The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-05-14
Virgil G. Curtis, who addressed he

St "HO 1891 OoS liC
meeting.
Supt. Curtis said that the establishment of
a closer relation between the home and the
school was the prime object of this organ
ization. The public school was the most po-
tent agency for the improvement Of mankind,
because 1t was in touch with all classes and
reached all creeds and nationalities. The
question Is how to effect this closer relation
ship, how to increase the sympathy between
teachers and parents. Supt. Curtis spoke OF
the cultivation of acting public sentiment Ill
favor Of the schools. This molding Of public
sentiment is a right of every American citizen
Every touch of ignorance on the body polite
was a menace to our institutions. Supt.
Curtis didn't suppose there existed in this
community a disposition to regard teachers
as menials, who should be denied all social
considerations. Teachers were often much
at fault in not exacting proper effort to bring
the people more in touch with the schools,
though they might be capable instructors.
Some Of them were walking cyciopedias. who
shook hands in a%lgebraic fashion. Teachers
who ignored the outside public were making
q mistake.
Another object of the organization-that Of
giving a broader knowledge of teaching-was
touched upon by Supt. Curtis. The old meth
DDS had undergone a change. Formerly it
was sought to cultivate the memory. The new
methods in vogue had provoked criticism
in consequence of the ignorance Of those
unacquainted with the system of modern
education. The critics termed the new meth
DDS 'fads" and super1uitfes.
Referring to high schools, Supt. Curtis said
IAdI III EallCi q 1871 Civ Wdo inI CINLiO2
in the hearts of the public. Yet in times like
these, there were some who deemed the
high school unnecessary, contending that 1t
ministered to comparatively few pupils, and
that many subjects in the high school cur
riculum were superf1ous and ornamental. The
statement that high schools were attended
well-to-do classes Supt. Curtis declared to
be entirely unfounded. In reality the high
school tended to do away with distinctions be-
tween the classes. In conclusion, Supt: Curtis
/ cold hn hnnnd tho Riti0nnS would OjUa the
matter of forming a school union their cordial
support.
Representative Lloyd then moved that the
meeting proceed to organize a branch union
and that a committee of three be appointed
to nominate officers. The motion prevailed.
and Prof. Farnsworth, Mrs. Pine and Charles
committee.
While the committee was engaged in pre-
pairing a list of officers, Rev. A. knutson ad-
dressed the meeting. Mr.. Knutson said that
if the Cleveland high school were closed, as
we'll as the other branch high schools, there
would be some $50 pupils crowded out and
deprived Of high school education, as the
Central high school could not accommodate
them. Rev. Knutson suggested, in closing.
that the common council be .petitioned to
make some provision for maintaining the
Cleveland high school.
The chairman thereupon called on the alder
man of the First ward for a few remarks
pertinent to the occasion.
Aid. Lindahl, in response, said that the
city council in fixing the appropriation for
the schools did all that the law allowed. The
reduction of the assessed valuation of prop
erty caused the shortage. The council had
recently agreed to give the school board the
$41, COO appropriated for new school buildings
if the school board would furnish the sittings.
1t would all depend upon the board. Aid.
Lindahl said that there were three schools
on Dayton's bluff that were not half filled.
At this point the nominating ommitt re-
ported, recommending the election of the
following officers: President, H. w. Phillips;
vice president, J. R. Mason; secretary, Mrs.
James Staples. The report OF the COMMITTEES
was adopted and the nominees declared elect
Prof. Farnsworth was then called upon for
a few words. He said there were two subjects
next to his heart, the Cleveland school and
the Cleveland high school. After briefly re-
viewing the rapid growth of the Cleveland
school, Prof. Farnsworth related the facts at
tending the establishment Of the branch high
school, the temporary closing of it and it's
final re-establishment in 1898. The present en-
rollment of the Cleveland high school is 160,
and the graduating class this year NUMBERS
thirty pupils.
Referring to the proposed closing of all the
branch high schools. Prof. F~arnsworth said
he couldn't understand what was going to
be done with their pupils. 1t seemed to Prof.
Farnsworth that it would be a great calamity
to close the Cleveland school. He disclaimed
any selfish motive in desiring the Cleveland
high school to be retained. His salary did not
depend upon the existence of the Cleveland
high school. He received the same salary as
the principals Of the grade schools. The Cleye-
idlo AlSh SChoOi was iCNCchiHto "a an h0S
pendent high school. Prof. Farnsworth be-
lieved that with proper care and thought the
expenses of the schools could be reduced with
out impairing the existing system.
John Copeland, the president of the board of
public works, said. that he knew a great deal
more about certain other things than about
educational matters, but he was free to say
that he highly appreciated the st. Paul public
schools, and he trusted that the Cleveland
high school would not be taken away, but
rather enlarged. AS for the fund being in
sufficient to maintain all the high schools,
Mr.. Copeland thought it would be better for
the people of the First ward to maintain the
Cleveland high school rather than to spend
car fare to send their children to the Central
high school.
Prof. Bryant, of the Humboldt school.
thought it would be a very foolish and short
sighted policy for the people of the First
ward to permit the Cleveland high school to
be closed. He was perfectly satisfied that the
Humboldt high school. small as it was, had
more to do with building up the Sixth ward
than any other single influence. So it was
with the Cleveland high school. 1t was not a
question of finance, but one of education:
preserving the present system intact. and,
speaking for himself. said that he would be
willing to sacrifice half his salary to pre-
At this point F. W.. Lloyd moved that a
committee of five be appointed to draft a
suitable memorial to the common council and
the school board. requesting that the Cleve-
land high school be left intact. The motion
prevailed, and the chair appointed the fol-
lowing committees. JONI COpeidhu, CIdlruidu.
Rev. a. Knutson, F. NJ. Lloyd, Andrew Berg
and +. NJ. Stewart.
r. M. Lloyd spoke briefly, contending that
the present efficiency of the high schools was
largely due to the spirit Of emulation that
prevails among them.
Prof. c.. H. Congdon, in response to a re-
quest for an expression Of his opinion. pointed
| out the great disadvantage that would result
to st. Paul If its branch high schools were
closed up. The people wanted the system
| left unimpaired, and were willing to pay for
1t. If the high schools were closed people
coming to this section Of the country would
certainly locate in Minneapolis.
The union then adjourned for two weeks.
BICkEL IS CONFIDENT.