The Saint Paul globe., 1900-02-18
WHAT SCHOOLS need.
sUPT. SMITH ADDRESSES TEACH
ERS OF ST. PAUL ON EDUCA-
TIONAL ESSENTIALS
TRIBUTE TO MISS AUSTIN
References of High Honor Are Made
to the Work of the Dead Teacher,
Preceding the General Discussion
of the Topic for the Day, Essen
tiaIs of a System of Public Edu-
cation for City,"

A general teachers meeting was held
yesterday forenoon in Assembly hall of
the Central high school, attended by over
500 teachers. Supt. Smith delivered an
address upon .sThe Essentials OF a Sys-
tenn of Public Education for a City"
AS a preliminary to his address he
spoke briefly of the death of Miss Flora
L. Austin for so many years member
OF the teaching staff Of the Central high
school. He said in part:
Her work stood for consistency-a
consistency founded upon principles of
justice and kindness, Influenced by no
severe tests or demands for an, austere
standard of conduct on the one hand,
nor weak and hesitating forbearance
on the other-a consistency that appre-
ciated earnest effort and serious atten-
ton to serious matters, but rejoiced in
the happiness and youth Of those about
her, and she had the courage and pa
tiepce to maintain always this consistent
attitude.
Her work will stand for faithful ad-
herence to the highest principles Of duty,
the brightest ideal of life.
She was the guide, the leader Of her pu-
pills; serious. tender, considerate, hope
full. The path Of duty along which she
led them was overshadowed by no gloom.
or darkness. or sadness. Like the roads
of the Southland, it was hedged with
everbloom, pure and white as snow, but
requiring perseverance. energy and fdel-
ity.
In her nature the aspiration after per-
fection and the longing after repose SEEM
ed to harmonize, and we believe that
after this accident or episode that we
call earth had run its course, that the
spiritual reality became clear; that with
an awe that was not fear, and with no
consciousness Of demerit excluding hope
she entered upon higher duties in a higher
life. But in years to come, boys and
girls, grown to be men and women, will
hold strong, clear remembrance of this
right educating teacher, whose kindness
controlled and whose wisdom guided
them.
Supt. Smith then read paper on "The
Essentials Of a System Of Public Edu-
cation for City" in which he said in
part:
Tt is not Inappropriate, at this time, to
make very brief reference to the es-
sentials of a general arrangement, con-
tentlng mySelr With an unreaSOned state
ment,. from lack of time to discuss ade-
quately any Of the several subjects or
questions. Let US assume, then, that
the order OF arrangement, in 80 far as
1t applies to grades one to eight, in
elusive, is in the main correct, so far as
1t goes. What other essential depart
ments belong to the system? We have
in ST. Paul twentyseven kndergartens,
first inaugurated here in 1891. There are
1.7CO pupils in actual attendance, the
number evidently being somewht dlnnin-
ished by the severity of the weather,
but the maximum average attendance
for any month scarcely reaches 2,Oc0 The
cost of this instruction is not SO great
as for an equal number in other grades
OF the system, and is, indeed, so rea-
sonable that the most economical could
make no objection to 1t. Having but re-
Gently been made a part of our system
1t is quite natural, perhaps that there
should be some discussion Of its value.
and yet I have not heard it called in
question. Neither upon financial nor
pedagogical grounds have the members
OF the board, at any time since have