Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-04-28
Tie TIMES.RECORDER.
Americas, Ga, April 2s, 1910.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL
SYSTEM OF THE CITY.
DAILY AND WEEKLY.

SYSTEM OF THE CITY.
It is too soon yet to tell how the
public mind will be affected by the
suggestions made by Superintendent
Miller, and endorsed by many mem
bers Of the Board of Education,
relative to the changes in the public
school system that will tend to make
it more effective in the education Of
the children Of the city Thoughtful
parents, anxious that their children
shall make the most Of the advantages
that the schools afford, and derive the
greatest possible benefit from the
years that are passed in mental train
ling for the great work of life, it is to
be hoped will receive the suggestions
favorably and lend the weight of their
influence to supporting the Board of
Education in any steps it may take 10
so change the existing methods as to
improve the system and render It
more efficient.
It has been recognized for some
4 years that the public school system,
not only in Americas but throughout
the land, has not been what it should
be. that there was a tremendous lot
of time and money consumed for
which no proportionate results were
obtained. Parents have complained,
teachers have fumed. superintendent
have struggled, Boards of Education
have studied the situation, but the re-
/ lief measures have apparently not full
ly met the requirements of the situS-
ton 1t is still only too true that
children who have gone through from
eight to twelve years Of public school
training are found to have secured but
a very moderate return in mental
stimulus and solid requirements. The
placing of the finger on defects in the
system has been the problem.
Probably the omst serious of the fail
ings of the prevailing system, as
pointed out by educators of rank, has
been the fact that teachers have not
been teachers, but merely hearers Of
reci-ations. Under the system that
.ns grown up children have been ex-
pected 10 do their studying out Of
I school and confine their time, or large
/ ~ confne t, in the school room 10
answering questions put to them by
/ the teacher, or listening to the general
hearing of the lesson from the class.
Teachers have been resolved into au-
donations, there has been a poll-par-
roty atmosphere introduced and main
tanned in the school room, and it has
been almost impossible to awaken any
enthusiastic interest among the chill
dren, or stimulate their brains to per-
sonal effort. The crying shame of the
public school system throughout the
country, it has been pointed out
has been the fact that it has
always been signally deficient il
awakening proper ambition in the
breasts of the students, in arousing il
the great mass of them any desire fol
! fuller and broader education thar
these schools afford, that it has failed
10 develop their thinking faculties and
stir up the innate powers with which
they have been gifted and which onl!
need awakening to bring rich results.
Supt. MilIer's suggestion that thu
school hours be divided into two ses
sions, one session in the morning fol
the hearing of lessons, the other il
the afternoon for the studying of les
sons, seems TO be a wise one. FoI
many years in many Northern cities
there were two sessions in the publ,
schools, 9 a. m. to II m and to 4 p
m. If these two afternoon hours wer,
given to conscientious studying, undeI
the direct supervision of the teachers
with the teachers charged with tn,
duty, and required to give explanation
then and there on any knotty point, t
throw light upon the lesson, to assis
the children in their work, it is NOR,
than probable that a great stimulus
would be furnished that is now absent
There would still be ample time fo
play on the part Of the children, tn,
parents would be relieved of THE effor
to assist them in their studies, and in
stead of endeavoring to study at night
when tired out nature demands res
in sleep, the children would have fresl
brains for the work.
Something has got to be done to &c
more satisfactory results from tn,
public school system. It's defciencie,
must be ascertained and remedied. The
schools are maintained at a great pub
lie expense and the results are no
what they should be. There is no usc
in Disgusting this fact. The school sys.
tenn is no feticki to be bowed down Il
and worshipped. It g oven to homes
criticism, it must be judged by it.
fruits, and the very best friends it has
are those who do criticise it, whc
seek to point out what they deem its
weak points.
The Board of Education, apparently
may seek to embody Supt. Miller's sug.
gestlons in practical working rules
TIE parents of Americas, all o.
whom should desire the public schools
to be put upon the highest standard OF
emciency possible, should heartily co.
operate with them in every step they
take to make the schools more eff.
fectiYe II is for thn nooa ~