The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-06-19


Books, the Planning and Santa
ton of school buildings - The
Stand Chicago Is Taking in This
Mntter-Doings of the Teachers
of st. Paul
Probably no phase of educational
work is so suggestive and promising
Just now as the part the teachers them
selves are taking in shaping education
al policy.
The day is soon coming when the
control of educational interests by
persons who are strangers to the sci
ence of pedagogieS will be a thing of
the past; when matters pertaining to
the administration of schools, such as
the selection and certifaction of teach
ers. the making of courses Of study,
the selection Of text books, the plan
ming and sanitation of school build
ings will be largely directed and con-
trolled by the class who know most
about such interests, the teachers
themselves.
Chicago. in the work of its educa-
tional commission, is furnishing a great
object lesson along this line.
Under the lead of DR.. Harper, presi-
dent OF Chicago university and of the
Chicago school board, the entire teach
ing force of that city is organized into
working bodies solely for the improve
ment OF the schools. The arrangement
of the councils under the constitution
has been such that no one class of
teachers may have the balance of
power.
All the teachers, supervisors, princi-
pals and superintendents meet upon
Rnlal h1 sis The mi Hva Mt oe
that any teacher may have is that of
influence for good.
The questions for discussion are to
be the vital subjects of interest in the
improvement of the schools in every
direction. The objective point of all
the work is to be the children Of the
city of Chicago. The organizat ton of
the councils is as follows: Central
council, high school councils district
councils and school councils. The fac
ulty of each school constitutes a coun-
ell. Questions may originate in any
council and may be decided therein
and be discussed and referred to any
other council. For instance, any school
council may send its questions to the
district council; the district council
TO the high school or central council, or
vice versa. Thus question started by
a school or any other council may be
discussed in turn by all the teachers
have a concensus of opinion Of the
5000 teachers Of Chicago.
IT will be readily understood that this
plan brings together the entire teach
ing corps. so that every member there
of may know the sentiment of all other
teachers, and the school authorities
may know the opinions of all persons
engaged in reaching in the city
At meeting of the normal school
council held May 20 the following ques-
tions were presented for discussions:
l. How far should methods be imposed by
authoritey upon teachers? Go be referred to
district councils.)
2. Should the he school modify its course
normal school? TO be referred to the high
school council) = -
The central council discussed at its meeting
held May 20 the following questions:
l. Manual training
2. What can be done to bring the home in
terests and school interest into more efec-
tive relation?
3. What can we do to secure the more eff
fective treatment of truancy?
Should we use our influence in favor OF
establishing parental schools?
The following questions have been referred
10 by the central council to the high, district
and school councils for discussion and report
Activities of Children
l. To what extent have they real existence?
What spontaneous and movements are signs
OF such instincts and activities?
2. What relation have they to the move
ment of civilization?
3. Is systematic cultivation desirable OF
possible?
4. To what extent is skilled direction nee
essary?
5. What can the public schools do to de-
velop these instincts?
g. What can be done in the ordinary
school room. without great expense for ap-
piianccs and material?
T. In the determination of what should be
done. shall aesthetic or practical ends pre-
dominate? What should be the controlling
motive on the part of the pupil in construc-
tive and creative work?
g. Should the purpose of work be the ex.
preston of the individuality of the child, Ct
the production of a certain material result
1. e.. should the nature of the child deter.
mine the product?
8. Are these instincts and activities c..
yeloped by requiring the child to work alons
prescribed lines to prescribed end, the plar
and end of work being imposed by the teach
10. What constitutes fertilizing suggestion
suggestion that shall not be a check tt
activity a blight on creative instincts?
IL. What are the scope and limits of sug
y. To what extent should the stage O
physical development determine the charac
ter of educative work?
13. What kinds of work are most suitabl.
to arouse creative interest?
IA 10 what extent may the creative arc
constructive instincts and activities be de
Veloped in literary construction?
10. What must be the nature of the liter
airy exercises which shall stimulate and 10
repress tneSe instincts and activities?
10. What relation has the manual 10 tn,
higher forms of creative activity?
II. What are their relative values?
H. II 5000 teachers and principals tax,
counsel together as to the best means O.
stimulating and advancing the creative ap(
constructive instincts and activities of tn,
children /. e., of giving free scope to tht
development of the child into the creator
what will be the result?
Boston is also moving In the direc.
uor of greater freedom and stronger
influence of the teacher In guiding and
determining educational matters A
bill was introduced into the last Iegis-
lature. the strongest feature of which
was the provision of school faculty.
to consist. of the superintendent as
president ex-officio, the inspectors. au6
ret less than thirty members who shall
be elected by teachers from their owr
humber. AS far as possible all grades
of instruction in the public schools viii
be represented in this faculty, which
is to consider all educational matters
and may report to the board
These movements are undoubtedly II
the direction Of improvement in al
phases Of school work and will do mucf
toward placing the teaching profession
upon higher plane.
A PILE OF SAND.
How Little Fellows Can Interes