The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-04-29
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
Continued from First Page.

OF the public school course of study. TT
be sure the Introduction of these sub
jects has met with opposition here ane
there and there has been considerable
criticism of the methods of instruction
but in general, these subjects are vel
established in the courses of study IL
the elementary schools of the larger an6
more important towns and cities of the
country, and the methods are yearly be.
coming more rational.
| Prominent educators who have giver
| the matter Of elementary school instruc-
| ton serious study, who have devoted
their lives to it, who In most cases are
men of ability and good sense, are prac.
tically unanimous in their opinion as tc
the value of these subjects and of theil
legitimate place in the instruction OF
the common schools.
Here Mr.. Kendalls statement gives
indictments from the National Educa'
tional association, committee Of prom
inent Chicago laymen, Charles D. Hine
secretary of the Connecticut State
! board of education, and professors of
various colleges and institutes and other
superintendent of schools, all favoring
special studies. The statement then
continues:
Herbert Spencer in his celebrated
| treatise on education says: The
spreading recognition of drawing as an
element of education is one amongst
many signs of the more rational views
of mental culture now beginning to
prevail
There is some difference of opinion as
to the method of teaching drawing,
what should be accomplished, etc. This
is to be expected in view of the breadth
of the subject. 1t is also true Of such
time honored subjecs as geography and
English.
Now | submit the statement that the
opinions of the men whom have quoted
are entitled to consideration in any dis
cussion of this matter. No list of repre-
sentative educators Of the country would
b@ complete or would be likely to be
made without including many of the
names which I have used In the fore
going.
/ believe that intelligent and sys-
tematic supervision in drawing is a
necessity if this work is to go on and
that this supervision must be carried
on by some one who has had special
education and preparation for such SUI
pervison.
Relative to music:
The subject has been taught in the
schools for thirtyfour years under the
direction of the present supervisor. The
salary of the supervisor is $4,000 The
total cost for the year ending in June,
1885, was $3,041.72. The cost of the in
struction for each child based on the
number registered was twenty-five
cents.
In my recent report the subject is
spoken of as follows:
The city has been fortunate not only
in having music in the schools, but in
having it taught for so long a period by
one person, and therefore by continu-
Gus plan without break or Interrupt
ton
Everywhere vocal music is recognized
as a branch Of public school instruction
The public recognizes, not only the
high educational value of the process Of
learning to read music, but to appreci-
ate the influence which a knowledge of
music possesses in promoting good citi-
zenship. in making more attractive
homes, In furnishing resources of enter
tainment of the right sort to the army
of people who have been through the
public schools
believe one Of the objects of the pub
lie school is to equip the pupil, not only
to get on in the world, but to give him
resources as we'll, so that he can prop
erly enjoy his leisure. People have more
holidays and in general shorter hours of
work than formerly. The school must
promote good citizenship. Healthful,
attractive and happy homes are at the
root of good citizenship. The school ex-
lists and is paid for by public money
because it is believed that people with
education, training. knowledge and skill
are on the whole safer and better citi-
zens than illiterate and unframed peo-
pie.
A city whose inhabitants in general
know how to read music and who have
some taste for it, is all other things be-
ing equal, better community to live in
than a city whose people are without |
such resources.
Music brightens the entire life Of the |
school, 1t civilizes and refines. The
ability to read music is so much power
at the disposal of the individual. Any |
one who observes room fully of chill
lren engaged in reading music will be |
struck, / am sure, with it's value as a.
mere mental discipline. Long and sys
-ematic musical instruction In the
schools has had it's influence In making
New Haven the musical city it is ac-
to be by competent judges.
The president of the Gounod society as
sures me that the society, an organiza-
ion of which all New Haven are proud,
las been able to do Its high class of
work, in part, because of the musical
instruction In the public schools.
The subject has certainly passed the
fad" or "frill'' period. Would it be
wise to throw it out of the schools?
In my judgment supervision is neces-
AIRY to properly carry on the work.
Nature study or elementary science:
This work is carried on in the first six
GRADES There is no special supervision.
t cost last year $17001 for material, in
luding it's distribution.
Twenty minutes a day is given to 1t,
the time given to physiology
which the laws of the state require to be
aught These exercises are not new in
he schools. In the course of study is
ued by the board in 1888 provision was
made for similar instruction in all the