The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-01-01
SECONDARY SCHOOLS
Recommendations of Great I'M
portance to Teachers.
Report of the Committee of Ten APP
pointed ~ the National Education
al Association in 1892.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 31.-The report of
the committee of ten appointed. by the
National Education Association at sara
toga in the summer of 1892 to make an in
veStigatiOn of secondary school studies in
the United States has been transmitted to
the Secretary of the Interior. Commits
sioner Of Education Harris p~ronounces 1t
the most important educational document
ever published in the country. 1t is a
lengthy presentation of the re-
suit of u careful examination
of the whole field of secondary educa-
ton as conducted in private academies and
public high schools. Nine subcommittee
were appointed by the main committees,
each being devoted to one subject of the
course of study in secondary education.
The ninety persons appointed on these
subcommittee represented all sections Of
the United States.
The results of the meetings Of the nine
subcommittee held in December, 1892. are
reviewed in detail, and the remarkable
unity of opinion in the discussions COM
mented on. AT these meetings proper linn
it's of subjects of instruction in secondary
schools, best methods of instruction and of
testing pupils attachments were considered,
and numerous commentators made in
the report embodying the con-
ference report. The Greek conference rec
ommends that the average at which pupils
now enter college be lowered, and that no
additions be made to the advanced require
ments in Greek for admission to college. The
mathematical conference that
the course in arithmetic in elementary
schools be abridged and only a moderate
assignment Of time to algebra and georne-
try be given. The conference on geography
report that too much time is given to the
SUBJECT IN proportion to the results Sc
cured. 1t that the early course
in geography treat broadly of the earth.
extending freely into fields which in later
years Of study are recognized as belonging
to separate sciences.
There II d tendency in all the conference
reports TO urge that their special subjects
pc taugnt at an earlier age than is now
practlced. II Is recommended that the eIe-
ments of botany and zoology be taught In
the primary schools; that systematic study
year of age. the first two years of study to
be devoted to mythology and biography.
and mat nature studies form an important
part. OF the elementary school course krom
the beginning.
All the conferences on foreign languages
agree that the introduction of two foreign
languages in the same year is inexpedient.
ana insist on practice in reading the for
ei%h ianSua$e aloud, on use of good En-
SiiSh IN transiatinS, on practice, on trans
lation at sight and in writing. All the con-
fcrences OF scientific subjects advocate
N'C a. tDE DeSI lCcll Oh ln-
structfon, and dwell on the utility of the
properly used laboratory note book.
Tie conference on English recommend
that the study be pursued in high schools
during the entire four years, assigning an
hour n week in the third year to rhetoric.
Thc committee assign a standard OF four
periods a week to each of the nine princi-
pal studies. The report continues: Ninety
eight teachers intimately concerned with
the actual work of American secondary
schools unanimously declare that every
subject which is taught at all in a sec
ondary school should be taught In the same
way and to the same extent TO every pupil
so long as he pursueS it, no matter what
che probable destination of the pupil NAV
he or at what point his education is to
cease. For all pupils the allotment of time
and the method OF instruction In a given
school should be made TIC same year by
year. 1t has been q very general custom
in American high schools and academies
to make up separate courses of st;ldv for
pupils OF supposed different destinations"
The principles laid down by the confer
ences will, if logically carried out, make a
great SimplilcatiOn in secondary school
programmes. In order TO introduce the
changes recommended teachers more highly
trained Will be needed in both the ele-
fnentaTy and secondary schools. The com
mittee believes much would be gained If
in addition to the usual programme hours
a portion of Saturday morning should be
regularly used for laboratory work in the
scientific subjects.