USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > Town of Newton annual report 1877-1878 > Part 8
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During the year Station Two has been greatly improved by re-arrangement and refurnishing, and this, with Stations One and Four, are now in excel- lent condition.
At Station Three (City Hall) there is pressing need of improvement, both in its sanitary con- dition and in its capacity for accommodation. Enlargement has become absolutely necessary, as its present conveniences are totally inadequate to lodge, with any degree of comfort and safety, the number of prisoners and tramps requiring custody and care. I would therefore recommend the adop- tion of proper measures to meet this emergency.
Another matter, perhaps of minor interest, yet important to the police force, is that of badges
109
with which every officer must be provided. Those now in use seem to be unsuited to their purpose. As the necessary expense will be comparatively trifling, I would recommend that the present badges be exchanged for some of stronger, and more suitable manufacture.
The following is a recapitulation of the service of the Department for the year.
General Statistics.
Number of Arrests, 296
66
Males,
273
Females, 23
66
Americans, 51
66
Foreigners,
244
Minors, 63
66
Commitments, 39
Number of Search Warrants
served, 34
Truants taken to School, 54
66 Provided with Lodging, 2,409
Stolen property re-
covered, $2,167.50
Nativity of Prisoners.
United States,
51
Germany, 3
British Provinces,
10
Russia, 1
Ireland,
223 Sweden, 1
England,
4 Negro, 3
Nature of Crime.
Arson, 1
Attempt to rescue prisoner, 3
Assault and battery, 29
Indecent exposure,
1
Assault, felonious, 5
Adultery, 1
Arrested for other cities
and towns, 6
Insane, 3
Incendiary, 2
Accessory to rape, 1
Larceny, simple, 28
felonious, 7
Malicious mischief, 7
Obtaining goods under false pretences, 3
110
Assuming to be an officer, 1
Refusing to assist an officer, 1 Rape,
Breaking and entering,
5
2
Breaking glass,
1 Receiving stolen property, 1
Common drunkards.
5
Stubborn children, 1
Cruelty to dumb animals.
6
Suspicious persons, 5
Capias,
3
Threatening bodily harm, 3
Disorderly,
30
Trespass,
3
Disturbing the peace,
25
Violation of city ordinance, 24
Drunkenness,
46
66 Sunday law, 9
Evading car fare,
3
66 liquor law, 14
Escaped convicts,
5
Vagabonds, 3
Forgery,
2
Witnesses,
1
Fraud,
2
Miscellaneous Duties.
When it is announced that the several bills and notices from the offices of the City Treasurer, Water Commission, City Clerk, etc., have been committed to the hands of the Police for distribu- tion, that is usually all that is thought of the mat- ter; but should an examination be had, it would be seen that these documents are numbered by thou- sands, and a better realization of the matter would be had. But few persons are aware of the care and fidelity with which most of the officers dis- charge their duties, working while others are sleep- ing, and caring for the lives and property of persons who carelessly expose the same, - for instance, during the past year nearly one hundred buildings were found open and secured by the Police, and as shown by the following statement, various matters of more or less importance are constantly re- ceiving their attention.
111
Accidents where assistance
was rendered, 7
Buildings found open and secured, 92
Dangerous buildings re- ported, 2
Dead bodies taken in charge, 3
Defective lamps, 313
. 6 sidewalks, 23
66 streets, 28
Disturbances suppressed, 87
Dogs killed, 66
Horses killed,
4
Defective water pipes re- ported, 11
Fire alarms given, 20
Fires extinguished without
alarm, 3
Injured persons assisted, 10
Intoxicated persons as- sisted home, 113
Lost children restored to friends, 7
Notices served,
6,500
Lights hung in dangerous places, 28
Nuisances reported, 32
Stray teams put up, 18
Street obstructions removed, 22
Stray cattle taken in
charge,
21
The relations of this department with the Police of neighboring Cities and Towns have been of the most harmonious and satisfactory nature. We have in many cases rendered material aid to officers of other places, and in all cases where assistance has been required by us, it has been freely and cheerfully given.
To His Honor the Mayor and the City Council, I am under great obligation for timely suggestion and advice: as also to the Hon. William W. Car- ruth, Judge of the Police Court of Newton, and to E. W. Cate, the efficient Clerk of the same, both of whom have been ever ready to aid the Police Department with needed counsel and service.
As an officer of the Board of Health, I have been called upon during the last year to investigate and abate twenty-seven nuisances, many of which
112
required much time and frequent visits. In this connection I trust I shall be pardoned for express- ing the belief that more attention given to the enforcement of law and ordinance regulating mat- ters of health than I have been able to render, will be found necessary in order to impress upon many of our citizens the importance of sanitary regulations and observances.
Hoping that the efficiency and usefulness of the Newton Police Department will be duly recog- nized and appreciated,
I am very respectfully, Your ob't servant, R. L. HINDS,
City Marshal.
16a 8353
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
CITY OF NEWTON.
1878. No XXXIX.
EW!
BERTY AND UNION
9
FOUNDED 16
9.A CITY1873
N
TAN
BOSTON : FRANKLIN PRESS: RAND, AVERY, & CO. 1879.
ORGANIZATION OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
January, 1878.
HON. WILLIAM B. FOWLE, MAYOR, CHAIRMAN, ex officio. HON. GEORGE E. ALLEN, PRESIDENT COMMON COUNCIL, ex officio. REV. BRADFORD K. PEIRCE, D.D., CHAIRMAN.
ISAAC HAGAR, SECRETARY. EPHRAIM HUNT, LL.D., SUPERINTENDENT.
Elective Members.
BRADFORD K. PEIRCE,
Ward One,
Present Term of Office. Expires January, 1880.
HENRY C. HARDON,
66
66
1880.
HENRY O. MARTIN,
Two,
60
1880.
HORATIO S. NOYES,
66
1880.
JULIUS L. CLARKE,
46
Three,
64
1879.
EDWARD D. HINCKLEY,
Four,
46
1879.
ISAAC HAGAR,
66
66
66
1879.
JOHN A. GOULD,
Five, 66
1881.
JAMES S. NEWELL,
46
Six,
64
1881.
AMOS E. LAWRENCE,
1881.
GEORGE W. SHINN,
Seven,
=
1881.
LINCOLN R. STONE,
66
1879.
DISTRICT COMMITTEES.
NEWTON-CENTRE DISTRICT.
JAMES S. NEWELL, Newton Centre. JOHN A. GOULD, Newton Upper Falls. AMOS E. LAWRENCE, Newton Centre. HENRY C. HARDON, Newton. CHARLES E. ABBOTT, Newton Highlands.
UPPER-FALLS DISTRICT.
JOHN A. GOULD, Newton Upper Falls. JAMES S. NEWELL, Newton Centre.
CHARLES E. ABBOTT, Newton Highlands. AMOS E. LAWRENCE, Newton Centre. ISAAC HAGAR, Newton Lower Falls.
LOWER-FALLS DISTRICT.
JAMES E. LATIMER, Auburndale. ISAAC HAGAR, Newton Lower Falls. EDWARD D. HINCKLEY, West Newton.
WEST-NEWTON DISTRICT.
JULIUS L. CLARKE, West Newton. GEORGE E. ALLEN, West Newton.
EDWARD D. HINCKLEY, West Newton. HORATIO S. NOYES, Newtonville. JAMES E. LATIMER, Auburndale.
6 6
1879.
JAMES E. LATIMER,
66
1881.
CHARLES E. ABBOTT,
16
NEWTONVILLE DISTRICT.
HORATIO S. NOYES, Newtonville. LINCOLN R. STONE, Newton. HENRY O. MARTIN, Newtonville. BRADFORD K. PEIRCE, Newton. JULIUS L. CLARKE, West Newton.
NEWTON DISTRICT.
LINCOLN R. STONE, Newton,
HENRY C. HARDON, Newton.
GEORGE W. SHINN, Newton. BRADFORD K. PEIRCE, Newton. HENRY O. MARTIN, Newtonville.
STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD.
High School. - Bradford K. Peirce, Horatio S. Noyes, George E. Allen, James E. Latimer, John A. Gould, Amos E. Lawrence, George W. Shinn, Mayor, ex officio. Rules and Regulations. - George W. Shinn, Amos E. Lawrence, Charles E. Abbott. Accounts and Printing. - Isaac Hagar, George E. Allen, Julius L. Clarke. Schoolhouses. - Isaac Hagar, John A. Gould, Lincoln R. Stone. Salaries. - James S. Newell, George E. Allen, Henry O: Martin. Text-Books. - Bradford K. Peirce, James E. Latimer, Julius L. Clarke.
Music. - James E. Latimer, Lincoln R. Stone, Amos E. Lawrence.
Drawing and Writing. - Henry C. Hardon, Horatio S. Noyes, Edward D. Hinckley. Industrial Drawing. - James S. Newell, Isaac Hagar, Henry O. Martin.
Evening Schools. - George W. Shinn, Henry C. Hardon, Lincoln R. Stone.
ORGANIZATION OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
January, 1879.
HON. WILLIAM B. FOWLE, MAYOR, CHAIRMAN, ex officio. HON. JOHN Q. HENRY, PRESIDENT COMMON COUNCIL, ex officio. REV. AMOS E. LAWRENCE, CHAIRMAN.
ISAAC HAGAR, SECRETARY.
EPHRAIM HUNT, LL.D., SUPERINTENDENT.
Elective Members.
THOMAS S. SAMSON,1
Ward One,
Present Term of Office. Expires January, 1880.
HENRY E. COBB, 1
Two,
66
1880.
HORATIO S. NOYES,
60
Three,
ELIJAH W. WOOD.
66
6
66
1882.
WILLIAM S. SMITH,
Four,
ISAAC HAGAR,
66
66
66
66
1882.
JOHN A. GOULD,
Five,
1881.
CHARLES E. ABBOTT,
66
1881.
JAMES S. NEWELL,
Six,
66
66
1881.
GEORGE W. SHINN,
66
Seven,
66
1881.
LINCOLN R. STONE,
1882.
1 Elected in joint convention of city council and school committee.
66 1880.
HENRY O. MARTIN,
1880.
JULIUS L. CLARKE,
1882.
1882.
1881.
AMOS E. LAWRENCE,
DISTRICT COMMITTEES.
NEWTON-CENTRE DISTRICT.
JAMES S. NEWELL, Newton Centre. JOHN A. GOULD, Newton Upper Falls. AMOS E. LAWRENCE, Newton Centre. CHARLES E. ABBOTT, Newton Highlands. GEORGE W. SHINN, Newton.
UPPER-FALLS DISTRICT.
JOHN A. GOULD, Newton Upper Falls. JAMES S. NEWELL, Newton Centre.
CHARLES E. ABBOTT, Newton Highlands. AMOS E. LAWRENCE, Newton Centre. ISAAC HAGAR, Newton Lower Falls.
LOWER-FALLS DISTRICT.
WILLIAM S. SMITH, Auburndale. ELIJAH W. WOOD, West Newton. ISAAC HAGAR, Newton Lower Falls.
WEST-NEWTON DISTRICT.
JULIUS L. CLARKE, West Newton. ELIJAH W. WOOD, West Newton.
HORATIO S. NOYES, Newtonville. WILLIAM S. SMITH, Auburndale. HENRY O. MARTIN, Newtonville.
NEWTONVILLE DISTRICT.
HORATIO S. NOYES, Newtonville. LINCOLN R. STONE, Newton. HENRY O. MARTIN, Newtonville. THOMAS S. SAMSON, Newton. HENRY E. COBB, Newton.
NEWTON DISTRICT.
LINCOLN R. STONE, Newton.
HENRY E. COBB, Newton.
GEORGE W. SHINN, Newton. JOHN Q. HENRY, Newton. THOMAS S. SAMSON, Newton.
STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD.
High School. - Amos E. Lawrence, Thomas S. Samson, Horatio S. Noyes, Julius L. Clarke, William S. Smith, John A. Gould, George W. Shinn, Mayor, ex officio. Rules and Regulations. - George W. Shinn, Henry E. Cobb, Charles E. Abbott. Accounts and Printing. - Isaac Hagar, Elijah W. Wood, Julius L. Clarke. Schoolhouses. - Isaac Hagar, John A. Gould, Lincoln R. Stone. Salaries. - James S. Newell, John Q. Henry, Henry O. Martin. Text-Books. - Amos E. Lawrence, William S. Smith, Julius L. Clarke. Music. - Amos E. Lawrence, Lincoln R. Stone, Elijah W. Wood. Drawing and Writing. - Horatio S. Noyes, John Q. Henry, Thomas S. Samson. Industrial Drawing. - James S. Newell, Charles E. Abbott, Henry O. Martin. Evening Schools. - George W. Shinn, 'Lincoln R. Stone, Henry E. Cobb.
CITY OF NEWTON.
IN BOARD OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE, Sept. 25, 1878.
The following-named gentlemen were appointed to prepare the Annual Report of the School Committee for the year 1878 ; viz., Messrs. Bradford K. Peirce, Amos E. Lawrence, Julius L. Clarke, Henry C. Hardon, and George W. Shinn.
ISAAC HAGAR, Secretary.
IN BOARD OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE, Dec. 18, 1878.
The Annual Report was presented by Rev. Amos E. Law- rence, read and accepted, and twenty-eight hundred copies ordered to be printed.
The Superintendent of Schools, Ephraim Hunt, LL.D., read his Annual Report, which was accepted, and ordered to be printed with the Annual Report of the Committee.
ISAAC HAGAR,
Secretary.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
PAGE
GENERAL REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE .
.11-17
Economy of administration
11
Power of the school committee .
13
Growth of our school system
14
Reading, spelling, and language
15
Apprentice teachers
16 17
Industrial education
18
The teachers
19
Supervision .
20
The superintendent
21
HIGH SCHOOL .
.22-49
Why have we a high school
22
Statistics of the school
23
Special students
23
Last graduating class .
25
Class of 1877
26
Graduating exercises, 1878 .
27
Higher training of girls
27
Physical culture .
28
Proposed re-organization of the school
29
High-school teachers .
. 30
Department of mathematics
31
Department of belles-lettres
33
Classical department .
34
Department of natural sciences
38
Mercantile department
41
Department of modern languages Military drill
43
GRADUATES OF 1878, HIGH SCHOOL
49
ASSOCIATION OF HIGH-SCHOOL GRADUATES . FULL LIST OF GRADUATES FROM 1861-1878.
51
REPORT OF MASON SCHOOL .
56
REPORT OF OAK-HILL SCHOOL
59
.
Reduction of expenses
12
The per-cent system of ranking.
.
43
. 50
X
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
PAGE
REPORT OF THOMPSONVILLE SCHOOL
60
REPORT OF PROSPECT SCHOOL
62
REPORT OF HYDE SCHOOL
64
REPORT OF HAMILTON SCHOOL
66
REPORT OF WILLIAMS SCHOOL
REPORT OF PEIRCE, DAVIS, AND FRANKLIN SCHOOLS
REPORT OF ADAMS SCHOOL
REPORT OF JACKSON SCHOOL
74
REPORT OF CLAFLIN SCHOOL.
. 75
REPORT OF UNDERWOOD SCHOOL .
76
REPORT OF BIGELOW SCHOOL
79
DRAWING
80
MUSIC
83
EVENING SCHOOL
. 85 87
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
Summary of statistics .
.
87
Schoolhouses
. S9
Health
. 90
Course of study
. 90
Instruction .
92
Promotion
94
Teachers
99
High school
101
Grammar and primary grades
. 103
Public library
. 104
Conclusion .
. 105
SECRETARY'S REPORT
107-112
.
.
. 67 . 68 . 73
.
.
.
.
.
.
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
TO THE CITIZENS OF NEWTON, - We hereby submit to you our Thirty-ninth Annual Report.
You have committed to us a precious trust, for no interest is dearer than our children; a most important one, for none is more weighty than the future of our nation. You have chosen the School Committee, not to build roads, nor guard your dwellings from fire, nor administer the government, but to make governors, to build the minds that build the future. In whose hands does the destiny of a people rest, if not in the teacher's ? If " the child is father of the man," a nation is what it is trained to be.
ECONOMY OF ADMINISTRATION.
You ought, then, to watch your schools, lest they fail to meet the end for which you planted them, and for which, at heavy expense, you are supporting them. You have called for retrenchment in our city expenses, and the call is just. Should it not also be wise ? If the city pay-roll is too long, let the knife be applied where it will do least harm. Let us support the schools, and not imperil or cripple them by parsimony. Because the plethoric man needs depletion, let us not begin by cut- ting off his head.
12
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
REDUCTION OF EXPENSES.
And yet the Board appeals to its record to show that they have heeded your call. They have reduced their expenses. They have made them this year $13,- 000 less than they were four years ago ; and the reduc- tion of the last two years has been nearly $25,000, or more than twelve per cent less than it was in the year 1874. The Board have never allowed themselves, even when precious interests seemed imperilled, to exceed their appropriations. We mention this as an argument for confidence in your Committee, that, when they ask for funds to carry on the schools, our fellow-citizens may believe they are needed. As tax-payers themselves, the Committee share the burden with them, and recognize the duty to avoid every thing like extravagance in administering their trust. Let the friends of our city and our schools show where the Committee have failed, and they will be found quick to respond.
But have they failed ? From the last report of the State Board of Education we learn that Newton stands No. 262 on the list of cities and towns in Massachusetts, as to the percentage of valuation appropriated for the support of public schools ; 261 paying a higher rate, and but 80 a less rate. In Middlesex County, Newton stands No. 40; 14 only paying a lower rate.
Such being the case, and aware of the impossibility of securing and retaining the best educational talent at the lowest rates, and believing the schools are no better than the intelligence and culture of our city demand, the School Committee feel that the charge of extrava- gance in the expenditures intrusted to their care cannot be justly made.
13
GENERAL REPORT.
POWER OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
It has sometimes been said that this Committee have too much power; but in the matter of appropriations their powers are limited to a simple recommendation. As tax-payers, as a body of intelligent gentlemen, as the constituted guardians of the schools and best knowing their needs, as unpaid and conscientious servants of the public who have no personal ends to gain, their judg- ment may well have weight with the city authorities. In numbers they are 14; the City Council, 21. In each body are represented alike all the wards of the city; and in their deliberations each body enjoys alike the wisdom and counsel of the same high officers, - the president of the Common Council, and the mayor. That such a committee should have weight in making the annual appropriations was obviously intended by the framers of our city government.
But, with the most well-directed and honest efforts for an economical administration of our system, the amount expended upon our schools must still continue to be large. This cannot be avoided if we would not see them suffer. Newton can afford to have good schools; and if we would give to our constituents the best, if we would maintain their reputation at home and abroad, we must not cripple them. By the employment of competent teachers, and thus keeping them well up to a high stand- ard, we shall get help in their support from without ; shall continue to attract to our city as residents those who will aid us in the work by their contributions to the city treasury. The cost per capita is now greater than in some other towns, because our population is more, scattered. Organization is necessarily less complete,
14
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
more schools and teachers are needed for the same num- ber of children, than in a more compact community, where they can be brought together in larger numbers. This will be remedied as the city grows. As our popu- lation increases, the per capita of expense will diminish, because, in quite a proportion of our schools, a larger number of pupils can be accommodated and taught with- out adding to the present expense.
GROWTH OF THE SYSTEM.
Still it is inevitable that the system must grow. Some of the schools at centres will overflow ; and the growth in population of neighborhoods will require that new schools be opened, and new buildings erected, for their accommodation. An illustration of this has oc- curred during this year ; the crowded state of the Mason School having made it necessary to relieve it by transfer- ring the children of the Thompsonville precinct to a school opened in that neighborhood.
The Committee regret that they have felt called upon, in obedience to a supposed demand from their consti- tuents, to dispense, for the present, with the valuable services of Mr. Tilden, the special teacher of music. If music is to be continued in our schools as a relief, as a mere recreation, it will perform a most valuable service, and in that case our regular teachers are competent to the care of it. If, however, it is to be taught, it is large enough and special enough to be in the hands of a special teacher trained to the work, and giving his whole time to it. The experience of the German schools (in which music is taught scientifically, beginning with the very youngest pupils) is clearly in favor, not, indeed, of lumbering up the minds of children with technicalities,
15
GENERAL REPORT.
but of putting even their training into the hands of experts. We do not believe that our fellow-citizens are ready to see our music degenerate into a mere instru- ment of recreation ; and we therefore hope that the City Council will vote the necessary funds to retain it in our schools as a branch of education.
READING, SPELLING, AND LANGUAGE.
In our last Annual Report it was demanded as a dis- tinct aim of our high school to train its pupils to speak good English, and to read the words of an author so as to convey his meaning accurately to a listener. We make the same claim, and with added emphasis, for our primary and grammar schools. Reading well and speaking correctly one's own tongue, all recognize as the primary elements of education. That these essen- tials are poorly taught, or crowded aside, in many of the schools of the day, is too obvious to admit of denial or defence. One of the examiners of applicants for ad- mission to Harvard University, in a recently published paper, has given emphatic and most mortifying testi- mony on this point. So large a per cent of the candi- dates absolutely failed in these first essentials of an education as to raise the question whether the time has not come for our colleges to enlarge their curriculum by introducing the spelling-book. A test in reading English Harvard has introduced, occurring annually at the beginning of the freshman year ; and it is gratifying to the Board to state that two of the three prizes given last October for excellence in this exercise were awarded to our own pupils. In the hope of doing still better where much yet remains to be done, and to break up the mere formal, listless pronouncing of a page of dead
16
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
matter, the Committee have the last year supplemented the regular text-books in reading by the introduction into all our schools of matter from the periodical press, -" The Nursery," "The Wide Awake," and the higher magazines, and infrequently the daily newspaper. Results have fully vindicated the wisdom of the meas- ure, and under watchful supervision it will be continued. From these same materials also, as supplementary to the formal text-book, will be taught spelling. Experience is also showing us that the best way of teaching young children to use their own language is less by books of rules than by example ; by requiring their teachers to use correct expression themselves, and to illustrate by pure speech, in daily intercourse with their pupils, the foundation principles of our English tongue. These living grammars, unconsciously read and studied by the pupils, are the best possible for all our children of the five lower grades; and all books of dry technicalities in which children so immature cannot possibly be inter- ested should be banished from their rooms.
APPRENTICE TEACHERS.
It is a question of the first importance : How shall we secure a succession of live teachers ? how make them ? Were we to take a lesson from the industrial pursuits, we should answer: As the master-mechanic makes his carpenter, by putting the tools into the hands of his ap- prentice, and furnishing the raw material for his work ; as the sailor learns to manage his ship, by setting his own hands to the rudder and tackling, and actually sail- ing the craft. Recognizing this as the true economic principle for their guidance, and deferring also to the reasonable demand that we should employ in the schools,
17
GENERAL REPORT.
as far as possible, our own home talent, the Board has this year, by formal action, thrown open our schoolrooms for the admission of what we may perhaps be permitted to call APPRENTICE TEACHERS. Graduates of our high school have been allowed, under direction of the superintendent, to enter at their option the rooms of our teachers, that they might observe their methods of management and instruction, and make for themselves a trial of their gifts. We have been highly gratified
with the results of the experiment. No fewer than eleven or twelve of our high-school graduates have gladly availed themselves of this opening, and have been teaching in the different grades of the different schools. The application of so practical a test has made discovery of good teachers for the city's future wants, and with no expense to the treasury.
THE PER-CENT SYSTEM OF RANKING.
For several years past, but noticeably during the last twelve-month, there has been a deepening impression in the community, that our present usage of stimulating and ranking the pupil by a system of per-cent marking was not an unmixed good, and needed modification. If the practice reached no farther than a healthful stimu- lus, or the simple ranking of the pupil, no objection could lie against it. But it is a fair question whether it does not tend to degrade the whole subject of educa- tion, fostering a practice of mere cramming with details, rather than a broad culture, and a wide, free develop- ment. If education is the unfolding and harmonious development of all the faculties, then it is never an end, but only a means to an end, and that end to give the boy control of himself, and so of the material ele-
18
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
ments around him. If we are failing in this, it would still be clearly unjust to hold the per-cent system, as it is called, solely responsible. But that its tendencies are in this direction, that its effect is to narrow the aim and fetter the faculties, we think the candid everywhere see. At all events, more breadth of culture must be sought ; and all educators must work together to lift the school- world out of its ruts, and set it on the wide plain of healthful development.
INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION.
But is it the duty of the State to educate her sons in the industrial arts ? Attention was invited to this ques- tion, it will be remembered, in the report of last year ; and the clear and earnest language in which it was there stated will not soon be forgotten. The subject loses none of its importance as the months go by, and the prejudice grows that the public schools are educating our children out of the workshop and out of the kitchen, and are degrading the practical, hard-working New England of the fathers into a community of mere ladies and gentlemen. The evil is patent and wide-spread ; and no better evidence of this is needed than the ear- nest but as yet blind struggles of the community to be free of it. And yet it does not seem just to lay the blame upon our schools, or, rather, upon intellectual training. When we find the Prussian sailors down in the fore- castle, studying conic sections and the calculus, or the private soldier writing home from the trenches an ac- count of the battle in Sanscrit, we cannot conclude that intellectual culture makes labor dishonorable, or hard- ship unwelcome. That they are not so, our schools must inculcate. But that our public training ought to
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