The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-02-04
CoLOREp SCHOOLS.

| Tho per cent of attendance 1853 is l. I
per cent above that reported for the fourth
scholastic month of last session The in
creased attendance is chiefly due to the
united efforts of the teachers and the CO.
operation of the parents and guardians
Should the earnest work Of the last two
or three months be steadily continued
land it Will be continued. the great ma
jority Of pupils in our public schools will
soon be unwilling to be absent from school
or to neglect school duties for any cause
not entirely justifiable. The mere attend
ance of pupils does not. of course, make
an efficient school; but II is certainly one
OF the absolutely necessary conditions OF
efficiency. record showing a high per
cont Of attendance is presumptive evidence
| OF progress. for it is proof that the oppor-
tunities for the regular. continuous in
struction Of the pupils enrolled have been
at hand.
AT the last institute the educational
doctrines Of Herbert Spencer were DIS
ed. and the members Of the institute
derived no little profit from the great phil
osophers Ideas concerning education, even
though he himself is not school master.
His practical notion of school, that IL
should fit one for service in the various
departments of life, is the fundamental no.
ton OF modern education. For example,
the state Of Texas and the city of Houston
support schools at public expense not sim
ply that children may obtain state
amounts of knowledge from year to year.
not that their intellects only may he
trained but that all their mental Jowers
may be so exercised as to guarn nee in,
creased power in the affairs OF nome and
of society. There is no legitimate walk
| connected with the school which does not
nave direct result upon the formation IT
character, there is no exercise OF tho sciI1ul
which is absolutely immoral, that is 'llah-
or moral nor immoral. While no s-ctarian
instruction should ever be permit Il IT. 4
pablo school. yet public school is Ger
ta'tly expected to inculcatc rose prip-
cples OF morality which are dem.licl Of
every citizen OF the commonwealth. ~he
school is not TO foster whatever vicious lie
in'n ts may be in paternalis u; il is not to
en'ecble character, II is not 70 tram up a
race OF heggars, but 1t is TO develop free
dom of spirit, is to strengthen individual
character, and is to increase the number
OF honest, industrious independent free
men. In a word, the school Is to furnish in
sight into civilized life. and is TO furnish.
as far as possible, preparation for par
tictpating effectively and righteously in the
aifalrs OF that life. Very respectfully
w. s. Sutton.
Superintendent Of Schools
molten to accept the excuses of teach
ers for being absent during the month OF
January was carried
A motion to refer the purchase Of refer
once books to the purchasing committee
WAS carried
On notion the communication OF Mrs NJ.
Looscan. proposing on behalf Of the Daugh-
tiers OF the Republic to present pictures Of
Arstln and houston to each of the schools
was referred to the superintendent 10 con-
'er Wih MIS- Loosoan with the view of
carrying out this idea as proposed
Aztec referring bills TO the finance COM
mittee the board adjourned