St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-11-23

in the care with which it provides for
the training of the educators of its
young. When, thirty years ago, was
child, almost any old woman could,
and hundreds did, teach school, for the
reason that 1t was for them the nearest
way to earn a living. Many of these
women could not solve a problem in
long division, and knew nothing of
was as far behind the present
system of teaching as the coach
of stage fame is left by the railway. In
those days it is doubtful If third of
youthful England was in regular at
tendance at the schools. But since
then, prestoi What change. In Eng
land and Wales there is provision for
5.46S, los children in the public schools.
Upon the registers there are 4,779, 903
children. More than four and quarter
million children were examined by her
majesty's inspectors last year. The
children have to pay school pence
each week in most places and pay
nearly SlO,000,0O0 in the large towns.
This will soon be thing of the past.
Free education is the programme of
party which will no doubt be in the
near future victorious all through the
land in this particular. The govern
ment grant, which is in all cases given
for results, was almost ST for each
scholar in attendance at school, and
ID, 434 teachers held government certifi-
Gates to teach, and did teach last year.
This is exclusive of the pupil
teachers, who are learning to teach, re-
ceivlng pay and gaining an experience
which is invaluable. The training col
leges for teachers have yearly attend
ance of about $500 students. There are
very many teachers who have not the
advantage of college course. The re-
form school for bad children is being
thoroughly tried, so far with excellent
results. OF these schools there are fifty
three now iii operation. There are
about $4,000 boys and over 5000
trial schools. The day industrial
school is separate from the other; 1t
looks after during the day children who
are very poor or neglected, rather than
criminal. Breakfast, dinner and supper
are provided. Female teachers have
charge. One of the brightest pages in
those of the education of England is
that which tells the story of this work.
1t is not to be thought that work of this
magnitude has been done with
out a good deal of friction, noise
had many minds. The obstruction
of popular, thorough education in all
elementary parts of such knowledge as
is of universal use, has come from what
for want of better name, may be
called vested interests. The parents,
i'll many cases. have resented the the
DRY of compulsory education bill. The
clergy, who have had control of the
parochial schools, have fought against
the school board system which
has placed the education of the
Oh, -, -
men elected by the people. In my judy
ment this has been a great mistake.
They could have done immortal service
by being champions of thevery best ed
ucation which could be had at the pub
lie expense under public authority and
supervision. They would have done
more 10 strengthen the church than all
the parOchial schools have ever done.
The religious aspects of education
have not been in the practical wording
of educational matters, such a perplex-
ing one as we should have proposed.
The men who have most imperiouSly
demanded dOgmatic religious teaching
as rule in all the districts in which
school boards have been founded are
few. The men who have demanded
that the Bible and all religious
| teaching be cast out have not
made much progress. In most of
! the schools. Bible reading is the rule.
In many there is an examiner in Bibli-
| cal subjects, which is. however, con-
fined mainly to those things upon which
men generally agree. Even Prof. Hulk
| ley will not consent to the casting out
of the Bible from the education of
youth, and maintains that, whatever
view we take of its inspiration,
it is wonderful production,
with stories too rich, racy and
rare TO be kept from the children
| The truth is most of. the educational diff
| ficulties would settle themselves, or
soon be settled by the experience and
wisdom of the persons whose interests.
next to those of the children, are most
important and vital, the parents, if they
| could be left alone, free to do as
appears to them to he good; but
there step in from time to time
| educational doctors, who must pre-
scribe. What these men lack in
numbers they make up I'D noise in i'm
| putting base motives to earnest and pure
minded men. Thus the whole subject
of education is kept in a state of fer
ment and unrest. The best results are
not. cannot be gained; but even in the
worst view, good is being done by it, for
that which is assaulted and cOntended
| over earnestly is kept constantly before
for men do not give profound attention
and great effort to that which is of no
| worth.
do not think the elementary educa-
ton in England takes in as -Sany sub
jects as our schools do ia EGMerica. 1t
appeared to me to be in a narrower
| groove. But l think it as thorough as far
as it goes. One Of the much to be re-
GREETED conditions of work under which
an able school teacher labors in England
is that he has to see his pupils leave
him at an age when he could do them
the most good. All he can hope Is that
he has been able to place in the hands
of his scholars the golden keys which
for him open the halls of knowledge.
1t is, alas! too often forgotten that it is
not what is learned at the school which
is the chief end of school life, but
that which teaches US how 20 learn.
This is more and more every year fell
by the very best educated in all Eng
land. In the light of it, and of other
well-Observed and understood facts,
they object to the pay by tabulated re-
suits, as is nOWthe case, with the money
granss made by government. The well
| understood principle of direction of
tendency, ought.tO come in. How many
BOYS there are not glib of speech or fluent
with a pen, and hence cannot put in
form of graceful or even of accurate
words, what they know upon any sub
ject, and so do not gain-giants whose
very slowness, so it has got right turn
and direction, will make them powers
for good. even noble service, in the
world. Hence 1t is said the pay
from government ought to be
on lines Independent OF results.
All the energy,in the education of youth
ought to be matter of profound con-
graduation to the clergy of every name,
for God is God of knowledge. The
Christian religion in its very deepest
principles means knowledge, and if the
education OF the heart can be kept on