The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-10
WORK OF THE SCHOOLS
DISCUSSION BY THE TOWN AND CITY
SUPERINTENDENTS.
ID. X. GOss Gives His Impressions of
the German SchOOIs-Oth-
or Addresses.

Inc town and city SuperlntendentS De-
gan their annual series of meetings last
night at the Statehouse. Mrs. Benedict, the
regular secretary, not being present, b. +.
Moore, of Marion, was elected to temporar-
lily fill her place. Upon motion the read
ing of the minutes was dispensed with and
the regular programme was begun by
Superintendent w. A. Mills, one of the
memb ers of the committee who formulated
the report on conditions of high schools,
who talked very Interestingly on the subject
of the Presentation of High School Course
of Study" He said in part: II have de-
cided TO put before this body number of
pertinent questions. The report of this body
IS intended to present the situation of the
high schools and to raise discussion, that
the high school may benefit therefrom. We
have worked pretty faithfully and the labor
was by no means easy, and We sincerely
hope that the report will raise discussion
unlimited, as heretofore there has been too
few criticisms. The high school needs
more definite position. Studies investigated
in one hundred schools reveal a lack Of uni
formity. There should be better arrange
ment Of studies. There are two functions to
be considered the disciplinarian and the
unitarian, and they both require that the
H.
we find that the high school course is OPP
tional among a great any teachers. some
of them allowing thirty minutes to the study
of Latin and some sixty minutes. There is
an absolute necessity that the amount Of
time to be given a study should be dis
cussed. We also find that the high schools
are much better equipped for scientific work
than for any other They seem to take a
Iol~ v;<
and say nothing of their libraries. Then
again, the township high schools should be
brought in closer relation with the city high
school. Lastly, there should be a better
preparation among the teachers, who should
make a SIP ecial effort for the culture that Is
requisite in the work"
Superintendent w. II. Sanders, another
member of the committee, in speaking OF
the report, said 1t not only revealed what
they had but also that which they had not
be the means of bringing about the discus
sion of two great questions, the difference
in the makeup of the class of 1899 and the
nigh school equipment. Although the re-
ports are very meager. the fact can easily
be CLEANED from them that the records of the
In closing he said that he invited the tree
and full discussion Of every portion OF the
report
on the subject of photography. of Second
airy Schools" He said the photography as
contained in the report made no pretention
practically no basis upon which to work.
Modern high schools were really the child Of
the last. half century. and there had been
are last fifteen years. Superintendent Car
negy said: THE trouble comes from the
fact that we are dealing. with the child at
the most critical time Of his life. / think
this should properly be called the 'AdoleS-
cent Stage" The friends of the high school
are divided into two parties, the ultra con-
servatives and the ultra liberals, of which
one holds on to the fashion of rigid course.
and the other wants TO throw down the
bars. l cannot say that the report is all
that would wish Il, but it will enable you
to find out what has been said by the best
authors on the subject, and / trust 1t will
have proved CT some use.
SCHOOLS IN GERMANY.
Supt. d. X. Goss, of the Indianapolis
schools, then spoke upon the German and
American Schools" when / was in Ger
many" said he, IT found myself unable to
resist the habit that grows upon man in
his profession, and 1 naturally began to in
quire into the workings Of the schools.
was naturally trying to see what kind OF
a machine was back Of the men that met
what kind of power that made them so
infinitely superior in their education to US.
1 soon discovered that over there they train
men to definite purpose, they educate
them that they may reach some human
duty. OF course 1 cannot speak dogmau-
cally of anyone. | am not able to judge
of their schools In dogmatic way. nor can
/ Judge them by our schools. Their schools
are for their training and ours for
ourselves. Their education is. a bust
perial ruler, and In this respect it is like
our own Their education starts from the
center and works toward the outer edges
The center is the Minister OF Public Instruc-
ton and the whole system Is built bv his
hand. and as consequence II Is perfect
machine. One part tts into the other, and
this is indicative of the German character
which must see the end of the road before
he can take one step upon it. The whole
system is completely knit together. But
that system would not do for our children
who have all ends in life. After the third
Just what school he intends TO attend and
according TO his intention in life he makes
his selection. Their schools furnish better
training than ours, as they give definite
training and we general one. After he
has finished his schooling the German boy
has a place for him which is provided BY
the government, and nothing can keep him
from 1t but the lack or ability There they
do not strive for Office politically, they dc
not know the meaning OF politics In that
ii is merely to forward the formulative
policy of the country. There is lesson In
this and we should strive to bring our men
from Lafayette, Bloomington and many
State, and to do the States work. Wher
this occurs politics will have received q
cleaning up. and men will have better
incentive for higher education"
After the address of superintendent Cos:
the chairman called for the enrolment OF
fhe superlntendents present.
The next meeting of the series will be
held to-day at a. m. when the discussion