The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-12-18
Col. Francis ". Parker and Wife
for Summer School.
AT THE HEAD OF THE LIST
Principal Of Chicago Normal School
A Writer and Trainer of Wide
Repute-Mrs. Parker.

During the 1898 term of the Summer
School here, the teachers of the ISL
ands will have the fine privilege of in
struction by Col. Francis w. Parker
and Mrs. Frances Stuart Parker.
This arrangement has been made by
Inspector General Townsend There is
no likelihood of mishap. Colonel and
Mrs. Parker refused betweena score and
half hundred other offers Their de-
sire to visit the country, coupled with
the insistence of Mr.. Townsend won
the day for the teachers of the Repub-
lie.
Colonel Parker has been in education
work since very young man, except
ing for the time he was in the Civil
war.
In 1872, Colonel Parker entered King
Williams University at Berlin, where
he spent two and one-half years in the
study of Psychology, Philosophy, His
tory and Pedagogics. Under private
teacher he took two years course in
the Hegelian philosophy. During his
vacations he travelled over the contin-
ent, visiting schools and studying the
art, geography and history of the vari-
Gus nations visited He returned to
America in 1875.
He was elected Superintendent of
Schools of Quincy, Massachusetts,. and
began his work April Goth, 1875. Col
onel Parker was exceedingly fortunate
in his position in Quincy, the town
had never before had superintendent
of schools, but had one of the best and
strongest of school boards that was
ever elected. John Quincy Adams,
Charles Francis Adams, and James H.
Slade were the principal members.
They put the school and teachers en-
tirely under Colonel Parker's direction
| and supported him in a very hearty
and earnest way.
In entering upon his work in Quincy
| Colonel Parker had no notion of max
ing any particular changes or of op-
| posing in any way the general work
| then done in the New England States.
He simply tried to apply well-known
principles, and to train his teachers.
The result is well known; during the
period of three years of 187-9-8O, over
10000 visitors inspected the schools OF
Quincy. Charles Francis Adams wrote
two pamphlets in regard to the work
| done. Colonel Parker has always as
serted that he was introducing nothing
new, no new principles or methods; he
was simply applying, carrying out, the
recommendation of the great educators
of the past,-COmenius, Pestalozzi and
Froebel. In 1880 he was made one of
the Supervisors of Schools of Boston
and was placed in charge of the prim-
airy schools of the North End of South
Boston. His work in the athens OF
America" met with fierce and prolong-
ed opposition by the teachers especially
of the principals of the schools; but
notwithstanding this opposition, he
was reelected for a second term. The
position of Supervisor was not, to say
| the least, what he wanted. He wanted
| to come in closer contact with the
schools, that he might verify the sus-
piciOns of better things which he
thought were in store for the children
He was offered the superintendency
| VI 0ShoOlo VI Uul ucCllUCN
to accept it. He was then offered the
position of Principal of the Cook Coun
| ty Normal School at a salary o.
$4,000 year. The Cook Count!
Normal School had had a struggling
existence for Is years; it was born II
the travail of bitter fight, and livet
only by the persistent energy of ant
indomitable love of it's Principal. DR.
D. S. Wentworth. Colonel Parker
friends, especially Charles Franci
Adams, opposed very strongly his &C
Iceptance of this position; but he looke'
upon Chicago as the storm center" o
civilization: he could be brought clos
to children in the Practice School; an,
he could enter upon that which he be
lieved to be the greatest need of tn
Countrywide education and trainin
of teachers
Just before entering on his new worl
in Chicago, he married Mrs M. France
Stuart, former pupil and assistant o
Lewis Monroe. and the first assistan
in the Boston School of Oratory Mrs
Parker is one of the leading exponent
Of the Delsarte System of Expression
She is in deep sympathy with her hus
band and has contributed not littl
to the Doctrine of Concentration tina
! is now working out in the methods o
the Cook County Normal School.
| Colonel Parker began his duties i