, 1892-06-21
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The Second Discussion Relative to
Improvement.

An Address by state superintendent
of schools BrYan--mr. Brint-
nalDs Remarks In Favor of
Physical Training of the Pupils.
The second meeting of the series for the
presentation Of opinions concerning mat
ters of educational improvement at the
Unitarian church occurred last Sunday
evening. After brief Introductory exer-
cises, State Superintendent of Schools R. |
B. Bryan was introduced by Rev. Mr.. |
Hoagland. Mr.. Bryan's theme was "Pub-
lie School Support in the State of Wash
ingtOn." He referred in complimentary
terms to the munifcent provisions that
the state has made for the support of its
schools, in setting apart for that purpose
nearly two million acres of valuable lands. |
But these lands were not to be sold all at
once. Only portion can be sold during
the first ten years of statehood and at
price not less than $40 an acre at any time.
Hence taxation must be resorted to for
school support until sufficient revenue
comes in from the sale of the lands set
apart.
At the session of the legislature previous
to the last, bill passed providing for the
levying of a tax for the support of public
education. The maximum rate provided
for was not more than ten mills per one
hundred dollars of assessed valuation and
the minimum not less than four mills per
hundred. But two days after this bill
passed, another bill providing for the rails
ing Of revenue was passed, which virtually
killed the former bill. This latter bill pro
hibited higher rate of taxation than six
mills per hundred with no limit as to the
minimum rate that might be levied This
places the matter of educational support
In the hands of the county commissioners
and prohibits them from leVying a tax of
over SIX mills, but makes no limit as to how
low rate they may fix. At the next ses-
sion of the legislature, in 189O.9l
Professor Bryan drafted another bill pro-
Yldlng for educational support similar to
the former one. 1t passed. But two days
after 1t met the same fate as its predecessor,
for another bill was passed which provided
that the rate of taxation to be levied should
not exceed six mills and making no limit
as to how low it might be. Br. BRYAN then
read tabulated accOuntwhi showed the
rate of assessment in different counties of
the state and the amount per capita of
school population thus secured The
amount per capita ranged all the Way from
three dollars to twelve. On a two mill
school tax Thurston county raises about
seven dollars per capita. "HoW much do
you consider necessary per capita for
reasonably ehclent educational support ?"
was asked. "About ten dollBrs, F." was the
reply. Mr.. Bryan characterized the pres
ent method OF educational support as Grim
lnal and appealed to the audience and the
public to help right the wrong at the next
session of the legislature. Mr. BRYAN said
the state university lands had already been
fooled away. The state university would
have to come to each session of the legis-
lature in the role Of a suppliant and ask
Tor an appropriation. He also referred TO
the expense which had been incurred le
galy perhaps, by the appraisement of
school lands. The sales in some cases did
not amount to the expenses thus incurred.
AT the conclusion of the address Mr. HOag-
land asked for a show of hands on the
question of supporting the ten mill
Tax law tor educational support by the
state, The result showed an almost
unanimous support of the proposed meas
ure. City Superintendent B. w. Brintnall
was then introduced and gave strong
presentation of the reasons for introducing
manual or physical training in the public
schools. He defined education as the de-
Yelopment and control Of all our faculties
physical, mental and moral He believed
physical training with reference to the use
of eye and Judgment in determining color.
size, texture, dimension, weight together
with the art Of manipulating and mould
ing matter according to thought forms,
was Of practical and intellectual value
That everyone should know how to drive
a nail or saw a board, no one would oues-
tlOn. Since most people must do manual
labor for their own livelihood and the
livelihood of others, why should not the
public schools help its pupils to be able to
earn living by doing useful work? The
great mass of practical people will not oh
1pot tn mammal training
without argument that it means practical
preparation for life. Neither will those
who stand for high mental training object
to the introduction of manual training. if
1t can be shown that intellectual develop
ment will not suffer. Mr. BrintnaU de-
clared that it could easily be shown that
manual training would assist a sounder
intellectual development and he presented
strong reasons for his position. Indeed he
showed thatthe introduction of hand train
ing would not be without moral benefit also.
1t would promote respect for manual labor
and cultivate taste for industry Be-
sides, in learning to do honest, painstaking
work, pupils would be by the same process
building up for themselves a sense of honor
and respect for truth. One advantage of
manual training is that it would tend TO
keep boys and girls, especially boys, a
longer number of years in school. He said
that only about two per cent Of the total
school enrolment took the entire course.
In other words, only two pupils in one
hundred graduate. A very small per cent
OF these are boys. Make the schools have
more bearing on a preparation for the occu-
patton and life which the boys have before
them and there will be additional motives
for them to remain longer in school. How
ever, Mr.. Brintnan favored the introduc-
tion OF manual or physical training in all
grades from the primary department to the
high school. Indeed, the kindergarten
methods are manual training methods
adapted for children. At the conclusion
Of the address Mr.. Brintnall was asked
what he considered the chief hindrance to
the introduction of manual training IN the
schools of Olympia. He rephed: "The
erection of high school building with
suitable provisions for the higher grades.
The lowest grades are already making a
beginning in manual training work" The
further discussion Of these Interesting and
important subjects will be continued on
next Sunday evening. County Superin-
tendent l.. r. Byrne will give an address
on moral training. In order to give time
for wider expression of opinion on the
subject, but one address Will be given.
Real Estate Transfers.