The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-03-28

TIE educators o. Seattle and King COM
~ az watching with intense interest tire
Progress OF an experiment being made
under the direction OF Miss Martha z.
Pike, a teacher IL the Columbia CITY
school.
Miss Pike = nonainaliy IN charge OF the
intermediate department. comprising
shcssr forty uuns1s. AS q matter % fact.
since. ts. inauguration % the present sx-
pa-Srseue "a system. she is aoe IN charge.
Entirely relieved ot the customary ed-
rnonftory and corrective duties % gov
ernance. she gives aer attention only TO
directing the course Of study.
Briefly outlined. the system Is this: Miss
Pixies forty or more pupils have organized
a miniature republic; a president and
other necessary executive and Legislative
ofFcars have been elected BY the new
ooramonweaith. and all members. while n
fHa school building or on the grounds.
are held TO strict account for every action.
Laws have been adopted conducive 70 the
maintenance 0f discipline. the enforcement
az which effect perfect order and har-
naonious relations among the pupils
In ire application o. these rules the
teacher has no hand. the executive officers
q the Young repuhlic administering even
handed Justice 10 ali SIS citizens. Corporal
punishment is abolished and an appro-
Pirate penalty OF nailder form IS paid for
Any breach Of the law
This novel system has been IN effect
about six weeks. Il has naturally excited
much interest among Miss Pixies pupils,
and nothing has yet happened that would
Indicate II 10 be unwtse-
Superintendent Meredith visited the
school few days ago and was much I'M
pressed ard greatly pleased with the ap-
parent success OF the plan. Speaking OF
1. yesterday he said:
~ GF-af . Arm
as orderly as might be- but observation de-
velops the fact that the buzz and hum
among the scholars IS OF healthy nature.
and they are ali hard at work. Public
opinion in the republic IS the most effective
weapon OF punishment. and a. the same
tine the most effective spur TO effort.
THE ordinary school room Is an ahso-
lutte monarchy-ahe teacher reigns su-
preme; but living under a republican gov
eminent IL seems 10 me that children
should be trained TO appreciate Its form.
OF course. the age and intelligence OF chill
drsn must be considered il making this
experiment. Some children would thrive
only under an absolute rule"
The story Of the new republic was
brought out in a paper read by Miss Pike
yesterday az the regular meeting OF the
King County Teachers Association. and
provoked considerable discussion among
the members. Many questions relating to
the workings OF the scheme were asked,
TO all Of which Miss Pike was able 20 give
satisfactory answers
The meeting was held IN the library
room al the courthouse and was wen at
tended. teachers coming from all parts OF
the county.
The following interesting programme
was presented:
Review OF the Columbian Speller-G. z.
Conn, principal Green Lake school
Paper-"What Should the Teacher Seek
70 Develop In the Chld?' c. ~. Weedin,
Of Green Lake
Paper-"A Teachers Vacation Reading"
II. Z. Turner, OF Bothen-
song-Mrs d. W. Brown. Of Columbia
City.
Paper-'RepubHcanis In the Public
School," Martha E. Pike. Of Columbia
City.
General discussion on each topic.
The Teachers Association lately re-
organized. and this was the second meet
ing held under the new regime. The coun-
" commissioners have granted the asso-
citation free use OF the library room, and
regular meeting viii be held there on the
fourth Saturday of each month. from 10
q. n. 70 p m
Prof J. NJ. Taylor and Or. Bechdolt. OF
the state university. were present and took
part in yesterdays exercises.
See the new model Cleveland at LILO