The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-03-31

I
monopoly of all the good points.
The curriculum OF the schools needs
an overhaullng, II Is undesirable 10
attempt too much. Education Is
three fold-physical, mental and NOR
al. That Is not education which does
not serve these three ends. IL is hard
for the ordinary pedagogue TO com
prehend anything but book instruc'
ton.
There is much loss of efficiency by
duplication OF work In grades and
high school. My daughter spent a
half.year on the Merchant of Venice
! in the eighth grade. IL forms a large
part OF one semester's work in the
high school. There are many cases
OF such duplication.
| II is a common failing 10 assign
lessons beyond the child's capacity
and then repeat the same lesson for
TWO or three days. This practice has
such a serious effect upon the child
that u can only be characterized as
brutal. The conscientious child makes
entirely too severe an effort: the In
capable child is stunned by the utter
hopelessness of trying to accomplish
u
would reach better results more quick
| ~. One pupil recently reported that
the same lesson was assigned three
times in succession in two different
subjects in the same week. The real
ly first-class teacher does not have TO
assign the same lesson second time,
unless the pupils are unprepared TO
take up the subject taught through
faulty planning OF the curriculum.
The same conditions are met in the
grades. where the multiplication OF
the number of text books taxes the
energy and eyesight of both pupils
and teachers. and causes the slight
ing, or the entire exclusion, Of really
important matter The list of books
furnished TO the grades contains AT
titles.
! II may be asked, il these things are
so, why have the teachers not made
complaint? In answering this the
dominant characteristic of the pres
emit school administration must be re.
| ferred TO. Mr.. Martindale Is an abso-
+, lutte car He controls the board OF
education in the most domineerlng
| fashion, and he has the teachers OF
the Detroit schools so absolutely ter
rorized that not one OF them dares
make any complaint In regard TO any
thing that is wrong with the schools.
This has been going on for IA years
and every teacher now knows that
any violation OF his unwritten laws
would surely result in one way or an
other 10 the teachers disadvantage
Advancement ceases, or reduction In
rank. or dismissal follows. Certain
we'll paid henchmen among the teach
ers and principals take the initiative.
seeing that his orders are conveyed
TO the teachers, and thus this line OF
terrorism is made effective.
There are very few teachers indie
pendent enough, or brave enough TO
ignore the vengeful attitude OF the
administration toward those who do
not stand faithfully in line.
Just now the teachers are receiving
their orders to work in the present
election for Martindale independent,
inspectors, and each teacher knows
that he or she must do this work or
be marked member OF the teaching
force. The superintendent has boast
ed that he never forgets, and that he
gives no quarter.
The Detroit Teachers association Is
| I'm this instance used TO. carry out his
! orders. w
The following letter has just been
sent out from that organization.
Detroit Teachers Association.
! Detroit. Mich, March q, 1911.
Mr.. Blank, Blank School, Detroit.
! Mich:
/ The advisory committee OF the De-
troit Teachers association calls the
careful and earnest attention or all
principals and teachers TO the his
tory of the efforts for free and cheaper
high school text books that appeared
I'm the Detroit Journal. OF March "a,
1911. The president Of the Teachers
association has carefully compared
the Journal article with the proceed
ings of the board OF education. and
finds il correct In every particular.
Several copies of the Journal are De-
ing sent you under separate cover.
We feel that the matter of the rela-
tive cost OF textbooks has been mag
nified out of all proportion to its I'm
portance, and we are confident that
the object of this policy has been TO
shift attention from the commendable
progress that our schools have made
In standard. curriculum, teaching
force. results, and i'm the development
of the humane element in education.
Moreover. we believe that the real
facts az TO comparative textbook costs
are being garbled and misstated for
factional purposes. We. therefore, as
a committee, strongly urge upon each
principal that every teacher be made
familiar both with the Journal account
of March "a. 1911, and with an ar
ticle OF like tenor in the Detroit Sat
urday Night OF March %. 1911.
Respectfully submitted,
Advisory Committee, Detroit Teach
ers' association,
The Journals account referred to
| i'm the letter and vouched for as be-
| ing correct in every particular. is in
fact, incorrect in several particulars.
-. 10 a