the next generation than skill in the
arts and economy of housewifery on
the part of the girls. 1t is true. the in
struction in these matters ought to be
furnished in the home. 1t is equally
true that in large majority of our
homes there is neither the time, the
disposition nor the knowledge essential
to the imparting of this instruction.
People who do not themselves know
how to live of necessity cannot teac h
their children. The most elementary
branches in this department are sewing
and cooking, of which / consider the
latter the more Important, while the
formeris the easier for us to undertake
In certain cities, notably Boston.
much has already been done along
these lines. 1t would certainly be in
the interest of economy to possess our
selves with the result Of the experience
of others before acting. A suggestion
has been made by member of this
Board, which l earnestly urge upon
your consideration, viz: That some
bright Young teacher or training school
graduate be encouraged to go East and
acquaint herself with methods and
results IN other places. by the assurance
of position as organizer and director
of this work upon her return.
have one other recommendation to
make.
During the past year, many citizens
living in different parts of the city
have asked that the High school be
brought nearer to their homes. The
experience of other cities proves that if
high school facilities near home
be offered to the younger chill
bred, who have Just finished
the course of study in the grammar
schools, many more will continue in
school and receive the benefit of this
higher instruction. Accordingly, beg
leave to recommend that In at least
three of the grammar schools of this
city, one in West st. Paul, one OIL Day
toms bluff, and one on ST. Anthony hill,
branch high schools be established;
that the course of study in these schools
be the same as that in the first year of
the Central High school; and that stu
dents having completed this course be
received into the third class of the
High school, l also recommend that
this matter he referred to the Commit
tees OH High School and Schools, with
the request that they arrange plan in
detail, and present it to the Board at
its last meeting in May. Respectfully
submitted. Z. B. GILBERT,
Superintendent of Schools.
Received. That part referring to
branch high schools referred to Com
mittees on Schools and High School. land
the recommendations regarding manual
training for girls referred to Committees
on Schools and ON Manual Training
School.
From the Committee on Purchases and
Supplies
ST. PAUL, Mimi, May 6, 1889.
To the Boar d of Education.
Your Committee on Purchases and