The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1904-10-14

At the request Of The Star Prof.
". u. Gerard. Of this city. Who Is
the democratic candidate for state
superintendent Of public inkirue-
ton. has submitted the following
statement. IN which he declares
himself on a number Of matters
which are vital % the healthy up
build Of our systems 81 public
school and primary education.
Prof Gerard VAS asked point
blank II b. didn't think the public
schools should be kept out Of pol
tiles and be emphatioaiiy replied
that they should.
Prof Gerard has been actively
engaged ia school work for the last
twenty years and his statement
contains the outline q some new
ideas IN regard 10 the proper edu-
cation of the young. winch he
pledges himself TO put into effect II
he Is elected
Here Is hls statement.
IL am elected state suporin-
tendent Of public instruction ] shall
endcaVor to revise the state course
Of study % the end that IL may be
elmpli6cd. improved and strength
enrd In every possible way. In
many parts Of the United States
there Is a strong tendency 90 re-
quire pupils 10 study more subjects
than they can master thoroughly
The following which was read
bY Superintendent Cooper at a
principals meeting. October g. 1909
expresses my views SO clearly that
I reproduce u here:
a child IN the public schools
should learn
Il. To read intelligeutly and In
teluRibly.
% To write legibly and with
reasonable rapldity.
81 To spell correctly aud auto
matlcally.
q To compute readily and ae-
curateiy.
IS. To use books profitably as
touls
80 To attend asslduously.
- To deny and restrain himself
Tor the good Of others.
IS To think out things for aud
by himself
THE thorough mastery OF the es-
sential subjects and the essentials
OF the subjects OF reading. writing
arithmetic spelling. language. geog-
raphy and history will give power
10 enable the pupil TO take up tho
work OF higher education or 20 meet
the demands Of ordinary business
life. I do not believe In a smatter-
ing Of anything II pupils are given
worl, suitable In character and
quantity 10 their respective stages
Of development and required 10 do
that work honestly and thoroughly.
they will develop both power and
character In themselves.
III | am elected I shall cndcavor
90 so correlate the work that pm
pills and teachers will be able TO
do better work In the common
branches.
Il think there should be more
high schools In the state OF Wash
ineton These institutions are the
colleges of the people and since the
state can make no better invest
ment than to afford all OF the chill
dren a good education ] shall en-
deayor 20 encourage the creation OF
new high sehools 90 tho end that
every child In the state may have
the advantage of being able 10 at
tend one of these institutions with
In reasonable distance Of his home
"The success OF school work de
ponds In very great degree upon the
ability of the teacher. The work
Of the normal school is Of very
treat importance In this matter
While ! do not beliese In M. \ Hp
any radical chnupc Ia ncsnsal school
work | helisye se should cndtavor
60 begn ~ hnn WITH other progress
I've eiatez sh6 make constant and
nlesap s6atnnOvemcnt among our
gpGnuk ba1spAe.
aIa cgaS a. attract the best talent
anong QUE young people and the