Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-05

Washington has for many years had sound
reason for being proud Of lis public school
system, which, BY many thoroughly qualified
Judges, is believed to be without q superior;
and not only was the system OF the best, but Its
application WAS so sensible and effective that
sven the extremely critical found it difficult to
suggest improvement. For some time past DR..
J. II. Rice, broad-gauged and clover peds-
gogieal expert, has, on behalf Of the Forum,
visited the principal cities OF this country and
some Of the Canadian cities as well, for the pur-
pose Of inspecting and reporting on the methods
By which the Youthful mind is being trained in
the greatest Of institunoas-the public school.
DR.. Rice has concluded his search and tornu-
lated his conclusions, and OF. OF them Washing-
ton ought TO extract good deal Of satisfaction,
for its schools are prominent among the few
that receive the doctors approval or the class
which Washington leads Dr. Rice says that it,
aim In the natural development OF the child In
AL his faculties. Ia these schools the teachers
ere guided in their work BY the nature Of
the child mind, the laws OF mental develop
ment- The laws Of psychology and not tbs
text book or the arbitrary will OF the superin-
tendent are the ruling force. ''In thus revers-
ing the order Of things" ne says, "the Amos
phere Of the school room becomes entirely
transformed The teacher who endeavors to
instruct in accordance with the nature OF tina
mind is Of necessity compelled to study the
child, so that she may understand him and
know how to minister to his needs. In
this manner a true bond Of sympathy
forms between the teacher and the child. The
attitude Of the teacher now changes from
that Of lord and master to that OF friend and
guide. She is no longer cold and harsh, but
loving and sympathetic, and the atmosphere OF
the school room consequently changes from
that Of prison or a factory to that Of re-
fined and refining home. . In these
schools education is regarded a science, and
the teacher is in search OF such light as viii
guide her in giving the child the benefit OF
progress. We find widely distributed among
the teachers truly progressive spirit, much
enthusiasm and desire TO learn" Attention
Is also directed to the fact that our schools
exert unconsciously favorable influence on
the moral character OF the child something
impossible it is asserted In such schools as those
of Baltimore. Buffalo, Cincinnati, New York,
Worcester, Milwaukee, Chicago and the Boston
primary schools. st. Louis is stigmatiZed
Is possessing the most barbarously con-
Quoted schools in the country. Touch
ing upon an important phase Of
local instruction Or. Rice says that ''in the
schools o, Washington. d. c., there is com
plete system OF manual training that does not
skip link from the kindergarten to the highest
class OF the high school, and many Of the
features Of this work excellent" The
schools Of but four cities said to be superior
to those of Washingto I, and they are Indian
apolis, Minneapolis. St Paul and La Ports,
Ind They classified because their su-
pe-intendents extend somewhat farther the
application Of tGe principle OF ''uniication,"
which DR.. Rice makes one OF his main tests.