The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-11-24
$50 ha 9aR q

Marked change In the course Of study
of the st. Paul schools is imminent.
Necessity for some modification of meth
cd has long been recognized by the school
authorities, and from time to time as it
presented itself in a new form has been
extensively discussed in an informal way.
The subject was presented in concrete
form to the principals of the schools at
their regular. meeting yesterday after
noon by Supt Smith, with the request
that they discuss it. with their teachers,
consider it carefully themselves and then
submit their views for the consideration
of the board of school inspectors.
Course Needs Encouragement.
Discussing this subject after the meet
ing, Supt. Smith said to T h e G e.:
There is no question but that our
course, as 1t is now, is In a sense over
crowded or overloaded. But what we need
is not elimination Of studies; it Is re-
arrangement of our course. To have a
recitation in each study every day gives
the course too much of routine charac-
ter, and in my opinion destroys interest
for the student. We must provide for in
dustriai training to a greater extent than
ever beforehand We must shape our
course to accommodate it. 1t is demanded
of us that We give fuller recognition to
this branch OF educational work, and to
do this we must find the time by re-
vision of our time table, since we can
not add to the number of school hours in
the week. - q g - l.
Supt. Smith presented the subject of
courses OF. study to the principals in a
paper, in which was embraced detailed
information as to methods in practice
in the schools of Prussia, of the cities of
Berlin and Dresden, Germany; Norwich,
England, and the secondary schools of
France. His discussion of the topic in this
paper was in part as follows:
It is the practice from time to time to
declare that we have reached a critical
stage in school affairs. and that the time
for an advance movement has come. And
most unfortunately these declarations are
usually utilized by someone 'who utters
note of warning or STRIKES a key
note or does something tending to OBJ
scure the real question or matter at is
sue by throwing his own personality be-
tween the object of interest and those
who are interested. There is an old Latin
maxim, :. Principal non homines." that has
world of sound meaning in it, but it is
too often reversed and made in effect
'sHomines non principal" especially in
educational matters. Under this state or
condition loyalty would mean personal
fealty, and loyal service might take little
note of the great interests involved, but
much interest In and care of the welfare
Of the leader
In teaching, loyalty is devotion to prin-
ciple 1t finds expression in unSelfiSh eff
fort to advance the cause; to promote it's
objects, and to secure it's benefits in
largest possible measure to those who are
Courses Radically Changing.
Our courses of study are undergoing
radical changes, and will continue chang
ing until they meet the real needs Of the
public, unless they shall fail at last to
Justify their existence altogether. From
the. present condition to the true eondi-
tom the transition can be safely made
without waStefuI expenditure, and with
out loss to the children, if the American
tendency to extreme action can be
avoided.
In the reconstruction and reformation
of courses of study there should be, not
necessarily a conservative, but certainly
a sensible a reasonable line of procedure.
a growth of the new out Of the old; the
old supplying the nourishment and sup
port necessary to the new growth. This
is the. only truly normal and enduring
growth; There are defects in our course
lowing mistaken IDEAS or by giving a
wrong construction to some measure or
method. in itself quite proper
President Roosevelt's Criticism.
Defects have. also grown up because of
an adherence to methods that are wrong
In themselves, or that have been out
grown. In late educational journal find
1T stated that President Roosevelt had
withdrawn his son from the public schools
of Washington because he had discovered
that he knew more about the anatomy
OF the grasshoppeT than about English
Ing and of inaccurate and careless work
ing were being formed. What was needed
in the schools was athoroughness, and that
it was conspicuous only because of its
Absence 49,
Is the president right? The teachers
are working hard enough, but is the time
so employed as to secure to the children
the greatest. good. feel obliged to saw
that 1 do not think that our work is done
with that care, thoroughness and ac-
curacy that should characterize it; that
our children do not. effectively use their
oprc4 tunities for securing the power of
right thinking; of the right use Of the
book; of the right manner of study. I lis
ten with some Impotence to continued
references to spelling, as if there the
great evil lay, and there the great wrong
wrought its results. Bad spelling is rather
a symptom. indicating a bad mental state
or condition.
An irate parent sometimes appears at
my office with child who has been sus-
pended for whispering" or for turning
around" and he indignantly expresses a