The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-19
On. HUTCH ADMIRES METHODS OF
SEATTLE SCHOOLS.
ers and Pupils An Investigating
Problems Of Child-study-Modes-

OF more than usual interest. A Pos:-In-
teiNgencer reporter. in conversation with
Dr. Mulch. was informed that this city
must, in his judgment. in the near future
attract people from all parts Of civilized
lands. This VIII be due, he thinks. to the
widened knowledge Of her great natural
advantages. He Is very sanguine in his
enthusiasm as to the future OF Seattle
Not the least Of these. he says. is seen
In the summer resort qualities OF the
climate and the practical sense and I'M
limited enterprise and pluck OF her peo-
pie. There is a preponderating capital
stock OF resources and advantages here.
Dr.. Mulch says OF Seattle's superb
school work: After having noticed as
reported in the Post-Intelltgencer Of June
8. the most approved features and results
in methods and instructors OF the Seattle
schools. I determined 10 investigate more
thoroughly. My first impressions are more
than verified, as a result OF two weeks
OF careful and thorough investigation OF
thu schools. Pupils in all sections OF the
city are living proof Of the remarkably
high standard OF efficiency. This Is due
TO several causes. First, an extremely
faithful staff OF teachers: second. an I'M
surpassed system OF graded work, espe-
ciaily as concerns the plan OF promotion;
third. most healthy pubic sentiment;
fourth, home and environment influences
that are not surpassed in any city Of our
great nation.
Seattle has taken some ghty strides
forward in educational matters. Her re-
cent and wonderful growth has enabled
her to avoid the foss.l-Nke ideas that have
obtained in Older cities, especially in the
matter Of a hide-bound system of graded
promotions that made each individual
child TO be lost n great machine that
as often wrecked the child as ii helped
him In many other cities an enormous
proportion OF all pupils who enter the high
school drop out because Of inability TO
carry tho work OF the course. Considering
the population OF Seattle the number OF
pupils who complete their work is sur
pr.singly large The places in which SINH
lar methods have been tried have only
partly attained the results reached here.
II can not commend too highly the e.
feet OF tho free progress system In this
city. Especially excellent are It's results
In the upper grammar grades. Pupils re-
spond TO freedom; justifying the liberty
given in a most commendable way. They
work with a self-reliant energy not seen
in those working under compuIsion. 1t is
a well-known fact that any animal whose
work-strength Is taxed in a state OF dis
couragemen. will loss strength and spirit.
This is even more true with children. Chill
dren will accomplish several times as
muc.i II they study because they love to
do So than would he possible # they SIM
ply learn because they must. OF course.
there are some homes and teachers. even
in this city who are recreant to their
trust in this respect. They have pre-
vented the pupil from even desiring an
education. Such should be banished from
contact with children.
There are in Seatt.e's schcoi-rooms a
number Of teachers who have had large
exper ence elsewhere. / have carefully in
terrogated a number a these. and obtained
emphatic corroboratIon OF my own obser-
vations These are to be summed up
In the fact that more than n.ne-tenths OF
the pupils succeed In thoroughly master
ing more work than Is done In the rigid
year-work OF other cities: where fully
one-third utterly fall and so take two
years to make ono grade. Even more i'm
portant Is the ind.sputablc fact that many
Of tho pupils OF this city do In one year
tho work OF a year and a half without
even becoming aware that they are carry
ing burdens that In most cities result in
breaking down the nervous system. The
over-trained race horse can not win n
race No excess OF effort Is Apparent in
most Of the pupils OF this city
Perhaps the most evident OF all the
goodly qualities OF the schools f. the de-
lghtsome atmosphere found IN most OF
thu rooms. Modesty. earnestness. v!gor
Of opinion and gracious Difference is
almost universally present. Among the
many teachers who have caught the s7,ir..
% correct influence. as CORPS there are
to ba observed few who have much 10
learn. To constantly and habtuaily speak
to pupils % their shortcomings is mex
cuSahIe. This narglug OF the child IS "a
misguided as il is evil in its influence. a
teacher who cannot. in sunny good VIII
seek for the good efforts OF the child. in
order 10 Increase his self respect has never
attained the first quality Of n worthy
school room worker, Such should be sum
marily dropped from the list Of instruc-
tors In this respec. your city is both
highly favored ana really fortunate
trust the day VIII soon coma when IS will
he impossible for misf. 10 secure ana
hold her place 20 the de'rirnent OF scores
Of children. just because she has a pull
with the board Indeed should Justify
popular uprising Of PATRONS against such
My studies OF the schools az this city
have been greatly facilitated by all con-
nected Herewith. Results especially fine
were ssttained in the Miner Denny Rain
ie-. Mercer. Pacific. ana especially the
Queen Anne schools They have been
good IN the other buildings visited. partir-
ulariy the South school. Witnessed some
remarkably fine work by individual teach
ers IN the University Place school: not
tho least - which ls that d0ne by the
beginning class n the ST Francis and two
q the rooms Of ne synagogue annex As
a room. great credit must he given - -ho
seventh AM eighth grades az Queen
Anne"
Il Is In order To state here that ne
larger part OF the work done nv Or M3trh
has been along the lire % testing the
thinking processes o. the children He
has been 81 1eavo~lng - carefully measure
the 3eErse ~ which the conclusions Of me
child arise from logic Tor reason rather
than se-,t ne1t. Ii some rooms mum
Ner ~ t7e children lave SLOWED their pre-
conceived opinions N resist any new con
dlttoas AID arguments that might he
h-@USh, 10 bear 70 influence. .t-af~ n,nau~s
Few people re2s z oow great 4 barrier
- progress Is hat st~3 IN the effects OF
- sfaker na.io-s concerning the SatifA ~