The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1905-04-10
HIGH PRAISE FOR
CAIRO SCHOOLS
Mr. Spencer Chaplain Of New
Zeulard Much Impressed
CITY SHOULD Be PROUD
EXCELLENT DISCIPLINE MAIN
Tanned AND CLASS WORK
FINE - TRlEOrE TO
PROF. CLENDEAEN.

/ wi. oNGAStI Aidpls-thl II 4NEH ava
land, who is in the United States 70
/ the purpose of study ng our education
Al facilities. and who has been i
/ Cairo for several days. speaka in GLOW
ing terms of Cairos public schools. I
an interview with The Bulletin las
night Mr. Chaplain said:
Il have visited a large number O
sch OILS in America with the idea o
ascertalping to what degree Of success
You have attained in an oducationa
system omewhat differing to thar
adopted in our New Zealand schools
Students Of political economy civ,
our country first place in g cd gov
ernment and we are just as anxious
to keep to the front IN education. Vet
We have never succeeded in over
throwing our rigid examination and
the rather severe discipline which &C
companies It,
THE children in all the American
schools enjoy without reserve the
friendship cf the teachers and super
intendents The natural tendency OF
young people % ask questions is here
encouraged, With as it Is not sup
pressed but it finds little chance for
growth with our more rigid discp
line Your schools are brighter than
ours. can remember the time when
a boy who smiled in chool would be
reprimandcd Of course il IS different
now, but there is still room for a
great improvement. I feel sure that
a too rigid system Of discipline will
cramp and warp a boys mind just as
with the Chinese thcir shoes are made
20 cramp the poor little infant feet.
Where such conditions prevail, chit
drcn hate teachers and chool most
heartily, and get from both as soon as
the opportunity occurs
There has been a great deal uf
talk Of abolishing our examinations
system IN New Zealand. but cur peo-
pie are reluctant to part with it alto
gother. It has been considerably mod.
iiicd within recent wears, however
but il still remains a strictly examin.
alton system. Il is by the oxamina.
tion Of the pupils that the teachers
work is judged In every class every
pupil Is examined In every subject,
and every lapse Of memory. or every
revelation Of ignorance on the part G
the pupil counts directly against the
teacher In reading, the classes MAJ
have read any number of books. bur
IL counts for nothing if the pupil Is
not able TO read brightly ami clearly
the paragraph selected for him by the
examiner In spelling the boy may
have conscienticusly learned a book
Of rules, and have gone through Webs
tcr's. but If ne is unable TO spell cor
rectly a selection from his reader. and
to spell the searching words selected
by the examiner. It counts for nothing
Whether our system gives the high
est mental training or whether what a
boy learns at school is worth the trou
bic taken TO acquire that knowledge is
a matter still undetermined. When Il
is finally settled il VIII add an inter
esting chapter to the science Of ped.
agogy
Through The courtesy Of Professor
Clenlcncn, ] have had a 8ple ibid op
portunity to see the work Of the Cairo
schools. From my observation of the
high school ! should say that excel
lent though cheerful discipline Is
maintained, and that in all classes is
earnest effort ably directed Cairo
ties have every reason to be proud Of
their institution In the graded
schools. The most remarkable and to
me the most hopeful sign of your sys.
tom was in the successful efforts ~
Your teachers to reach The perfection
mark | think only few appreciate
how much ability how much vigilance
and how much downright hard work
L. required to bring every indiyilua,
Of class to a high standard Of excel.
lonce
Without the spur Of a severe exam
nation | wonder that such effort is
forthcoming. and / can account for II
only in the personality OF the superin-
tendent. with his close observation Of
and kindly interest n the work of ey
cry teacher. Otherwise | cannot coz
ccive The idea Of a teacher continuing
% pri forth almost superhuman effort
70 obtain results which when gained.
might not be noticed. UNDER TODD, or