The morning times., 1896-12-31
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Their Needs Found Ont by Personal
Inspection.


Inspection.
The report of the committee on schools,
Ellis Spear, chairman, was made, after
personal inspection of the public schools
OF the city. 1t contains reference to the
industrial training schools project, now
fayorably consid cred by the cit iZens
generally. The more interesting extracts
are:
The magnitude OF the school system
in this District had not before been ap-
preciated by us. We find that, including
the night schools, there are about $4,000
pupils under public instruction in this
District. 1t is a matter of common re-
mark, but the import Of it does not seem
always to he fully comprehended, that
these 40 600 scholars are under training
to take the place ofthe men and women OF
today, and that the work OF the principals
and teachers is the most important that
is done in the community.
"Our examination has confirmed us in
the belief that this work Is Well done
We are unable, in the time allowed US,
to 20 into any detail account Of the system
OF instruction or the particular manner
in which it is carried out. The central
idea, however, OF the system, appears 70
us to be in harmony with the primary
meaning of the word education" The
objects sought to be accomplished are not
so much the cranDning OF the children with
facts and information, as the training Of
| them to observe and reflect and to express
orally and in writing the results OF their
observation and reflection. The children
are taught, beginning with the lowest
| grade, To exercise both the mind and the
| hands. Manual and mental instruction
| go together.
Poor Children Benefited.
I'VE visited schools in different parts
| of the city, where the children are under
different conditions in life, and have
different home advantages. 1t appears u
US that the children OF the poorer people
| are more benefited by the school system
than are those of the richer. AS much is
| done for one as for another, but for some
the intellectual atmosphere of the school
| room, the intellectual stimulus and di-
| rection and the instruction in correct
| speaking and writing and in practical
| knowledge are more urgently needed
| "Westrongly Y commendthe Districtschools
| to the favorable attention OF the board of
| trade. We believe that a personal in
| spection of the schools by their patrons
| and the public-spirited people of the Dis
! trict viii in many ways be beneficial. We
| think, especially, that the industrial fea-
! ture of the school should be favored
| and extended.
We believe that it is Of the highest i'm
portance to a very large class OF the peO-
| pie that the girls should he taught sewing
| and cooking and that the boys should be
| taught 10 work in wood and metals. We
| were surprised to find how much had al
| ready been done in this direction, although
with cramped and imperfect facilities.
| I'VE believe that the District should have
| a building specially devoted to the higher
| grades of this work. In this respect the
| District is far behind the schools OF many
| other and smaller cities in the country,
| and we believe that the money could in 10
way be more profitably spent than in the
erection of a building with proper equip
| ment for this branch of the school work;
and we very earnestly urge those inter
| ested to visit these industrial schools and
to inspect the industrial feature Of the
| schools of the District