The record-union., 1893-02-23
HALF-PAT SERVICE.
A Bad System in Our Schools
Sharply Criticised.
A Correspondent Points Out an Error
in the Sacramento Schools and
Pleads For a Change.

Eds. RECORD-UNIoN Monday night
the City Board of Education meets. 1t is
pertinent TO again direct their, as well as
that OF the public, attention to the wis
dom and necessity of doing away utterly
with one feature of the existing system of
school management in this city. Reform
IS needed, and has been urged and advo-
Gated for years by the City Superintend-
ent, Albert Hart, and by the RECORD
UNION constantly.
The present method of teaching in the
primary grades is indefensible. 1t is un-
Just 10 teachers worthy of the name, a
prolific source of worry-feeling, action
in the struggle for promotion; an en-
eryatlng influence that strikes directly
and with terrible force against defense
less little ones who gather TO be taught.
Briefly and clearly stated, the facts are /:
Inc pupils OF the first primary grade are
Taught IN the forenoon by teacher who
receives half-pay; the second grade in
structed in the afternoon by a different
Leacher working at the same price. such
asYstem multiplies political places, di-
Fldes the value Of services rendered, re-
suits in. discouragement to teachers and
undoubted injury TO the taught.
Education begins at the cradle. The
after. The hand which bends the twigs
IN the gardens and Fairgrounds OF knoWl-
edge cannot be too delicate in touch, too
nrm in control; the thought which guides
the hand cannot be TOO keen and sympa-
theuc, or too conscious of responsibility;
The heart, which necessarily pervades
pOth brain ana hand, must pulse with no
uncertain beats, or else the work of all
viii be faulty. The halliday, half-pay,
hslt-hearted feature should be abolished
III is in its nature machine work-not
merely valueless, but dangerous to the
point of being fatal in primary educa-
Cional methods.
In childhood impressions are easily
taken-as readily wrong as right, as
cheerfully muddled as clear. and there is
concensus of opinion amongst the
ablest educators of the age That, as far as
the spirit OF nobility i'll great profession
IS involved, stepping from the presidency
OF university to guide and instruct kim
dergarten graduates is actual promotion.
/ state tho idea strongly, because it is ful
of weight and meaning. To toss intan-
tile scholars about from hand to hand,
sometimes unwilling. sometimes incom
petent, sometimes perfunctOry hands, is
20 inflict upon them the undeserved
Dei1le forte ct Cli1rc of loss of harmonious,
central, controlling, progressive force in
forming and storing their minds.
There should be continuous sympathy
and confidence between teacher and class
each then strengthens the other. When
their relations are broken or erratic both
are rendered weak. Education on the in
stalment plan is apt to be defective. 1t
has been conceded throughout the civil
lzed world that the profession OF teaching
IS one of the highest character-one of
such lnesumable worth that even pen
Hioning Is advocated by many as worthy
10 follow faithful and completed service.
The emeritus professor ranks in the
minds OF those who contend for that
policy with retired Generals OF the army.
Admirals Of the navy and Supreme Court
Justices. They hold that it logically oc-
ours that mere temporary service in
teaching Is essentially permanent injury
10 the scholastic system.
About year ago your journal edi-
roUally wrote: 1t IS the uniform testi-
mony Of all tile best educators of the age
That The iRtantile grade should be placed
under the very best teaching capacity;
that it calls for the highest order OF teach
ing skll-not scholarly acquirement
perhaps, but certainly teaching art. We
have at command volumes of ESSAYS.
books and testimony from educators
throughout the country to the effect that
the higher rank Tor the teacher should
be, and IS in well-adjusted systems, that
which has its Office in the DEVELOPMENT of
jnfantile intelligence" The suggestion
has not been accepted. 1t is to be hoped
II will be.
Procrustes had an iron bed made to
suit his own exact Dimensions. When
ne found any one TOO short to lie upon it
ne stretched him out to tit; when any
other proved to be too long he cut him
down TO size. In either case the victim
died.
The illustration will serve. The chill
dren OF sacramento are entitled to treat
ment more merciful and thoughtful by
those who have the power to make their
educational trundle-beds. a ruthless
method with young children is a fatal
method. The morning glory will open
III all the splendor and fullness of its
beauty if permitted 10 quietly face the
rising sun; attempt to cross its nature bv
laying back lis delicate leaves with
fingers too confident, and it withers and
dies. X,