New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-19
NEW FASHIONS IN TEACHING.
AND THE PRIMARY TEACHERS APPEAL

TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: I read with no little surprise the appear Oh
the primary teachers 10 the Board OF Eoucauoh io
instruction in new methods Of study New 10TH
has already long list Of remarkable public olhcns'
and to this list must add the honorable oodS HIGH
toned above II ii true that it so little compre.
bends its own functions TO project a scheme OIL
Study that throws into helplessness ana CONFUSION
majority Of the teachers in any one grade aaoed
must be. Possibly such a board might make an
excellent mayor, or even godfather Dut rs d
guide to teachers it certainly seems failure
The appeal" itself is a little singular, implying
that there fashions, styles, modes IN 'eachns'
which may be picked up in the shortest possible
timen and put on or of with the season. Is there'
would ask spring style of teaching botany for the
year 1890 and have we Just discarded the Winter oI
1850 fashion OF introducing elementary geometry !
What form is teaching assumingl Is IL proiession
trade craft craze" makeshift! Is tnere PaVo'
process by which teachers may become sklinui III
mlnistering to the needs and capacities OF the huah
beings intrusted to their carel No one to-day denies
that the teacher has need Of special preparation put
this is not obtained in few weeks. 1t lies hrst anu
chiefly in broad scholarship, accurate mental training
and professional preparatlc Eof the scientific type II U
teacher IS no Pc more as ' do those Who become
cessful in law, medicine and theology Cnaises ar
being wrought IN the application OF all scchcvs,
but from long and conscious study, true artists are
able to adapt themselves to these changes Ia s
the physicians lawyers OF New.fork deinaha UNI
the public TO afford them at instruction that tney
may defend the body from disease or secure to man
rights or liberty Practically they made sucn an
appeal, but it previous TO entering upon ther
practice and not while drawing generous salary
from an already overdrawn public purse. Inc Glg,
nifty prcrogatves and privileges due to teachers an.
The professlon can never be secured by any such
wall as was sent to The Tribune May g. Teaching
can never be protected from the trade aspect Dy
demanding few weeks training In device or method.
Teachers should be furnished with approved netnS1
of instruction but to supply these without careful
study in the scientific principles upon WIicm Hey
rest is to Mechanic instruction and fctter routine
upon the schoolrOom. ,, A..
Pato's conception Of education was the giving to the
body and to the soul all the beauty and all the per
lection OF which they are capable. POSSIBLY teachers
able in some degree to carry out this conception might
have some influence with a board OF men ana women
who evidently believe in revolution rather than evo.
luton in courses Of study. Well may The tribune ADO
edtoraIly II is important TO make sure that teachers
understand the difficult and delicate business ntrused
10 their charge Richter in his Levana put III no
differently but more strongly when he said Let a
child be TO you holy. for by means OF the enid,
the short lever arm Of humanity, you set in motion
the long arm whose mighty arc you can scarce define
in the height and depth of time Do we In New.
York place the work OF education In the hsnqS oil
artists tinkers7 D. o. ~
New York, May H. 1890