New-York tribune., 1908-03-15

a-S -
pLtEL3 term such a calamity is imminent. The
V1N little gentleman" to whom Doctor Hall
f~S refers is generally confined to the story
books. while the young barbarian IS often IN
evidence in real life. 1t has not been my eXperl-
ence that boys still ready to fight for their
rights nor that women teachers discourage that
propensitv | cannot but feel however, that the
lessons of peace and forbearance are more proper
subjects for instruction in the public schools, and
that while it may not be desirable TO make team
sters of little gentlemen neither IS 1t deslr-
able to make Old barbarians out OF young bar
barians" As a matter of fact, the public schools
are doing neither of these things but every city
the country are accomplishing much IN mOldng boys
and girls into men and women who Will be a credit
not only to the public schools but to the nation
1t IS the habit of certain class of critics to blame
the public school system for drought in Minnesota,
q wind storm the Atlantic coast, eruption
Of Vesuvus. But fortunately the great body of
thinking people believe that IN spite OF their faults
and their necessary limitations the public schools
have done a splendid work in the mental moral,
and physical development OF the boys and girls,
with 50 large proportion OF women teachers.
| am however, in accord with the contention OF
Doctor Hall that a larger number OF men should be
employed, especially IN the high schoolS,-not tor
the purpose of lntenSltylng the barbarian IN
stinct but in order that the influence of both
and women may be brought to bear not only upon
the boys but upon the girls well. 1t is my Judg
1nent. however, that a teacher poor man is de
CidedV inferior to good woman, and the average
man to an excellent woman.
With reference the necessity of having the
father participate in the home training, there Is
no difference of opinion, and the lack of this IS
largely responsible for many things which are iald
at the door of the public schools. Every superln-
tendent who is in close touch with conditions
his own Citv knows how difficult 1t to interest
the father in the school work and the home disc-
pIne of the children, and how SkIlfullV he SHIFT
the responsibility upon the mother and the teacher
OF course the conditions of to-day vastly differ
ent from those of forty years ago, and the strenuous
life of the average man furnishes the excuse tor
this condition of affairs; but an excuse Is not
Justification as many a father has felt when he has
come To that his indifference has resulted in the
ruin of the boy.
The school and the home working for the
same end and should cooperate IN every possible
WaV, bat there IS a work in the education OF the
child which peculiarly belongs to the home, and
one which is the peculiar province of the school,
and the responsibility for the failure of the to
do its work should not be loaded upon the other
Concerning COeduCatIOn, especially III the high
Schools there seems to be a decided difference OF
opinion among teachers in private conversation;
but in public uttcrances most of them stand by the
system under which they work feel however,
that there Is increasing tendency toward Separa-
ton of the boys and girls during the high school
course and while fifteen years ago | stood unre-
SerVedlv in favor of the plan which usually prevails
! must admit that | now sometimes find myself
doubling its wisdom.
\ few wears ago in one OF the larger grade build
ings of Minneapolis, in which there were two rooms
of the same grade (the seventh asked the princi-
pal TO try the experiment OF placing the boys with
teacher and the girls with another and this
plan carried on for a year. One experiment of
this kind does not, OF course establish principle,
and vet it IS only fair say that the experiment
was IN every way decided success and all my IN
QuIIcS failed To md either a boy or girl who
pleased with the arrangement. Since that time
have made II a point to talk with many high school
bows and girls the subject, and the responses
have led me to believe that the majority of the
Students both girls and boys, desire separate
schools vote taken of one senior class in the high
school gave the following result
For separation. girls 50 For coeduoation, girls