Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-08

A shock has disturbed that intellectual por-
ton q the community which has been but
uttis .hott % idolatrous IN it, admiration OF
the pubic institutions Of learning located IN
III. cftv % Boston. Heretofore weaknesses In
public school tuiti1n have been apparent only
g. such primitive center- Of population a. Phil
slslfhia and Chicago and Wellington. but IL
you'd nos seem a. though the alleged hub
o. the h'srary universe gas defective in more
respects than one. But surprising this dis
cosery - % those Who have worshiped from
afar ~ must be only a iriie shor: Of psralyz-
ing within che classic territory Of Massa-
chusetts. 4 few months ago and the
High schools Of this city we're writhing be-
meath the Christening di-pen-aiion Of Bostons
comment that graduates u our highest public
institutions couli not without further enlght-
eminent enter The sacred precincts Of Harvard
That Young men moved from our institutions
O. the Military academy Al West Point and the
Naval Academy al Annapolis and at both these
place. eclipssd New England's pride was OF no
moment 80 long Fupii- could not be trans
fcrrcd from til and % streets directly to
Cambridgs. That Boston should begin NJ home
- rcformatory .auor- m respect oPublic school
instruction i the lesson taught by Or. j. VI Rice,
The psychological aud pe,iagogic expert, who has
been roaming around the modern Athens
AMI has published the results Of his investiga-
lions In the Forum DR.. Rice il thoroughly
Informed In respect 10 public school education.
Re has studied the subject az home and abroad
and not even supercilious Boston can contro-
vert his statement. or upset his conclusions.
After describing the mechanical. expressionlcss
anil ihoughtle.s character Of the teaching IN the
lower grades % the Boston schools. and stating
the evidences upon which his opinion Is based.
tbs careful Investigator congresses his dispas-
sionate conclusions into The following arraign-
mont;
Boston has for many wears had rare oppor-
tunitie-. ~ that. hal the proper progressive
spirit prevailed. Its schools might today
De in advance 81 all others in the coun-
try Judged BY their reputation il il not
At all improbable that they ahead in
previous wears. During the last decade how
ever. there has been a great educational revo-
luiion IN this country. nearly all the
good schools now existing having been de-
teioDed within that period. IL would appear as
n he Boston schools had during this time been
resting. meanwhile allowing the progressive
school- 20 run ahead Of them. leaving them
somewhere near the middle Of the list IL the
Boston educators fail TO wake up soon it il
move than probable that be fore another decade
ha- passed they viii ind their schools
among those at the cad of the list.
IL appears % me that they do not recog-
uize their uOsition. At principals meeting
! heard member sav IN substance that he
could not understand WHY people spoke so
much Il improving the Boston schools. as in
Lis opinion they were already good "a eie-
rlentary schools could be expected to be- At
thu same meeting I heard one Of the assistant
slperintendsnt- saw that the Boston schools
we're ahead and that thew must try TO keep
them ahead There certainly Is no greater
tarrier 90 progress than the feeling that things
are perfect. The sooner the Boston educators
recognize the fact that their schools can snfeIy
stand material advance the better will be
their chances Of getting them where they be-
Iong"
90 course Washington must not cease to labor
10 improve it, public school system because
cefects are discovered in other cities. IL must
rot endcavor any the less to remove the mote
from it, own eve because DIR. Rice says that
IOstons vision is obstructed b. beam.