The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-09-13
vox PoPULI.
FAvoRS MUSIC I'M
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Editor Pensacola Journal.
Recently an enthusiast in the realm
of music. Mr.. w. s. Garfield, contribut-
ed to your columns an appeal to the
patrons of the public schools to set on
foot a move to inaugurate the teaching
OF music in the schools. We have
scanned succeeding issues for further
expressions on the subject, but evil
IDENTIFY the ephemeral pleasures of sum-
mer have been transcendent in the
thoughts Of those most interested.
Now that another term will soon be-
gin 1T is in or Ter to consider ques-
tons pertaining to education.
Teach music in schools? Certainly.
Well, now that would be real nice,
but the curriculum is too full now and
the children are overtaxed as X is.
Yessum, the 'ricculum Is and has been
too full for years-with isms, schemes
and themes, tones, idioms and idiosyn-
cracies that ninety mine in a hundred
pupils will never have the remotest
| use for in after life in his battle to
wrest living from relentless world.
/ AS an Illustration of the manner in
| which valuable time is wasted may
be cited this. Fifth grade scholars.
| and doubtless other grades, too, are
guided through the intricate maze of
weaving vari-colored strips Of paper,
RATA, etc.. into monstrosities of USE
less shapes. They are taught (?b to
paint blue roses, polka dot daisies and
other examples of floral specimens
not found in anything except the Sun
day comic supplement. Boys whose
every latent instinct and talent denote
them destined to become bricklayers
| or baseball cranks are compelled to
cut out paper dolls and perform stunts
usually ascribed to the kindergarten.
When the consequent mess of paper,
paint and glue are cleared away these
children are expected to give lucid
| analysis of the fundamentals of COM
pound fractions. explain the effect of
| nicotine upon the cardiacal functions
| or extract the square root of a bad
case Of Nostalgia. Imagine the strain
| on the child's mind to comprehend Sc
rious studies after half hour OF
Montesorri treatment. Now why not
| discard this tom -foolery and substi-
tute music-vocal music, the element
| that appeals to every one and has an
elevating effect? The arguments are
all in it's favor.
Every child has an Unborn love for
harmonics and such training, simple
as it must necessarily be, will equip
| it with a source of pleasure and pos-
| sible profit for a life time, and thu
writer knows whereof he writes, for as
! he allows his thoughts to revert to the
| school days Of twentysix years ago
he sees Prof. Strong-Wiliam Bogar
dus Strong, attenuated and red of poll
Leading several hundred Of us in tn >
! delights of song at the old No. /, then
situated at Wright and Tarragona
| streets, Pensacola.
| Our present school system lie a
good one, but 1t is subject to much
| criticism, and the absence of musical
| training from the curriculum is a
legitimate source of some of it.
! Mr.. Garfield does not intend that we
undertake the wholesale production of
| future Carusos or Heavenly Warblers,
but evidently aims to encourage latent
musical talent, add to the physical well
fare by the exercise of certain muscles
| and the beneficial effect of relaxation
from strained position and mind con-
centration consequent upon school life.
Come, merry comrades. let us have a
bit of music.
S. D. BENNETT. JR.