The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-05

duced many of the worlds greatest
artists and masters.
81 believe in extending the scope and
broadness Of all lines of modern edu-
cational thought" said Mr.. Curtis last
evening 1.-The kindergarten is the
place to commence the study of the in
dividual mind Even here the natural
bent of the mind can be seen and 1t
should be followed clear through the
public school course of education.
Cramming the mind with ideas dis
tasteful to it, and at variance with
some great gift in another direction is
not the right idea of modern eouca-
ton"
While in New Haven Mr.. Curtis also
developed the kindergarten IDEA, ana
when he left that city, there were
twelve of these schools, -each directly
attached to the public school system
of the city. Asked as to his ldea OF
the present system of diversified edu-
cation, Mr.. Curtis said:
1.-The department of manual training
and the teaching of the mechanical
arts is a feature of modern educauon
progression In this respect l thlnk
the West is leading the East. the west
has been quick to appreciate the prac-
teal benefits of the system. Inc Wesl
thinks quicker and acts quicker IMAM
the East where all such departures
from the Ola line O1 SuuOatAOtA AAe~
be discussed ard canVaSsed TOT a lol1s
time The West does not theorlze. 1t
acts. The schools of st. Paul nave
fine reputation in the East. we nave
heard of the ST. Paul schools in all the
educational papers and at all our ma
fional educational conventions L
found that the schools of Germany
had many ideas which the American
schools might copy to great advantage
and many which would not do at all.
In that country a teacher IS required
to spend years in training. he or she
cannot commence the instruction "
the Young until the most severe ana
rigid examinations have been passed.
Perhaps many of these preparations
are unnecessary in this country Tor the
reason that the American children are
leener and brighter. They eaten
ideas more rapidly imam unelr Sloiiu
German cousins.
Prof Curtis is a born organizer, ana
is said to have an excellent hold over
the teachers and pupils alike. toward
Brooks, superintendent OF the Phlladel-
phia schools, and one of the Ieadlng
educators in the country, calls Prof.
Curtis one of the foremost School sup
erintendents in the country. Charles
r. Skinner, state superintendent OF
schools of New York state, is also
warm admirer. 1t took backing to win
such a plumb as that Of superintendent
OF the 81. Pdul ScuOOlS. MI. IA IA0
certainly did not lack backing. AmonS
the men, some of national reputation,
who interested themselves in securing
his appointment, were President irwin
Shepard, of Winona Normal school;
President L. G. Lord, of the Moorhead
Normal school; Judge Amos mayer,
of the United States circuit court OF
appeals: Judge Charles Amidon, Of the
supreme court of North Dakota; Judge
Mitchell, of the Minnesota supreme
court, and superintendent BROOKS,
of Philadelphia, Jones, of CleVe-
land, Maxwell, of Brooklyn, and
many others.
Prof. Curtis is no stranger in Mime
sofa. He held two responsible posi-
tiCns in the schools of this state before
going back to his Eastern affiliations
During his residence in Minnesota he
formed the acquaintance of many OF
the leading men of the state, who had
used their efforts to secure ms return
Prof Curtis is a native of Pennsy1-
vania. He was born in the Northern
portion of that state and at the age Of
sixteen entered college. He early
showed ability as a student and at the
age of twenty he graduated from
Tufts college in the outskirts Of Bos-
ton. He finished his college course in
1856 and at once went to Illion, N. Y,
where he taught school and was for
several terms superintendent OF the
schools of that town. In 1878 he was
appointed, superintendent Of the schools
at Cory, Pa, which position he held
for ten years, in the meantime raising
the schools to a high standard. In 1883
he was elected superintendent of the
schools at saltwater, Mimi, elevating
the schools, of that city to high stan
dard of efficiency. Three years later
he was rendered the superintendency OF
the Winona public schools, holding
that position until 1890, when he was
called to New Haven, Conn. He was
the ruling head Of the New Haven
schools for five years, and when he re
signed he went abroad on an extended
tour of the continent, visiting ali the
countries in which higher education is
a national feature.
Mr.. Curtis is a married man and has
a very charming daughter, Miss Car
lene Curtis, who is a recent graduate OF
Smith college. Mrs. Curtis and Miss
Curtis are now residing in Toledo o.,
but will remove to st. Paul about the
holidays Both members of Mr.. CuT7
It's family are talented and will be
welcomed to the social and literary cir
cles of st. Paul.
A once denseIy populated country, aaoat
4. y Ia Fn1aa an1f I