St. Paul daily globe., 1892-06-24
A SCHOLASTIC vein.
Enjoyable Evening With the
High School Alumni
Association.
EducationalistS Give PERTH
nent Addresses on the City
School Systems.
Brilliant Reception at the
Aberdeen in Honor OF
Federal Judges.

School Alumni association is the larg-
est of any city in the land. The annual
reunion at the Metropolitan hotel last
evening was veritable delight. 1t was
an inspiring sight to witness so many
bright, intellectual faces, keen eyes,
and intelligent congress, and none the
less to listen to the sparkling wit and
CHEEKY greetings as the members met.
The attendance literally filled the
spacious dining room to standing room.
First came the typical presidents adj
dreSS-that of j. ID. Armstrong, OF the
class of 'S5-followed by the discourse
of Frank Longfield, of '92. They were
brief addresses. but full of pretty
thought, and the applause testified to
the appreciation with which they met.
Then came the election of officers, and
the staff for the ensuing year is:
Leavitt Corning, president; Robert Olds,
first vice president: Waller Cannon. second
vice president; Miss Mabel Austin, recording
secretary; Ralph Peters, corresponding sec
retary. and Thomas Neehausen. treasurer.
An excellent musical programme fol-
lowed, and next came a delectable
lunch, toasts and dancing. Miss
Leonora Austin gave all admirable reel
tation, Miss Birdena FarWell sang a
solo, and Harvey Officer Jr. gave a
piano solo. The president-elect intro.
duced Hon. John w. Willis, of the class
of '73, as the tOaStmaSter:
Mr. willis Said:
However embarrassing may be the un-
wonted task which am 10 attempt cannot
disadirm nor disguise the sincere pleasure
which experience in assisting at this most
delightful entertainment, and in introducing
the eliminating features of its captivating
excellence. The dramatic art of former days
required q prologue. prologue resembles
journalistic headlines which summarize
the narratives of current events which fill
the columns of q modern newspaper. Ban
Duets now require prologues; and the menu
provided for night furnishes one which
would entice an anchorite from his fast and
challenge the admiration of a symborite.
Banquets are readily appreciated both by the
educated and uneducated. Every person
here present would probably have acted his
part as well had he never entered the portals
of the St. Paul high school.
Prof. COrmen was introduced to
answer to the toast, 1.-The st. Paul High
School," He felt that the high school
is an Institution very dear to every one
present. and he advised the alumni to
think of what it had dOhe for the in
dividual and of the fact that the high
school is calculated to do.
A Scorcher for Critics.
Supt. Gilbert responded to the toast,
'tThe Schools of st. Paul" He said:
1 thought until few weeks ago that I
knew something about our schools, but l
have found that did not; had thought that
they were good. but have found that they
were. frightfully bad: instead of being
excellent they cannot hold a can
die to the old-fashioned red school
house regime. However. in the jndg-
ment of others than the people
of ST. Paul our schools stand well. Some of
the best critics in the country have visited US
of late and have complimented the schools
in no uncertain words. The high school has
contributed much more largely than any
other Institution in the West 10 the success
of the schools. The teachers are largely
graduates of the high school, and am proud
TO stand here among SO many of them to-
night.
The new administration of the scholastic
affairs found need of certain reforms.
Courses were behind times and these courses
and methods had to be entirely remodelled.
This process has been going OH gradually for
three years, until now they are as good as
can be found in any city and are constantly
sought by boards of education and superin-
rendents of other cities in all parts of
the Union has models for their own. But
naturally these changes met with opposition.
This opposition came from those chosen
peopie-those who were anxious to carp;
those who took Chinese YiewSthat what was
enough for their children, and
what the fathers did not have was poison
for the children, and a few of the teach
ers were compelled TO get out
of the rut into which theg had been running
along smoothly. First-class schools required
besides frst-class course of study frst-class
teachers. The board Of school inspectors
found that some of the teachers were not
firsEelass. A few had never been good, but
had been kept in their places by unworthy in
fiuences. and some had been good but had
lost their SAVIOR, and some were i'll positions
for which they were not adapted. 1t became
necessary to make changes Those who
were not suited to the positions they held
Had to BE Removed.
to other places-the poor ones had to be dis
missed. This is always the most painful
duty that school authorities can perform, and
l can honestly say that the school board has
shown greater consideration towards Its en-
ployes than any business house would do un-
der like circumstances.
hold that the public schools are main
tanned for the sake of developing children
into citizens. They are not an asylum for
the maintenance of INDECENT or decrepid
males or females, and every change in the
personnel in the teaching force that has
been made has been for the good of the serv-
ice; for the good OF the children, but these
changes have naturally met with opposition.
They are opposed, of course, by the teachers
themselves. who are affected, and by their
friends None think themselves failures,
and none should nor do their friends think
il possible that they can be. The opposition
of these people is to be treated with pity.
Another class of opponents is that of the
philanthropists. who think 1t pity that any
poor girl should be deprived of her place.
but do not think of the poor children whose
lives may be dwarfed by this same poor girl.
This third class of opponents or critics is
that of the politician, who is angry because
he is losing part of his political grip. The
only treatment for him is contempt.
make these remarks advsedly. No charge
has been made for personal or political rea-
sons; but charges have been made and must
be made. when the good of the children re-
quires them. and we propose to fight it out on
this line, and believe that we shall have the
support of all good people, and especially of
the graduates of the st. Paul high school,and
that with this support we will place the
schools of st. Paul at the head of any school
system in the United States. / am not
prompted to make these remarks by any feel
ing of anger nor any desire to answer the
criticisms which / do not consider worth
answering. The authorities of the ST. Paul
schools welcome honest and intelligent critI-
cism. We can afford to treat with pity and
contempt that which is neither honest nor
intelligent. / do make these remarks that
you may know what we are trying to do and
may be honest and intelligent critics"
+. g. lngersoll spoke for the city of
st. Paul, in the absence of the mayor.
He delivered fellcitious address, and
then Carl Taylor, a recent graduate, was
suddenly called upon to take the place
of Gov. Merriam, and he was introduced
as a future gubernatorial possibility.
He made happy speech, and was
loudly applauded.
The evening was we'll rounded off
with dancing.