The San Francisco call., 1896-12-29

inteiIe ctually and morally If this is not the
aim of our schoolwork, If the individual
teacher does not feel its importance oyer the
mere routine of preparation Tor examinations
and promotions, then II is surely time Tor q.
radical change.
There can be no question that our
curricula and our methods OF using the same
are, in many respects, sadly deficient in bring
ing about the best results. We have material
ly increased the number of subjects TO be
taught without making adequate provision
for the place of the new material. We have
been giving at least one-third of the time
allotted to school work to arithmetic during
the entire elementary course OF eight or nine
years, but the results have not Deen coMmen-
surate with the expenditure OF time and
energy. We have seen this for years, and yet
our course of study. as rule, continues 10
numbers from / 10 l2,' etc., shall be ground
over day after day of the child's first year OF
school life; and thus the work is continued
from grade to grade in the same old way with
the same poor results.
Our primary arithmetics are filled with mat
ter, the purpose of which seems to be TO pro-
vide so-called busy work" Tor children. This
is supplemented by giving mass OF numerical
com binations, which may serve the purpose of
Keeping the little ones busy and thus relieve
the oyerworked teacher, but tends to retard
true mental development In many cases
young children would be better busted in q
sand heap outside the schoo.
The thought that has been given to the
question OF an elementary course of study
teachers of the State is cause for qualification.
The belief that's carefully arranged selection
of material i'll literature and history for all
grades as means of developing character is
growing one. The demand that our nature
study be adapted to the natural growth OF
child life is imperative. The interest mani
tested in manual training and the growing
conviction that this side of educational ac-
tivity is a necessary adjunct from pedagog-
ical standpoint TO any true system OF eduea-
tion calls for careful consideration.
fitting
that we pause for moment TO pay a tribute OF
love and affection to the memory of one whose
loved voice.we expected to hear at this meet
ing, but who has passed beyond the shadows
into the light of eternal day, giving her life a
sacrifice to her high sense OF duty. In the
death OF Mrs Sarah B. Cooper California has
lost a noble woman, San Francisco an earnest
worker in every cause whose aim was the up
lifting of humanity, and every teacher low
ing TREND. She yet lives in the hearts OF
thousands whose young lives her minis
trations have blessed. May her work, her
character, her life be an inspiration to us all.
The address was well delivered and at
its conclusion there was much applause.
After a short intermission the remainder
of the afternoon was taken up with dis
cussion under the auspices OF the San
Francisco Teachers Club. The question
under discussion was Differentiation in
the Course of Study" two problems being
presented. The argument on the problem,
and How2" was led bv Milton b.
Blanchard of the Lowell High School of
San Francisco. There was an able pres
entation of the matter, proposed changes
in the time allowed for the different
grades being presented. During the dis
cussion Silas White of San Francisco said:
II should like to see the cali for cutting
the time of primary and grammar grades
come from teachers of those grades and
not from teachers of the high school. Any
haste in this direction, with the work we
must do, means bad results by and BY"
To this Mr.. Blanchard responded: I'VE
do not ask for hasty or i'm perfect work in
the lower grades, but that the time wasted
in useless drudgery there be utilized and
the child sooner taught to use the time of
the lower grades in vocational work."
J. 3. Hickman of Monterey asked:
"Would you bar pupils of grammar
grades from learning to collect and collate
work?''
II mean only" replied Mr.. Blanchard,
ito reduce the elementary work 30 that
the child will not consider that enough,
but will feel obliged to take the secondary
or truly educational work.
The consideration of the second prob
lem, Manual Training Compared With
Vocational Training" was led by Frank
A. Gardner, principal OF the San Francisco
Polytechnic High School. He paid a
glowing tribute to the value and practical
bility of the manual training system, and
the sentiments were much applauded.
In the discussion that followed County
Superintendent 6. II. Stout of Butte said:
II should like to see this body of teachers
express in public way our desire that the
Legislature help US TO esta blish manual
training schools. The outlay would soon
be saved to the incalculabIe benefit to
young boys and girls by enptying our re-
form schools"
AZ should like to advocate a continua-
tion of kinderg arten work in our higher
schools-work that all teachers can dc"
said Miss Kathrine Ball of San Fran
cisco.
q. H. Keyes of Berkeley called atten-
ton to the fact that legislation has already
been attempted in California in the direc-
ton of establishing manual training
schools. The measure referred to was
Senate bill 217, introduced in 1887 by Sena-
tor Gesford. The speaker believed that
that the same bill would be presented in a
modified form at the coming session of the
Legislature.
Ex-State Superintendent John SWEET
urged local effort in the direction of estab-
fishing manual training work. "a coun-
try school," he said, ''could lay sub
stan ntial foundation in this direction with
out much effort or expense. Local self
government and self-help would undoubt-
ecly be of great avail in this important
matter. With the great burden of State
taxes already heaped upon the people. it
may be impossible at present 10 secure
State aid for the establishment and main
tenance of manual training-schools."
Professor G. II. Howison oil the Uniyer-
sity of California said the association
should nottbe hasty in giving an express
sion in this direction. The plan, it was
urged, should be carefully matured before
it was presented with view to securing
legislative action. Superintendent Stout
of Butte said it cost his county $4,000 to
send one young man to the State prison.
This would have been sufficient 10 main
tam a manual training school for some
time and such young man could no
doubt have been saved by such an institu-
ton. ldleness in this case bred discon-
tent ard criminality as it did in the ma
iority of cases. P. NJ. Fisher principal of
the Central School of Oakland, caused
much amusement at this point by saving
that the only two boys who were hogged
in his school this year were members of
the manual training class.
The session was closed by the president
with an earnest appeal for additional
membership in the association. After ad-
journment many signed the roll and were
decorated with the yellow badges indicat-
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