Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-10-01
w. c. +. u. COLUMN.
EpIrrn by We. MAnY 2. oLM.rrAD.
Mis- Willard on Public SCHOOL Reforms

a reporter what she would do ~ h were
appointed a commissioner of he public
schools of New York city, and we are
sure all of II readers " II be interested
in knowing what herreforn.s would be.
She said:
First of all, | would inaugurate self
government. regard il a the most
important principle in scnool manage
ment. Nv theory is not to veX and
morally uime children with petty rules,
but 10 place their well-beiug in their
own hands. ] would have in each
school two governing bodies. cores
bonding 10 a Seuate and a house of rep
r%eseutatlves. II should bc The aim of
these leading students TO do without
rules rs long rs possible and 10 i'm
lucnce their associate, t o develope "a
high sense Of honor. personal respon-
,ibility and sclt-re,pcct. ] believe that
if this innovation could be made it
would do more than anything else TO
educate the students both morally and
mentally and To lit them tor the work
and responsibility OF "a lifetime.
next. would insist upon a more
constant and thorough study of the stu
dents physical ,ciyes. Whatsoever of
physiology and hygiene is at present
taught is well and good. Bat would
have more of it.. Every boy and girl
should know his own organic constitu-
ton and be able SO to apply this know
ledge as To keep himself well and
strong. Eyenmore, | would have them
understand the virtue and necessity of
being clean, and have persons appoint
ed to serve as supervisors Of the stu
dents personal cleanliness. OF course
tbs would have an Indirect moral "a,
well as a direct physical benefit.
physical culture would come under
this same head. That is another hobby
of mine. Not military training, fol
that turns the peoples schools into
rrainmg-grouds tor war and ignore,
altogether Tie phy education OF
girls, but systematic. compulsory phys
zeal training "a, one of the most impor-
tant branches OF instruction.
II believe with Goethe, that each enc
of Us should every day hear some good
music, see some beautiful thing and
have a moments conversation with "a
friend. And, adopting this as a prime
iple of instruction, l would make the
public schools a place for studying
music and art. Fill the school rooms
with good pictures, teach the children
how to appreciate them. and see that
every one of them know something
about music. | believe in their beinE
taught to sing. Why should we, ac-
cording to the extraordinary principle
we have always followed, educate our
heads and leave the rest of the body
unframed: NO wonder that we are the
poor weakliugs that we are today,
at is only right and fair that, as al
most every boy and girl who attends
the public schools will some day be- de-
pendent upon his own efforts, the inn
plcmeuDs OF a livelihood should be
placed IN their hands 10y the schools
which profess to educate them. So ]
believe M manual training, and | think
that at present there is not the ,lIghtesl
danger of its being carried too far
Indeed. would extend it. For instance,
| would have boys and girls trained
more after the same fashion. would
have the girls taught carpentering. II
Is not conventional. but their inherited
dellcacy of touch, due TO long years OF
ncedlework on the part of their an
cestors. would stand them in good
stead in this as we'll as in other crafts