The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-04-15
SCHOOL CLEANING.
State Council Of Teachers
in Session To-
day.

met last night in the rooms OF the Board
of Education, discussed topics pertaining
to Pedagogics and Hygiene. President
Henry Snyder, A. M, was in the chair
and there was a large umb Of
teachers present.
The subject of Pedagogics was In the
afternoon introduced by DR.. James M.
Green, who said that a suggestive course
from the kindergarten to the High
School, or, for what are commonly known
as the Primary and Grammar Depart
ments, was advisable.
In planning any course of study there
hould be a careful distinction etwee
that which is properly called a course of
study, and IN assignment of work. 1t is
quite a common thing among superinten-
dents and principals to assign work to the
various teachers under the supervision by
directing to go from such a page to such
a page in a given book within a given
length of time.
While this plan may be expedient with
in a given district, where the supervising
officer can explain exactly how ne would
have this work done. it cannot be general
First, because it does not recognize the
peculiar, or individual conditions of
schools, and second, because text books
are not common.
Whatever may be said in favor of as
not be properly considered courses of
study.
"A course of study should designate the
logical n psychological order of steps.
from the beginning to the end of a given
period of development. For instance, If
there is a gradual mental growth there
is a gradual growth of the mind In lin
guistic power. The mind, in its natural
development, is not engaged at time
in the use of nouns, adjectives and adj
verbs, and at another with figures of
rhetoric, and at another with completed
themes, but has more or less power in all
these. phases, according to its stage of
development. Hence, a course in language
must, in the beginning. show the germs
of each element in linguistic power, so
that the growth of these elements may
be constant, and be traced all the way
through the course
The discussion was opened by Superin-
Randall Spaulding, Superintend-
ent William J. Shearer, Superintendent
William N. Barringer, Principal j. Will
mer Kennedy, Superintendent John En-
right, and Principal L. A.. Goodenough.
This morning was presented the printed
report of Committee on Hygiene, Cleans
ing the Schoolroom, by Superintendent
Vernon L.. Davey, and there was discus
sion opened by Supervising Principal j..
Howard Hulsart, Principal B. Holmes,
and Principal Joseph Clark.
Among the statements made in the re-
port was this opening paragraph
During the last ten years there has
been great progress in the general sub
ject of schoo sanitation. 1t is, however,
strangely true that the improvements
have chiefly been along architectural and
mechanical lines. while there has been
less change in matters pertaining to the
care and cleanliness of the buildings. 1t
is a question whether we are not open to
the charge of considering most earnestly
those improvements which are thrust
upon us by the representatives of manu-
facturers and contractors, and of regard
too little those matters which. are
most easily cared for and over which we
have to a great extent control.
1dI &c SaAilo u AACAASy NA0 ~
our advice and even at u earnest So
in flushing out the school rooms
constantly with pure air, but the floors,
walls and furniture for the most part re-
ceive the same attention as in former
years.
There Is some excuse for this, for the
impure air offends the senses and SO pro-
vokes action, while impurities on wood
work, floors and desks are not obtrusive
easily escape notice.
The purpose of this report is chiefly to
call attention to his subject and to pro-
woke a discussion which may result in
showing us what is necessary and prac-
ticable in the matter Of cleansing school
houses"
The committee went thoroughly into the
question of scrubbing and cleaning the
schools, and closed by saying:-If boards
of education could be induced to require
1T, much of the work specified could be
done by the regular janftors. but 1t is safe
to say that in most cases an additional
expenditure would be necessary. This
should be insisted on by principals and
superintendent, and there should be a
de1nit statement by the board as to the
of the supervision and control of
this part Of the janitor's work.
At the close of the discussion today
officers and committees will be elected.
The present officers are:-President, Hem
Snyder, A. M, Superintendent of
Schools. Jersey City; yice-President, Aus
tin C. Apgar, State Normal School, Trei1-
ton; Secretary, S. v. Arrowsmith, Princi-
pal of Public Schools, Red Bank; Treas
urer, Brewster Willis, County Superin-
tendent of Schools, New Brunswick.