The sun., 1901-10-22
.aBoUT CONDITIONS.

neut members of the Board of Education :
We regarded what We had written as
descriptive statement Of conditions, anu
in no sense Il criticism of either the metii-
ods or ideals of the new superintendent.
The nearest we came TO the role of the
critic, was to remark that the standard
had been set ut Il height unattahabis
by the membership Of the Board of Edl-
cation. The verifcation that surprised
us was of that statement. One OF tue
gentlemen N question mistook our d"s'
criptive statement for sharp criticism |
of Superintendent Twitmyer, and. based
the truth Of that assertion upon ms
knowledge Of the English language. We
are perfectly willing to let that matter
90 III that, and suggest. that notwith-
standing the supposed severity Of the
test, the doubt is still in our favor
We do not think there should be amy
secrecy. or any denial about and OF
things pertaining to the schools. We ale
Of the opinion that frankness and honesty
of expression i'll discussion i IN evil
deuce of real devotion to public school
interests. 1t was i'll that spirit that We
wrote what our critics object to. In our
several interviews with Superintendent
Twitmyer. he has impressed us with the
idea that he shared that opinion. we
were also impressed with the idea that
he Is perfectly familiar with the condl-
ib,j
comment was neither new or surprising
TO him This condition is natural Is
velopmcnt of the system so long III VOGUE
and 50 sednlously cultivated by the Schol
authorities. and the press. 50 far rs i
has entered into the discussion of school
matters. This system begins in prrNcilh.
ing that i'll the erection Of buildings ptr-
chase of supplies and all expenditures OF
money for school purposes must he Spsnf
at home; that is. that the taxes collected
from the people shall he returned to thou
through the channels of local business.
As the schools increased and developed
the system was applied to the selection
ana employment OF teachers, until II he
came Il settled opinion that only Etadu-
atcS of the local schools could of right he
employed iii them aS teachers. IN" ri-
feet of this has hoem TO encourage HtrE
many pupils. particularly srl pupils, Z
make extraordinary efforts 70 grhduhN
and thus establish i claim for employ
mpnt III the teaching corps. fdrent'
have joined III this effort; and 50 i ha'
come about that the teachers empioNS'
arr ncarly all graduates Of the lora
schools, and that there is behind then
as amny more graduates waiting anu 'A
pcctirs ID have their preferred clnii
for employment recognized. mat go
tafnly is true. There Is another thin
about ii. Under such system of tram
ing teachiug becomes q settled rou'n
of exercises always taking the same forl
Of expression. Originality and rerSal
ality are lest in the fixed and rigid r"'
time Of custom. That such syStri
wonll w II Srcd--Suiler from conS'al
in breeding Of IDEAS gors without SaSiA
THAT this has occurred III the l"c
schools cannot IL reasonably denied.
saving that, we are not, disposed towal
unrricndly criticism Of the teachers
on. local schools. They are ns ~
lovll and capable. So far aS their opp
tuulti4S nave allowed they meaSur" w
iii lii tie scale If attained seholArSn
and also in methods of teaching. ln
far ~ thcy have failed 10 reach
I ,,t-.,l l,l,.
victims ot the Systcm. New it is cert:
that u bring this system 10 ehns
such AZ forced the finding Of 4 new sup
intculrnt. aud that materially brings
rcw drals ana institutes new meth"
thrrn viii hc brought about ~ antaE'
ism lntwrrn The drvutrcS Of til" Oh e
tolg-. ana hr ncw regime. That has
curr, 4 There is no use in ignoring
and it Is not truthful to deny it,
iii making our conclusions about
matter wo found the source # tlilS
tn@ouism among the teachers. their =
ents ad friends. aud imimntrd that
No,lil also reach the members Of
Board Of Education. IL break NV
from Old habits Ill work Is JuNt VI y
a, to break away from them cisGWh'
Tie effort 20 do 50 is all right 50 i
n. thp novelty lasts, but ia N" m'
number Of eases the novelty will y
Of. ana fatgue commensurate to
enthusiasm of the effort will foll
Complaint will follow fatigue
fatigur ana complaint has comr' "l
cenrinl. IL evident This then = "
wp said: Professor Twitmyer Is Zee
The force Of the undcrt0w of rect'
wave ~ popularity. A statement q y
we think to be evident truth In mai
thiS statement We suggested that Su
itrplrnt Twitmyer's efforts 70
the school system toward higher idea
tn i higher lrvr-will he met by
nnfagouiSmS We have indicated. ]
viii pull duwn We did not say that
Supcrintcndrnt's effort would fail
that the contendins forces would i
and assmilutc upon II common leve
Surely al welwisherS of the p'
schools will agree that this VIII Z
.af...,,, ,,,s,,lt of unariufpudeut II