The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-04-25
MORE WITNESSES
GIVE TESTIMONY
TEACHERS CONTINUE TO TELL
PROBING COMMITTEE WHAT
THEY THINK OF SCHOOL SYSTEM.
CURRICULUM r u l. l.
SOME DON'T OBJECT TO MANUAL
ARTS. HUT INSIST on rLENTY
OF TINE FoR Es-
-. sENTIALs. 49,

Several teachers in the elementary
graues shed more hgnt last nlsnt
ON Inc curriculum OF Inc htchnioLu
puhi4e scnool system wnen the coun-
clunanic PROBE WAS resumed, after
the lapse OF week, witn CHAIRMAN
ioiiork in the cnar as usual. Ies-
umony OF the Witnesses Was largely
"A reI,aranoD of that of teachers who
nau prev lousy taken the stand.
inCy were practically unit In an
s.sung mat more time be allowed Tor
ing fundamentals, although at least
one OF them was inclined 10 look with
some favor on manual training and
otnsr new tangled subjects which
haze been introduced into the system
III recent years.
Colonel George Wayne Anderson.
assistant city attorney, quizzed each
OF the witnesses at come length in
an effort TO clarity the situation as
much al possible. superintendent
The committee will meet again next
Thursday at 10 +, Nj.
Lac Manual Training.
Miss Cornelia &. Adair. teacher in
ga grade, Elber school on being re-
called to the stand. following testi-
mony given at the last meeting OF
The committee. said that eleven teach
ers In her grade favored abolish
ment OF manual training altogether.
'. lille seven desired Ii more simpli-
fed.
Miss Cornelia Taylor, teacher in
la grade. John Smith school, also
uano back on the stand for a few
moments. Among other things. she
said she WAS a Arm believer in sum
mer normals. provided the teachers
could afford them. She thought
much good resulted from them.
Mss Josie Halloran. teacher in
ia grade. Springfield school, could
see very little good In the group sys-
tenn. She had found that this sys-
tom allowed her too little time for
indisidu wok. She was not sure,
though, that she would abolish the
system altogether. Miss Halloran
was skeptical as to the value of man
usi training. The girls, she said.
were given instruction mostly In sew
Ing. Some OF them learned to hem.
taste. gather, and other rudimen-
trry pointers. For the most part
they seemed to derive but little prac-
tical benefit In this instruction. The
boys were taught to make little
1locks and other things. She thought
they might occupy their time to
hetter advantage in pursuing their
regular studies.
Pupils Enjoy Songs.
She did not object to nurse In the
curriculum. provided 1t did not prove
too nnsome. AS a general rule, the
pupils rather enjoyed IA song or two
rhyslcai exercise in the class room
she found rather saperiluous Hn.
thought the papils could md more pro.
ntablc exercise at recess. outdoors, II
possible. Her pupils made very little
progrt 80 in dancing. she said. As al
illustration. she cited the case of Il
younKster who was directed TO draw q
wren's head on the blackboard. Grow
ing obstinate. he insisted that he he
allowed to draw her head instead. This
permission obtained. he proceeded tG
sketch an outline on the board which
Miss Holtovan was unable To distin-
guish tel p,,en her head and that OF
the wren.
Summing up she said her curriculum
was undoubtedly too crowded. Person
ally she did not object very much tt
a variety of subjects and topics, pro.
vided there was sufficient time.
To teach child TO earn living was
the chief purpose OF instruction. she
said. when crossexamined by Super
intendent Chandler.
Drill Work Important.
She thought that. as much time al
possible should be devoted To drill
ork In the fundamentals to help equiv
the pupils for the great battle of ne
To further increase the efficiency OF thu
work she was certain the pupils should
give some time to their studies n
home. Their time at school. she said
did not afford the teacher a proper op'
portunity to instruct her pupils II the,
come to school unprepared. Her class
this year she said. was not doing Sc
we'll as others she had had She he
lieved the fault lay with the system.
Questioned further. she said she
wanted thirty minutes day for smell
ting and more time for penmanShip
She also wanted more time for Other
essentials. She declined II undertake
10 outline what che regarded az ar
Ideal program far IN eek, when asked q
do so nv Or. Chandler
Dr, Chandler produced Il set of h'u'
Prints which the purrs in Miss Hell
icrpu's Rrp6e are required TO r'nst"r
They were pa~sed around the commit
TOE fo~ tie nro"e-a to inspect. Incl
denta,Iv. N,ss Ifpllo~ar took occasi"r
to rer,ark that her pupils. whose aee'
rprve from te. 70 twelve years. hn'
batter re ta.rn'r~ bow 10 ~e"d an'
v.-,+e ~rc,>e-,v ir~.e,H ~ e~enplyinS
.e3s,s " -+s,. e.. sysss 4asss~ IN tees.e
.ss.s, They Cook NJ .Anns.
Coming to the question OF cooking
she said MANY Of her girl puoiis haf
TO cook at home and had plenty Of
o-rcrtunitv there to acquire that art
II che had her way. sire would cut
ort both sewing and cooking, First o.
MI she wanted TO helm her rupils IRE
rare themselves to hold a position wh@r
very few employers these DAYS whe
ayk a vorrx man or uirl II they Ger
sew or cook when thew aprly for a ~
sit,on. What he wants to know Is
ear thew roo hrd write int~Ht~e~''v
Miss BESSIE sutton. teacher in
grade. Stonewa'i Jackson school. while
ohjecing TO some of the subjects In
the curriculufns approved most heart
tiy Of music, manual training and
drawing She read n prepared paper
setting forth her views In detail.
Above all she found that pupils. on
entering her grade. did not seem TO
h@ as well up In their studies as they
should be.
Asks For More Time.