Putnam patriot., 1919-12-05
Published Criticism Due to Towns Determination to Run Its Own System Without Deadly State Supervision.

ed oy the previous inspector, LIT. Gam eron, as a thoroughly modern, up-to- date course of study, and which is endorsed by such & well known. effi- eient schoolman as Commissioner Smith of Massachusetts as being drawn on proper lines. was character ized as being overburdened. The college course was condemned as a useless expense, and the commercial course as too thin. It was recommend ed that this course be abridged to two years. The course in American history, which the inspector did not see or hear. since it did not meet on the day of. his visit, was not approved because the inspector did not believe that any woman could teach American history Although he saw in the Household Arts department only a few girls washing dish cloths. he de- eided that the classes in cooking and sewing were neither properly in- strueted nor properly organized, A class in physics, all of whom were preparing for college, did not receive approval because it was following col lege methods. And so on.
 This report, following newly es- tablished custom of the department, was sent to every member of the com mittee and to the supervisor of the common schools, although he had ab- solutely no connection with the High school. This latter report was handed from hand to hand. The report was finally published by some one whose motive can be easily surmised with misleading comments.
 The committee carefully consider. ed Mir. Snyder's conclusions and in view of the many absurdities and un- fair statements in his report decided to take no further notice of it. More. over, plans for reorganization and improvement, which the inspector ad- lHilttG Wouid PiOdutc q Hitdti sNupVi were now fully matured.
 Fortunately Mir. Snyder had mis- conceived the degree of his omni. science and omnipotence and had con demned some of the most capable teachers in the state and some very efficient schools. He is no longer State Inspector of High Schools.
 Tbus ended the first act of the farce.
 Tn the reorganization of our sehoo system it was considered best by tn, committee to authorize the superin tendent to drop the state system oi elementary instruction and to draw up new course.
 The defects of the state system were so glaring, so fundamental, anc the results so fatal to mental growtl and development that no other wa. seemed feasible. Its multiplicity o ! administrative details bound tn, ! teachers to deadening routine tha left no spontaniety, no joy in th' l teachers prime purpose-teaching The constant repetition of meaning i less facts killed all originality and al l initiative in the unfortunate pupi doomed to pursue it. Subject matte suitable and meaningfull to more ma ture minds was thrust upon the lowe grades, even as low as the primary Facts that are easily comprehende' and learned in brief study by uppe grades were pounded by tiresome an' prolonged repetition, as it were, b, main force, into minds too young fo their apperception. In the words O the former supervisor, the number O inexperienced teachers, the number 0 schools under one supervision, mad ! it necessary to provide fool proof system.
 Since the town was now in posi- tion to employ experienced and Nor maj trained teachers and to greatl. reduce the number of schools unde one supervision, 1t was considere' best to replace the fool proof sys tenn by a system of intelligent teach ing. 4 new course of study wa drawn up, based upon a study of tn work done by some of the best school of the country. In this the superin tendent had the advice of two of tn foremost schoolmen.
 System Approved Last Year
 Another fact In the last teachers meeting of last year it was stated tha lthe schools, then under state super lvision, were then approved, but tn coming year would bring a differen story, or words to that effect.
 Under such conditions, after tn schools had beens running but eigh Iweeks, the State Inspector and join Iauthor of the state system, as l under |stand, appeared to inspect not tn Iwork actually done by teacher and pu lpil, but the form of organization o our schools. Bringing as standar' la system which he himself had in large measure framed and which " ihal rar,,diafad he couId scarcely b