The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-05-27

last session of the year, the announce
ment that Supt. Smith would deliver his
last address to them drawing full at
tendance.
Prefacing the address, President Corn
ing told the teachers that they would
be paid for 80 weeks school this year.
instead of 40. the full term. The thing
could not be helped because the payment
would take all the mony at the command
of the board.
After announcing that the schools
would close June 15, and that examina
tons would begin June 1, he said:
TRIBUTE TO -COLABORERS.
81 take pleasure in bearing testimony
once more to your intelligence. zeal and
fidelity in carrying forward the work
intrusted to your care. The year has
had its peculiar trials as other past
years have had theirs, also, but through
it all you have borne yourselves quietly
and worthiy, using the means at hand
to the best advantage 1t is not unusual
to hear the praises of the past recited,
over and over; to hear an expression of
profound regret that the good times are
gone, and the hope that the schools will
again be what they once were. l join
in the feeling and only desire that not
only may the schools again be what they
once We're but that they shall attain
to the highest possible degree of eftc-
iency and prove the greatest possible
blessing to the city of st. Paul. To those
before me who served in the golden age,
as some are pleased to regard it, as well
as to their associates who labor in other
fields. and those who have. ceased from
their labors, I gladly award due praise,
for work nobly performed. l would IL
/ could, add to. not detraet from their
efforts and the excellence of the results
that followed; but without making any
invidious distinctions or comparisons. L
feel that I can offer a tribute to the
splendid spirit of the present corps of
teachers. and to the unselfish devotion 30
duty under trying circumstances that
have characterized their work during the
past year. | beg you to believe that this Is
no empty compliment. bu that it Is
spoken from a profound conviction based
upon a knowledge of what you have
been doing. .
Beyond this l do not seek to review
the work of the past two years. not TO
forecast what is yet to follow, and
shall ask your Indulgence for length OF
time sufficient only for a brief reference
to the principal points to be- considered
in examining into a system of pubic IN
struction. If l were to name these IN
the order of their Importance l should
name the child, the teacher. the course
of study, and treating them in reverse
order | wish to re-aftirm what l have
heretofore so strongly stated concerning
the essentials of a course of study. With
in The. limits of my own, experience Two
great additions have been made to School,
ctlrricula, the Importance Of which can
not be easily overrated. Spoken and
written utteranceS of mine upon THESE
two subjects since the day Of Their m
PRODUCTION into American schools sutil-.
GENTLY attest my belief in them, and /
look most hopefully to the future TO see,
than grow TO such. weight and influence
as will materially. modify schemes OF
education in our country
AS TO KINDERGARTENS.
..The kindergarten idea Is yet but dimly
understood by many people and ITS far-
reaching influence is scarcely weighed by
those actually engaged in the work, but.
hy those slow processes whereby great
and enduring changes are wrought II
will gradually work to a condition where-
in the fulfllment Of its mission VIII De
assured. Against inevitable tendencies
towards purely mechanical or iorulal
work. against a mawkish sentimentalty,
that makes too much of device and too
little of the child q know that this
sounds DaradOXical, but l am assured
that YOU understand my meanlng) the
great purpose of Froebel and the nople,
lofty inspiration that moved his heart
and mind are entering into the work ana
the lives of those engaged In the Worh'
in such a way as to give the greatest
nossible encouragement to all lovers OF
humanity | could not ask for more
than that YOU should recall all that
have said in favor of kindergartens, in
vour hearing, and adding to those words
any that your warm admiration Tor the
un lertaking may suggest. contribute ny
practical effort and kindly sympathy
what you can to the first principle OF
true education. The other feature IS
manual training, yet in its infancy, pnt
of such hearty and vigorous nature lIiat
IT will soon be- if 1t be not now, indlf-
ferent alike to foolish criticism and I'M
reasoning opposition. 1 may be pardoned
for repeating that during the past six
teen years, [ have spoken so often and
written so much upon the subject that
any formal statement from me at this
time is wholly unnecessary. very much
hope that 1t will soon be resumed in
the grades. greatly improved and better
understood than it VAS when dtscon-
tinued some years ago. A proper course
of study is an arrangement reaching
from the kindergarten and extending
through the high school. Quite as warm
as any defense that | could possibly
make of the kindergarten would be my
defense of the high schools and l take
great pleasure in hoping that never again
perhaps, will st. Paul citizens be panied
by inept discussions of such questions
as ''What part of the system can we
best spare?" Shall the kindergarten or
the high schools go7' Let us indulge in
the hope l say that for some things, at
least. there is no resurrection from the
deaC.
There are certain subjects that We all
unite in declraing essential which form
the frame work upon which and about
which is built the childs education
These must not be overlooked, they can
not be acquired incidentally, Tor by 1ndi-
rection. but in their nature afford not
alone factual advantages, but necessary
mental discipline. They relate to the
daily experiences of the child, and, prop
erly understood and acquired, suitably
prepare for living.
Touching the second point, can use
no language more foreible, or that ex-
presses my views more fully than the
following from Claiming: There IS no
higher office than that Of a teacher Of
youth. for there is nothing on earth 80
precious as the mind, soul and character
of the child. No office should be regarded
with greater respect. Parents should
seek an education for the young of their
families who will become to them hearty
in their work If hteir circumstances will
allow it, they should so limit the school
that the instructor may know Intimately
every child NAV become the friend of