New-York tribune., 1899-06-07
BAD AND GOOD SCHOOLS.
THE PRIVATE AND THE PUBLIC INsTT-
TUTIoNs COMPARED.
PRESIDENT HUNTER OF THE NORMAL COLLEGE
SAYS ALL TEACHERS SHOULD HOLD
LICENSES CERTIFYING TO
QUALIFICATIONS


The young ladies' private school, when bad is
even worse than the boys. for the reason that
many Of the managers Of the former have not even
the inferior education OF the managers Of the latter
says Thomas Hunter. president OF the Normal
College, in THE Gentlewoman." A lady after
she has fallen from wealth. starts either OF two
things-a boarding house a private school Her
education may have been OF the ilmsiest kind.
Her qualifications to practise law or medicine may
be just as good her qualifications 10 teach
school, but her former friends furnish credentials
and small sum OF money and 10, the fashionable
private school appears duly advertised In all the
leading newspapers. To do Justice however. to this
kind Of school Is only fair TO state that II makes
pretence Of training the mind by wrestling with
the more difficult branches OF study. II is solely a
finishing school," which. alas! never finishes any
thing-not simple arithmetic.
From the worst class Of schools, which We have
barely outlined there is gradual ascent TO private
schools OF the highest order. which even the best
public schools cannot equal. These private schools
are conducted by able. talented and conscientious
men and women. They are not in the profession
merely for the purpose Of making money.
They take pride in the progress OF their pupils;
they employ thoroughly qualified subordnates. and
they spare pains to develop morally and mental
ly those committed 10 their There are. espec-
ally IN the great cities. hundreds Of such excel
lent schools. superior in many ways 20 the best
public schools The former are less crowded. better
equipped and the work of Instruction is more In
dvidual
There is great difference In public schools
Some are good. some midding and some bad Again,
they are excellent in one city county and In
ferior IN another In some places they are under
superior supervision and in others they are scarcely
supervised at all. Some super1nendents require
high standard Of qualification on the part OF the
teachers and there others who are Indifferent
At any rate all things considered. the average
standing OF the public schools is much higher than
the private schools The for this superior
ity are not far to find The public school teacher
must possess license. which is obtained after
an examination or less severe. As a rule, ne
has received some special training in normal
seminary teachers institute. . . ,.
There should be law passed IN all the states
compelling private teachers to hold license cert-
flying to their character and qualihcatons Ins rs
Is nothing more than is required for the pracllco
OF law or medicine. 1t should be made crime lor
any man woman 10 engage In the proiessloh VI
teaching without a license issued by ega author-
ity Such a law would prevent parents from oelng
Imposed upon by empires. Teaching being splrit-
uaf and unconscious. 10 great extent is not easly
estimated or measured. and all the more reason
why the public should be protected IN the fnost III
portant function OF life, the education ana training
OF the young.