The record-union., 1894-12-28
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
Review of Its Management During the
Past Year.
What Superintendent Erlewine Has to
Say in His Report to the Board
of Education.

Following is the annual report of City
School Superintendent Erlewine, SUBJ
mitted at " ednesday nights meeting Of
the Board of Education:
10 tie Hon. Board Of Education of the
city Of Sacramento = GENTLEMEN: |
herewith submit my first annual report
of the schools of the city of Sacramento
for the year ending December 81, 1894,
giving review of the work and making
such recommendations as to my mind
would turther increase their efficiency.
Soon after my election in February |
found it profitable to spend as much of
my time as possible in the clasSrooms. l
began this work by visiting all the first
grades first, all the second grades next,
and so on through the primary and gram
mar departments: and from careful eX-
animation into the work of these grades
j find, upon the whole, that they are etfi-
GENTLY conducted. L gave particular at
tention to government and discipline.
methods of instruction, status of classes,
course OF study.
GOVERNMENT AND DISCIPLINE.
Government and discipline in the
schoolroonl is of primary importance; it
Is equal TO, if it does not exceed, a thor
ough knowledge of the subjects TO be
taught. To govern a class OF forty or fifty
ability of a high order. a teacher may
possess all other qualifications in high
degree and yet be lacking in this particu-
lar, and on this account fail to reach a
high degree of success in the schoolroom.
There are TO be found among our teach
ers many OF the very best in government
and discipline; and it is to be hoped that
this board viii be equally fortunate III
the selection of new teachers. An impa-
tlent, nervous, irritable person is not
likely to make a successful governor of
children.
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION.
Our teachers have shown progressive
spirit in the art of teaching. They fully
realize that a change does not always
mean progress, and have not laid aside
that which has been proven success for
some of the so-called improved meth
ods," which tend more to confuse the
work than to simplify it.
Teachers are sometimes in error by at
tempting to teach too much and not re-
quiring the pupils to think enough. l
tlnd the aim OF most of our teachers what
1t should be-to teach the pupils how TO
study and think for themselves.
STATUS OF CLASSES.
So far SIS time would permit 1 con-
Quoted a review examination in each of
the classes in the primary and grammar
grades and found the ability of the pupils
work gone over beyond my expectations.
COURSE OF STUDY.
Our schools are to be congratulated on
the fact that the plain, solid fundamental
branches OF study that are so essential to
affairs in practical life, and which lay the
foundation Tor higher education, are not
pushed aside and the valuable time of
pupils and teachers taken up with ex-
perimental applications that cannot be
nrOn9rlV nD0arStOO0 withOut fun6a-
mental knowledge.
HALLIDAY CLASSES.
The rule for conducting the first and
second grade classes should be amended
at the earliest possible time. The pupils
of the first grade are dismissed for the
day at II o'clock NJ. The pupils of the
second grade are not admitted in school
until l O'Clock p. NJ. Thus for two years
these pupils are given, after deducting
the time 1or recess, but two hours and
forty minutes per day actual time in
school. These pupils should have at
least four hours per day, divided into
forenoon and afternoon session.
The plan that has been advocated by
some in the past that these two grades
should be taught by the same teacher,
teaching the first grade in the forenoon
and the second grade in the afternoon,
would in my opinion fall far short OF
bringing the best results to the child.
IL IL Is d8I66u LudL lu6 t6dCD0F SlOulQ
understand the pupils individually in
order to do the greatest good for them,
surely teacher can become better ac-
quainted with one class of forty pupils
than with two classes giving the teacher
twice that number.
furthermore it does not stand in the
light of the best reason that teacher can
do as good work who is under the strain
OF teaching six hours a day as the one
who teaches tour hours day.
BY the adoption of the plan that [ have
recommended for these grades and fixing
the salaries for teachers for samei so as TO
command good teachers and retain them
IN these grades, 1t is my opinion that this
board would be doing that which should
have been done long ago.
ELECTIONS AND PROMOTIONS.
would recommend to this board that
when a teacher is elected and placed in
charge OF class, except teachers of the
first and second grades, so long as the
halliday classes are maintained, that
such teacher be not changed to another
class during the school year for the sake
of promotion for the teacher. which
means the reverse TO the pupils. Surely
a teacher who has had the experience of
hye or ten years in presenting the work
OF grade and governing children at that
age is better qualified to do the work of
that grade than the work of another
grade in which she has had no expert
ence. Under our present system when a
vacancy occurs in some departments of
our schools four or five changes are
necessary to fill such vacancy, giving to
as many classes inexperienced teachers
in the work of these grades. But apart
from this it is well understood by those
who have had experience that it takes
about one month tor a teacher and class
to become well acquainted so that thew
can work to the best advantage, even if
the teacher has had years of experience
in the work of the grade.
HIGH SCHOOL.
Our High School long ago won its way
to public favor in this city, and has not
only continued to hold that favor, but has
been increasing it year by year, and will
continue 30 do so so long as such an
efficient corps of teachers as we now have
here Is retained. AS an evidence of the
increasing appreciation OF this school. /
call your attention TO the fact that the en-
rollment for 1893 was lS4, and for 1894 if
was 2l3.
NIGHT SCHOOL.
This school is doing much more good
work than Is generally understood. The
Instructions given in this school are TO
sanply the demands of actual necessity
which has manifested itself to the indi-
viduals irf% everyday life. There are to
be found among the pupils there men %
years old. " no had neglected their edu-
cation TO su eh an extent that when thew
entered thu school three months ago
could nei -sler read nor write You Will
also find there many bright boys whose
circum stances compel them to labor DUR
ing tie day. Many of these BOYS have
just such daily work as vii! call for an
application of the instructions they are
receiving at this school. The accession