Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-07-30

remain in the schools for such q short
time that it is necessary to improve every
N oment and to make use of the very best
means possible to secure their education.
This city stands at the political head of
this territory and should stand at the
head in matters pertaining to education.
An invitation is extended to persons
coming from eastern cities to make this
city their home and the first question in
any such case is what facilities are there
for the education of children. The tax
payer should be able to educate his
children without sending them away
from home. ...
This can be accomplished by securing
good teachers and by adopting good
system and improving it as opportunity
offers. With good teachers employed
and with the children sent to the schools
which their advancement in the course of
study will indicate MS the best for good
grading and the very best schools can be
had regardless of the poor accommoda
tions.
The character of the teacher determines
the quality of the school. 1t was the in
tention of the board that the principal
teacher, called in the minutes of the board
the superintendent, should devote por-
ton of his time to the work of supervis-
ion and general instruction in the prac
tlce of teaching by example in the school
room, but it was found that it was abso-
lutely necessary for him to teach all of
the time, which was done. This neces-
sity became doubly urgent when the
principal of the high school resigned and
left the whole work of the two depart
ments to be done by the so-called super
intendent. No one teacher could posi-
bly, do the amount of work necessary to
be done, to do justice to the pupils of
this combined school. The attempt was
made and the superintendent carried this
work on to the best of his ability. The
amount of money saved to the board by
this measure was 1875. 1t is impossible
for men engaged in the business of the
ordinary avocations of life to give such
attention to the schools as they deserve
; and every city has found it absolutely
necessary to employ some one of expert
= ence to study the wants of the schools, to
prepare young teachers for the work, to
! lay out the work and to assist those who
; are in need of help in methods of teach
3 ing. 1t is one of the duties Of such per
3 son to estimate and submit to the com
q mittee on teachers On estimate of the
3 number and qualifications Of teachers
9 necessary to carry on the schools sue
\ cessfully. In addition to this such per.
. son is and should be member Of the
- board of city examiners, otherwise the
whole matter of examination will go by
default and the schools consequently suf
fer. In order to secure even toleraby
> good work, it is necessary that some
! competent and interested person should
conduct examinations of the children
from time to time and thereby give uni
! formity and impetus to the work.
- 1t will require considerable sacrifice or
> the part of all to enable the board te
g carry on the schools and to get ont o.
y debt. But by the practice of the strictes
- economy in every quarter it Is believed
: that this may be accomplished without
;, impairing the usefulness of the schools
= Respectfully submitted,
ULYSSES T. CURRAN.