The San Francisco call., 1899-04-13

institute OF the city and county OF
San Francisco began at o'clock yes
terday morning in the auditorium of
the Mission High School. Every seat was
taken and among the prominent persons
who occupied seats on the stage and par
ucipated in the exercises were President
Bergerot Of the Board of Education, May
or Phelan and Professor Dresslar OF he
University OF California. The hall was
artisticalIy decorated with pink and blue
bunting, national flags and flowers ana
ferns. President Bergerot in his address
gave the teachers gentle hint that tney
must keep up with the progressive spirit
of the age If they hoped TO retain their
positions, as mossbackism would not pe
tolerated in the department.
The general assemblies are helQ morn
ings and evenings, the evenings peih8 ue-
voted to section work divided among the
several grades. An interesting anu IN
structive illustrated lecture was dei1FeIeu
in the Girls High School last evening oy
Professor J. Liberty Tadd or Fehhs! IVA
MIA on New Methods in Education.
As a preliminary TO the addresses at the
assembling Of the teachers in the morn
ing the children of the tfth and sixth
grades. under the direction OF MISS Es-
telle CARPENTER, marched on the stage ana
sang several pretty selections. Superlh-
tendent of Schools r. II. WEBSTER, eN-
officio president Of the institute, then wei
coined the teachers and briefly outlined
the work 20 be done.
1T is matter of qualification to Know
that the movement represented in this
meeting has met with so much sympathy
from the leaders in education, said the
speaker, "and 1 must express my thanks
TO the Board of Education and its presi-
dent who is with us here to-day, to Pres
ident Jordan Of Stanford University and
TO the faculty of the University OF Cali
fornia for their sympathy and support
President Webster then introduced
President Bergerot of the Board of Edu
cation, who made a short address, in
which he said he believed that san Fran
cisco was entering upon u new era IN edu-
catiOual and municipal matters ana eA-
pressed the belief that with the new char
ter the best interests of the people would
be protected. Continuing he said:
"Our Ereeholders deserve the plaudltS
and the gratitude of the people OF san
Francisco. and this is PARTICULARLY true
in regard TO the public school, which, IN
spite of its defects, is representative OF
the best traits of American character.
our public school system is the bulWark
Of our civilization, and there Is no Sacrl-
flee. that we are not willing to make .lti.,to 70
maintain its integrity. But our publlc
school system is yet in its infancy, ana
what does not progress retrogrades. me
baneful influence OF politics has tended TO
lower the tone of our public schools, but
l am happy to say that this evil tendency
is in a fair way of being eliminated
Some OF our teachers execute their
work in a perfunctory manner, as II the
community owed them a living. There
are others who do not keep in touch with
the best literature of their profession.
Under the charter such teachers as do
not come up to the standard Will be elm
mated. The new Board of Education is
animated with the determination to place
the public schools on sound, economical,
financial basis. We hope you will coop
crate with US in bringing order out OF
chaos.
TDt. ~,
spoke on the Importance of the Perma-
nent Improvement of Our Public School
Department" He referred 10 the dis
graceful record of the last board, and
that the city had been able TO secure such
q good and efficient board as the present
"A city offers a great many induce
nents for a population to remain within
its limits continued the Mayor, If it
permanently improves its educational
system. We need not fear the loss Of our
pre-eminence in this respect, for San
Francisco is a natural educational center.
For the sparse population of California
our two great universities are remarkable
and these educational institutions at our
door furnish a strong guarantee of perma-
nent Improvement in our school system.
I'VE have accomplished much in the
new charter, under which fund will be
created so that the teachers will be sure
of their salaries at the end Of every cal
endar month, and the charter will also
ings In this connection I desire to say
that IL there is one thing that the last
board did for the city that is not q mat
ter of regret it is in giving US this mag
The Mayor referred to the necessity Of
looking after the health Of the pupils in
the public schools. He regarded that as
of even more importance than the educa-
ton Of the youth, and in conclusion he
felicitated the teachers on the municipal
legislation which he declared would re-
suit in lasting benefit to the school sys-
At the conclusion of the Mayors ad-
dress recess Of five minutes was taken,
and upon reconvening a vocal solo was
very pleasingly rendered by Mrs. c. w.
Mark. DR.. F. B. Dresslar Of the Depart
ment OF Pedagogy of the University Of
California was then introduced to deliver
an address on Hygiene in Public
Schools" He said in part:
" "A good mind in good body II is
said. 1 will go further and say. Good
morals in a good body While am a
thorough believer in education, / believe
more in good health, and If we can help
the children TO acquire good education
in d healthful way we are doing great
zeal for the State; We need better ar.
II we want pure air we must continually
change the air in the school rooms so it
won't create a draught. We hear great
deal about children being oVerWOrked. A
certain amount Of fatigue is necessary
and healthful Merely being awake and
sitting up produces certain amount Of
fatigue.
I'VE want strong. healthful, vigorous,
quiet, determined people as teachers,
because we as Americans particularly
need it. If we are going to be Of the
most service to ourselves, teachers, let US
take care Of our health. Let US take
plenty Of sleep. as this is the only real
method Of relaxation.
Children in the upper grades often get
too little sleep. They have too many par
t'es at home. If children do school work
properly they haven't much time for any
thing else.
Variety cases fatigue Recitations
should be changed frequently. but not too
frequently, because the other extreme Of
too much variety tires, too.
"Two-sevenths Of the height Of q boy
should be the height of his desk. Very