The San Francisco call., 1895-12-18
A FATHERS PLANT.
School Methods That Are Running Chill
dren's Health.

dren's Health.
Ex-City Attorney Johnson has submit
ted a communication to the Board of Edu-
cation that will probably cause much dis
cussion. His letter reads:
OAKLAND, Cal. Dec 16, 1895.
To the Board Of Education OF the City Of Oak
Idnd-GENTLEMEN: AS a resident of the Seventh
Ward and patron OF the public schools OF Oak
land, respectfully direct your attention to
q system OF instruction which is now permit
ted in the Franklin Grammar School, and ap-
ply to your honorable body for the relief which
the exigency OF the case demands.
refer 10 the methods enforced there by the
learned specialist who instructs the pupils in
drawing.
He is, 1 regret to say, allowed to ride his uD-
bridled hobby at a reckless, child-killing
speed and exercises his particular privilege 10
lis utmost limit.
1t is time for some one in authority to call
halt and impose the proper and much-needed
restraint in order that the teachers in this
school may give fair proportion OF the
school hours to instruction in reading, writ
ing arithmetic and other important and
necessary branches of elementary learning.
Children in the lower grades, 9 and 10 years
of age, are required TO consume occasionally
the greater part of day, and often all hour
day, and additional time in so-called "home
work to the tiresome and proftless study OF
strictly technical and industrial drawing, and
are compelled TO utilize as a ''unit of design"
scalene, isosceles, equilateral triangles, rhom-
boids and many other complicated geometri-
pronounce and definitions far beyond their
:mental grasp.
These boys and girls. regardless of personal
inclination, talents or natural adaptation, are
directed and required from the aforesaid
"units of design" to originate and evolve pat
terms suitable for wallpaper, oilcloth, decora-
tive borders and other intricate and complex
artistic designs, at the cost OF intense nervous
strain, physical exhaustion and consumption
OF time, vastly disproportionate to the benefit
received and to the time given to other useful
study.
1t is close, accurate, tedious, technical work
which properly belongs to the course OF in
struction al polytechnic Institutes and schools
OF technology, and in fairness to pupils,
parents and the public, should, even in the
high school, be an elective study only, and has
no proper place in free pubic grammar
school
Many bright, industrious boys and girls,
with no taste or adaptability for technical
drawing are, from the force of circumstances,
compelled 10 leave the schoolroom for good,
after finishing the studies of the eighth or
ninth grades, and to such it works great in
Justice to consume so disproportionate an
amount of valuable time in enforced and un-
willing attention 10 such specially.
The plan now pursued III the Franklin
Grammar School in relation to TINS subject is
In the belief that you VIII investigate and
make the correction, respectfully submit this
375 East Fourteenth Street.
MuhIner's Trial.
2 ~,
Louis Muhlner, the Point Reyes weather
observer. for the killing of Jenne Lewis,
was resumed to-day before Judge Frick.
The prosecution is showing by witnesses
every movement of Muhlner's since he
left Point Reyes the day before the muir
der to the time he delivered himself up to
the San Francisco police. Several San
Francisco saloon-keepers were put on the
stand to testify as to Muhlner,s move
ments on the evening of the murder. The
chief effort of the prosecution is being d.
rected to prove that Muhiner told contra
dictory stories after the shooting Miss
Tillie Frawley told OF the occurrences at
the ball at Germania Hall, when Muhlner
and Miss Lewis quarreled, ana the ponce
told of the surrender OF the prisoner.
The case goes on to- morrow.
A CoIored Jury.
OAKLAND, CAL, Dec. III. B. Will
son, editor of the San Francisco Elevator,
a colored organ, was on trial to-day for
libeling Thomas Pearson. the colored
Lafavette-square gardener. The. story OF
the trouble has already been told IN IHE
CALL and the case was tried by Judge
Wood and Wilson found guilty. Inc de,
fendant said that he had not understoou
what he was doing when he waved Jury
trial by jury. Two big venires OF coloreo
men were examined to-day before the Jury
was obtained. 1t was very late when lne
taking of evidence commenced ana
night session was held.
Varni's Murder.
OAKLAND, CAL, Dec. 1.-THE ex-
aminations into the death OF Felice warm,
who was found murdered in the san
Leandro hills, was continued to-day Inc
four men who were the companions OF the
dead man cannot speak English, and, as
an Interpreter has to be used, the proceed
ings are very tedious. The examination
goes on tomorrow.
Prize Fighters Fight.
OAKLAND, CAL. Dec. IL. - Peter
O'Brien, William O'Brien and Danny
Needham, three pugilists, did some fight,
ing last night. To-day they concluded
that their conduct had been unprofes-
sional, and Danny Needham and Peter