The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1904-05-07
ARITHMETIC
Dressler

| ~ AA~ go %A~A~ ~A1 R~AAA@SSAE
appeared in this paper last week
has awakened some public interest
in local educational conditions, the
which may arouse parents to the
necessity of thoroughly Investigate
ing the subject. Not only here,
but throughout the country, there
is feeling that public school edu-
cation is lacking in some essential
elements. It is believed by many
that there is a want of thorough
ness in teaching the practical COM
mon branches, and not few think
that the system of grading in gen
eral vogue is in some respects illog-
ical and detrimental to the best de-
velopment of youth. Parents are
too much disposed to think that
when they have elected a board
and indicted willingness to pay a
school tax, they have performed
their whole duty. They forget
that school trustees are human and
therefore careless; they forget that
teachers naturally run to tads; they
forget that the education of child
rem is the gravest responsibility
that men and women can take
upon themselves, and that ii
ought not to be entrusted to any
save the worthy and the competent.
They also forget that it is the duty
of parents to see to it that none but
the worthy and competent are so
entrusted.
Last week, we called attention to
what appears to be general neg
lect of penmanship in public schools.
We are told that this results from
the fact that nowadays children
have so many lessons to write and
are driven to such haste in writing
them that they can give no atten-
ton to the formation of letters.
This is no doubt, in part. the cause
of bad penmanship. Back of it,
though, is the vertical fad"-a
diabolical invention for the destruc-
ton of good penmanship, and the
teachers of the country are respon-
sible for it.
This week, we call attention to
the fact that the entire Eight tn
grade in the Caldwell school failed
in the arithmetic examination,
There must be some cause for this
other than the stupidity of the boys
and girls. Somewhere in the pre-
ceding grades there was lack of
thoroughness in teaching. We are
informed that when student passes
out of the Eighth grade he is fin
ished in arithmetic, so far as the
schools are concerned. In this case,
the State Superintendent furnished
the problems and not single men,
Der of the grade was able to solve a
sufficient percentage of them to en-
title him to pass; yet, we are told,
that a fair working knowledge of
arithmetic would enable anyone to
solve all OF them. 1t is hardly con-
ceivable that the entire grade was
brought right up to the passing
point without the principal know
ing of its incapacity. Now, as
boys and girls graduate from the
public schools without being able
to write passably, it is a question if
they do not graduate without being
able to cipher passably. 1t is, then,
pertinent to inquire if their condi-
ton with respect to English gram
mar is not quite as deplorable. lift
should so turn out, then the boys and |
girls are going forth from the high
schools with certificates of knowl-
edge that are frauds, and the public
schools are fostering an educational
system that has but scant respect
for practical information. Is this