St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-01-20
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MISS MORELLIS. DUSINBERRE

lone of the principals of st. GATHERINGS
School for Girls.
j have often been asked what adj
vantage can private instruction have
over public, and the ardent advocates
of public schools are apt to think that
nothing can be said in favor of the pri-
vate school, and, therefore, that it
ought not to exist. We shall attempt to
state very briefly few of the many
points in which the private school may
excel.
The greatest advantage seems to be
in the amount of individual influence
that the teachers of private schools, on
account of their comparatively small
number OF pupils, can exert. thus.
building up character, which should be
the chief aim of every school.
A private school may be worse than
none. as when it is carried On tor the
sole purpose of making money, or when
1t is arranged OH what we once heard
called "the general accommodation
Dlan"-that is, when patrons are al
lowed TO interfere with the general dis
cipline and teachers are weak and
tinid.
We shall confine ourselves exclusively
to the consideration Of the good private
school, superintended and taught as
are the best schools, both public and
private. by high-minded men and wom--
ell, whose aim is higher than merely to
"hear lessons" or even TO teach for
definite number of hours and receive
certain rpIuII neral i'm fur THAR carvioaS
perform ed in a perfunctory manner.
Cannot these teachers, then, better &C.
c0mplish their aims when the classes
are smaller, and when each pupil, as
rule, is known out Of school as well as
in 1t; when teachers and pupils have
other interests in comm on besides those
of the studies in hand; when the teach
ers may have opportunities Of knowing
the home influences under which the
pupil is growing D, and may in that
way be greatly assisted i'll forming the
character committed to their care?
Especially do we consider the private
school preferable for girls On the
score of health it has been demonstrated
beyond doubt that many feeble girls
may acquire a good, solid education in
a school small enough to allow of their
having proper attention given to health,
where physical exercises are given in
| school, and others are recommended for
practice at home. where pupils are
watched and compelled during certain
hours of the day TO stand. sit and walk
properly, and where the air is not viii
| ated by having too many pupils crowded
into one room.
The public school does splendid work,
but is it not such q vast machine, so
| very orderly in all its arrangements,
that every pupil is taught and dis
ciplined alike, and does not this tend to
| lessen individuality?
Some private schools prepare for col
lege bright pupils of limited means.
and, consequently, limited time. in half
the usual period required. Pupils who
have a definite aim in life may be able
to pursue, by means of private instruc-
tinn, studies that would best prepare
for the accomplishment of that aim, to
the exclusion of less important ones.
This cannot be done when the numbers
are very large.
These are few of the advantages OF
the secondary private schools, especially
| for girls. AS to the colleges for women
| in this country, which have nearly all
been founded by private enterprise.
they speak for themselves in the noble
women they have sent out into every
walk in life.
Our public schools, generously sup
ported by the state, are not necessary to
people able to educate their children in