The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-05-16
B0ST0N'S
SCHOOLS.
Miss Williams Tells Local
Teachers of the Work
of the ''Eiub."

Miss Mary c. !. Williams. assistant
superintendent OF schools, who recently
rel urned home from Boston where she
visited several institutions of learning,
addressed the public school teachers Of the
city yesterday afternoon.
II have come home greatly encouraged,
but by NJ means satisfied" Miss Williams
said. in the first place l desire to- pay
tribute to the good manners of all the
teachers with whom we came in contact,
not only to ourselves. but to their pupils;
the manner of pupils toward teachers was
equally respectful. Both words and tonss
were pleasant. States have been uniyors.
ally discarded AMI l wish each one of you
would urge upon your committeeman The
very great desirablity OF such an innova-
tion in our own schools. After tha first
cost believe that paper il no more OK
pensiye than states. In all of the Boston
schools the supply of materials Is unlimit-
ed. At tho Prince School was told that
for materials. At this school, which is
both primary and grammer, there is a
fine mngs lanter, classes in food and
cooking and sewing for both girls and
boys.
''In all Of the schools reading is regard
edofptimarv importance and in tho lower
grades, teachers may make optional selec-
lions from ten different books In my last
annual report l spoke OF the inconveni-
ence arising from tho admission Of pupils
to first grade at any time during the form.
and advised that the time limit Of admis-
sion be made six weeks. find in Boston,
those children who como in afer the sixth,
week are put into special classos, called
sub-primary classes. for which special
teachers arc appointed. The fad now
throughout tho city Is 'poso work, and in
oil Of the schools | found the children
busy cu1ivating by this means heir pow
er of observation
Miss Williams spoke at length upon the
language work and exhibited specimens OF
writing, rose-wcrl and drawing. Coming
back to Wilmington schools, she referred
to several matters that had come under her
notice during her bi mon'h hIy visits. and
among other things she urged tho teachers
with great emphasis to encourage the
chilIron to make good use OF our public
library. Not only to recommend good
books to them, but to allow them to bring
them into tho schools and to read them
when their lessons are done: to make their
l1vo for good books so strong that they
will have no timo or desira to read trash.
In other words, to start them in the right
way toward the appreciation of what is
good in literature, in the school under
careful supervision.
She also spoke Of tho doslrability of q
closor bond between Lone and school, but
reminded the teachers that infinite tact is
required to- overcome many of the existing
difficulties. "Study your own children
and know their Individual capabilities y
was hor concluding ndvice; no one can
formulate plans whereby each teacher may
find every requirement for the government
Of her classes, but each One must for her.
solf work out ter own ideals. The work
of the Wilmington schools is Icing faith
fully done and tho teachers were delighted
to have Miss Williams word OF con III IN
dation.