The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-05
CHOICE OF TWO EVILS
SINGLE DAILY SESSION IN HIGH
SCHOOL Is so CHAR
ACTERIZED
REVIEW OF CITY SCHOOLS
Former supt. Smiths Review in
Annual school Report Discusses
shortcomings without
Any Gloves.

The board of school inspectors has just
completed its forty-second annual report,
and it is the best that the board has
ever issued. Secretary Healy for many
months past has been experimenting
the work of getting the report In shape.
One Of the most interesting parts of
the report is that written by Superin-
tendent Smith. Referring to the single
daily session, so common all over the
state, the former superintendent says:
1.-The one session daily in high schools
is far from an Ideal arrangement, and
is everywhere recognized as a choice be-
tween evils. That the children, even of
the high school, can study as advan-
tageouSly at home as in the schoolroom
has not been proved, and the early
breakfast hour, the long fast and the
undue tension resulting from continuous
recitation, and the immediate change of
attention from one subject to another,
work great injury in many cases to the
health, both of body and mind. Indeed,
this is a most serious problem and one
that I am very far from believing is
settled. Speaking of the graded
schools, the superintendent says:
For a long time high school teachers
have complained that pupils coming from
the grades were deficient in a knowledge
Of arithmetic and grammar. Teachers of
Latin and French and German have Wig
orously insisted that the pupils attempt
ing those subjects knew but little of
English. Business men have declared
that boys and girls seeking employment
with them could not spell or punctuate
correctly, write legibly or calculate ac-
curately. Are these objections impair
tlaI land are they grave enough to re-
quire earnest consideration? I believe
that they are" Further on, the super
1ntendent states that radicalism is to be
avoided, and the golden mean" should
be eagerly sought and followed.
He says that more attention should be
given to the three RS. In regard to in
dustrial education, the superintendent
says:
1T seems proper that more careful at
tention should be given to the subject
OF industrial education than has been
heretofore accorded to it. Many cities
are seriously considering radical changes
In their course Of study, and a strong
influence is working in favor of the in
PRODUCTION of business instruction. The
time has come when demand of this
kind can be no longer ignored An ex-
IRENE position, either in favor of this
proposition or against it, should be
avoided. The beginning made in the
Central high school, I trust will lead to
a careful and definite arrangement Of
work relating to practical duties that
OOlAA0 6lISI SCHOOL Gays are over, but
the foundation of the work must be laid
before the pupils reach the high school"
The superintendent refers briefly to the
good work accomplished by the Teach
ers' training school and Mothers clubs.
Under the head of Supervision" the SUI
perintendent says:
1t is unnecessary to offer an areu
ment in favor of the theory that the
school is just what the teacher makes it
All other agencies may help the teacher
put cannot help the pupils in any other
way. If the teacher be sensible. well
prepared and faithful to her duties. the
success of her efforts will be certain and
satisfactory, but if she be lackins, in
those matters no assistance from anv
aster." 1 NnV us
The report is complete in every detail
1t has many Illustrations of the schools
IN tile city, besides pictures of WOOD
work, clay work, drawing, mecbanica1
work and the like Of particular infer
est are the illustrations of the CLAW
modelling done in the Mechanic Arts 6ieb
school. 1t is astonishing to see what
some OF the pupils have Accomplished
some OF the clay heads made from life
would do credit to professional artists