The herald., 1895-05-08
Action Taken Last Night Upon
lDdividuaIiSm
SUPT. SEARCH'S ARGUMENTS
An Able Paper Read in Favor OF the
Innovation
The Board Of Education Holds an Interesting
Special Session. and the Vote
Is Five to Two

large number OF people TO the council
chamber in the city hall last night, the
gallery of the council chamber being pret-
ty well filled with the female teachers OF
the city.
President Hale was trihe slow in call
ing the meeting to orde', Directors Wills
and Bassett being abs ent when the gavel
fell.
The first thing done was the calling by
President Hale for the report of the COM
mittee having in charge the investiga-
tion of what is known as the ''individ-
ual' method of teaching. The re port
which was read is as follows
The committee appointed by the board
of education to investigate the individual
sytem introduced into the schoos of the
city of Los Angeles by Superintendent
Search. beg leave to report that We have
investigated the same and find that it is
unwise at this time to continue the sys-
tenn in our schools. and would therefore
recommend that the same be dscon-
tinued and that the su urerintendent be in
structed to return to the class system as
heretofore used.
What shall be done with this report?"
asked the president.
ust read" spoke up Director Grubb.
Il second the motion, said Director
Pittman.
81 move that the report be LAID upon
the table, said Director Garland
quickly.
There is no second to the motion, "
answered President Hale.
Here Mr.. Garland took the floor and in
an address lasting several minutes ably
defended Professor Search and his
method. ..Wkile this method may not
have been as successful in the lower
grades as had been expected it has GER
tainy not been failure altogether, and
| believe that the report here read tonight
is not the result of that mature deliber
alton to which the Importance of the sub
ject is entitled. Professor Search had
great deal of notoriety at Pueblo, Col,
where he taught this system, before he
arrived in Los Angeles. He does not and
never has owed his position to any politi.
cal influence. Whatever this report
means, l think there ought to be no final
action upon this suject at this time.
That is why have made this motion to
lay thissreport upon the table. ----s~.-.
Said Director Simonton In reply to
Mr.. Garland. l wish to say that large
number of parents are dissatisfied and are
asking that we return to the class system.
A large number of scholars are dissatis-
ned and there is much larger falling off
in the attendance of scholars than usual,
attributed to the individual system.
thereby losing large sum of money on
the average attendance. The individual
system requires more teachers and more
rooms in order to do the same amount of
work per scholar, thereby materially in
creasing the expenses. 1t is necessary
that the scholars be arranged in classes
and grades with regular promotions in
order to draw public money.
The new system is of less value to the
slow or indolent scholar as well as to the
timid, for they gain nothing from associ-
alton. Under the new system the dull
pupil loses whatever pride and ambition
he may have had under the old Every
report from other places where the new
system has been tried has been unfavor-
able.
The individual system is an extra tax
upon the teacher. so great that some are
breaking down under it, and the United
States commissioner of education disap-
proves OF it officially i'll recent maya
zine article.
Director Fulton made an able argument
in support OF the Garland motion to lay
upon the table. He thought the Search
system feasible and he himself could not
vote for the report made, AS in his opin-
ion the system had not yet had that thor
ough trial to which il was as an innova-
tion entitled
director Garland wanted all action de-
ferred at least until the end of the school
year. as the two directors absent would.
he thought, very much like to vote
upon the question at issue.
Director Garland's motion was lost,
the only two affirmative votes being those
of Directors Fulton and Garland.
Before the motion to adopt the report
could be put Director Simonton suggested
the calling of the roll, stating that ne
m Y tn 90 rd
Here Professor search rose to his feet,
and first taking up the charges and state
ments of Director Simonton seriatim, the
superintendent of the Los Angeles public
schools made verbal argument which
created. evidently, somewhat favorable
impression. Professor Search concluded
his adrdess by handing to Secretary
Dandy of the school board lengthy
typewriter document. full of strong
points in favor of the method which bears
his name, as follows
The misconceptions that have arisen III
this community concerning the inten-
tions and purposes of the present admin
istration, prompt me to interrupt the de-
liberations of this board by introducing
few fundamental considerations.
The question very appropriately arises.
What is individualism? The use of this
word in a totally different application
may lead to false estimation: but. edu-
looks to the more perfect conservation of
the personal interests of the child, not in
a sense of individual development with
out regard to true socialistc relations,
but for protection against unproductive
sacrifice at the machine demands too
common to mass education. Individual
ism holds that the school is for the child.
and must adapt itself to his personal
needs. The iron-clad mechanical regime
that conforms all endeavor to tvpe, and
that protects itself under arbitrary rules
and regulations. is q thing of lfeless in
efficiency; while versatility. adjustment
and accom- mmodation. requiring the mas
ter hand. are elements of strength and
power.
Individualsm contends:
First-That children differ greatly in
stages OF growth and in general physical
health, and in consequence should not be
equally and uniformly pressed. 1t takes
cognizance OF the fact that there is such a
thing as adolescence. and that all along
the line OF formative life there are days
periods and stages, for both boys and
girls, when there must be special accom-
dstion. 1t provides for the well child
for the weak chilo, for the sick child, for
the convalcscent child. When pupil has
been sick and returns to school GONZALES
cent and weak. should he be worked as
hard as others to keep up with his class.
and .1onblv so in order To make M what
he has lost? Most certainly not. Regular
ity in attendance is good thing, but not
days when a child may be better off at
home or in the sunshine than in school.
Tne fact that expert examinations in the
S.fb nf Init