{ title: 'The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. (Brooklyn, N.Y.) 1849-1938, June 15, 1902, Page 20, Image 20', download_links: [ { link: 'http://www.loc.gov/rss/ndnp/ndnp.xml', label: 'application/rss+xml', meta: 'News about NYS Historic Newspapers - RSS Feed', }, { link: '/lccn/sn83031151/1902-06-15/ed-1/seq-20/png/', label: 'image/png', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn83031151/1902-06-15/ed-1/seq-20.pdf', label: 'application/pdf', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn83031151/1902-06-15/ed-1/seq-20/ocr.xml', label: 'application/xml', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn83031151/1902-06-15/ed-1/seq-20/ocr.txt', label: 'text/plain', meta: '', }, ] }
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r.j-.«a*ti iii»Ctn«i -. 1; - i r \ ; r } ' k : ; s *lii |j ' ’i p P ' p m p l i t i w i m W p p i i l l m i i ¥ • ■ I I II It k PI m k l I r-:i Ii IP b te ’.-•I’ p p ll! PI' I: i i P ['■- I. ill 1,1 I i U I'-i I? i f c . THE BROOKLYN DAILY EAGLE. NEW YORK. SUNDAY. JUNE 15. 1902. iiiTiNE THE r a c e s - t PBItlG SEH118. Milo’s Friends Discuss the Em* barrassments of Marking Character- boss furnishes the brains. You have hit upon a good -Illustration of what the school teaching will come to by the rauUipllcatlon of bosses. The only thing for them to do is ;to unify .everything, to prevent Individuality, to cngcpder mediocrity., and then to record It. Oi^anlz'e and supervise teachers as day laborers and you’ll soon get their worlt down to the grad,c of day labor. Teaching Is an art; you can’t boss a r t is t s .” ’ Perhaps that would bo all right,” re sponded the Doubtful, \It all or m o st of the teachers were artists. But are they? Is there not about the same proportion of en thusiasts, reliables and busy ones among us as among every other class of workers? -\re there not enough who need a stim u lus to Jnake It worth while to offer inducemouts to'Improve? Is this not an essen tial feature of the school chapter of the charter—that advancement and improvement of service w-ill bring advancement of grade and im provement in salary? How can the authori ties reward m eritorious teachers If they have no record? Should they not have m ore than one Judgment? Should not a record ex tend back through some years?” ’’But what are the marks, except opinions? Mo two men mark alike. I’ll w a g er you that every time a woman is transferred from one school to another her rating changes. 1 know a teacher who has taught for tw e lve years in the system . She started w ith a ’passable,’ and in four term s rose to 'ex- V..OW.U.V. .uv.. . . c e llent’; then a new principal cam e and her one. On these pleasant evenings when Enlily ; record dropped to ’passable’ In a few term s; she w e n t to another iYSTEMS IN OTHER PLACES. ■politeness 'WTien P u n ish in g an d Com bination of Colors in D ress In q u ir e d . . It a have I think I have started a salon., company of people who think they ideas and who like to hear them selves talk constitutes a salon, then I certainly have spreads a rug on the'fron t steps and I sit there breathing the perfume of the window bo.xes of the block beautiful, pretty soon by the mutual gravitation of brains one after another of the edncational people of our ward comes--strolling by and w'.mders in to take part in our ventilations. They like to talk and they in'® especially to talk to me, because, being out of the sy.sicm. I have no prejudices. Furthermore, being an amateur collector o f secbhd-hand cdueaiional ideas, I am an intent had-interested listener. H rose to 'G. plus’ school and got ’passable’ again. The records are full of anom a lies like that. Do you sup pose her teaching ability wobbled around In that way? What mortal thing can be learned of a record like that?” ■■ ' '‘'.The progressive education of principals,” said the New One. -.■‘Admitting that the ratings are only opin ions. and that the opinions of principals dif- forr’ said the Theorist, ”a record of opinions • Is’-belter than no ratings at all. It the prln- cip.'il finds it destructive of his helpful rela tions to tc.acher.s to mark their faults in a book, and this defect should be general and and expressly devised-to~ralse tha.. standard of teaching. So let me venture the opinion right here and now that whatever adm inis tration is at the top such people as you and I, and the teachers with us, have got to show improvement In teaching as the result of the Improvement in salaries or the w h o le salary Increase -n'ill be swe'pt out the m inute' a Legislature takes a notion. Economy Is the cry everywhere. Schools alw a y s get cut first. An accidental Davis law protects us now, passed at a crisis that com es only once In a lifetim e. When the proposition comes to repeal this law, as come it -will, there’s only one argument on-earth can prevent it. It -will not be how sm artly did you fight against this or that enemy? How aptly did you evade this or that requirement that seemed to you absurd? But how much bet ter, more Intelligent and more effective teaching can you show than when you re ceived the wages to which It is proposed to return?” “Scratch the advocate, you find the candi date,” said the Old Liner. Then he said to me: ' \Milo you have been listening intensely, what do you think?” ”I think,” said I, removing my Old V ir ginia cheroot very Impressively, “that there IS only one way to decide, and that Is by the experim ental method. Let the teachers of a school be divided Into two equal groups. Let one group be rated for four years and one group be unrated. Then ascertain which children, those of the rated or unrated teachers, are the better off. The schools are not for rating teachers; that is a sec ondary m atter. If It helps teach children better, keep It; If it doesn’t, throw It out. This Is the one fundamental test of every thing in a school system .” This Ipse dlxlt having been duly uttered, of course there was nothing further on this to say. W e aired ourselves in other talk, and at length the savants having departed. I rolled up the salon and put it in the house. MILO. mention-W as conferred upon H .'B . Conlin, With a m inority report In favor of Alfred Bartlett. - Last night the sc.hool people drifted into j a system could be devised v^hereby the the diseu.ssipn of rhe rating of teachers, seem.s that .tlte. marking system is not con fined to the monthly averages of soholp.rs’ work hilt at-:&bort '.period.s the ■ p rineifBla. mark the teachers,''the district siiperinteh-' dents mark the tcachjBrk.and the principal^ the dl-vislon Superbttendent.s mark the fi-Lsk. triet superintcneients' .and tiie city 'supej-lh- tendent m.arks the. division superintendents. We eeriainly h.nd an idea! eomg'any ' for j It superintendents w-ould make all the ratings. \God forbid,” exclaimed the Old Liner, “ that disfranchisem ent, of the principal fihpirfd bo carried a step farther or his rp- ■ sp onslbility further transferred to inspect- 'ors.” . “Some occupants of m angers neither -want 'the marltlng privilege them selves nor want 'anyrone else to have it.” observed the New One.. , .“.ty.ell,” continued the Theorist, “ If,the uss of tjhe marking power is rcpellaut to a prin- di,scu.ssion. There were the OpliiloBated-t-ClpaU It-m ight bo offset by giving it also . ■ , ,■ . • ••' T> id \* r»nnlf1 m a r l r n r l n - Gentleman and the Old biner who have could mark the prln- 1 cipais; me principals, the district superln- in o’.u* L'Clinol.T lor many years. Ih e r e • tendents; the district superintendents, the a Doubiiul Soui-who .ha-s net-yet rna>iG‘-‘^rhl^|.dtv^6iont..superintendents; the division super- minfl. There were the - Hopeful -Onh|r,i'ha j-InleDdcnts, ..'the associate superintendents; Theorist and tlva .New One who has n o t ] ^he assotlate superintendents the-— ’; , , “Stop and lake breath, said the New One. know-n ns very lon.g. j “There seem s to me,” went on the The- The subject was intere.sting to me, ;S9 rnuch i o rlst, ”a possible advantage in such a sys- so t.bat I think 1 can reproduce the con-y-cr-’^'tem.-- Nev-one is quite so likely to discern satibri-' alm o s t e-xaetiy a.s I f oeeurred'/'\; The Hopefir: So.il r-.r.e.ncd the game by 'ask ing: ”.Whr,t d.-i’ you thiulc of-the new systei&'Of marking teachers?” - . •■.Nothing.” , said lim Opinionated'’ D e h tle-' “and I have hat; titat opinion b f . l t , for .ft ma'h'^'faaits as are those tvorklug under his direction. Each one would thus have sev eral ratings, which could be averaged for a final estim ate. It might be a good plan, also, to-'let each one rate him self. Philoso phy has given 'know thy.seir as a supreme command; knowing it. w-hy not record it? ” “Perhaps I am m istaken.” said the Doubt- rome time. It is only one of ilio -futile ]. ,‘*but itrscorns to me you are all talking forriTMc rtf stvctfnm rn rmitirp blisv-' men to ni^rtcanan 'VVirt rtaw - OfTminictra Unrt Imc fr*nn/1 tem iu s of system to require biisiy'. men to w'.->Ete tim e trying io;tabulat'c ih.at which .can not be-taimlattsi. AVhat'is-Tnore absurd, th'sq: the expres.sion of the valito of a school tcatdi- orCin .terms of a. b. c d? —BVess me; If good ioac'r.ing v.-ere so c-asy of analysis and nbnsenso..-.The new.adm inistratlon has found an elabbrafi raarkfhg system installed and has sirapllffed It. Has not a great Improve m e n t'been made? Half the school people seem .to me to be objecting because the grades of 'di/Terence have been reduced to four. Did you not hear the women prlncl- estim a iion -t would have been written in | pals ask for permission to use ’B plus,’ or a bock long ago, and any intelligen t girl 1’B 1.’ ’B 2,’ etc., and ’Double B’? It isn ’t lould learn it in a short time and we would j the superintendents; perhaps, who want to have noilting but good teatrhing. ’ i split .hairs, but it is the m a rkers. .\nd they “Don't veu believe in keeping a record of | want more points to mark on” • • ---- - ' ♦‘r’riT'f1 nlx» ” coiH tViA OlH a t^arhi^r's servicoV” iiskctl ib c T h e o r i s t . “Ccr!.dinly.” replied ilio .other. “ 1 think hci‘ name and her linancial account wiiti-the «:hy aiul .such simple' ♦\mrics as v.'&'uld b.'; looted iV she *T\-cro.-cmpIcyi‘.d’ i;i any j »/•! I mn l.-nnf* Kilt tvhnr is !. other intsincss ouglit to bo kept; but what is j. ‘Certainly.” said the Old Liner, \there are some absolutely essen tial features of a good teacher om itted from the d e tails given by-the City Superintendent. N o thing is said about prom p tness.” 'You have to mark absence and laten e s s ,” m e use of this per-petual mar'xing of her j interrupted the Openmouthed, iaults ar.rl cxcc tii nc.ies. as ii she were still j “But.” continued the other, \the teacher’s a p-.jpil getting demerits in deportment and | arrival in the morning is only one feature of taking n ear i koine for, papa to si.gn? Why j promptness. Hotv about those teachers that ao we have it ? Oi her cities don’t.” ; never begin or finish anything on tim e? “ Yes, they do. Si. Louis has it.” ! Then there is accuracy of statem ent In rec- •'Well. Denver dcrt’i. Gove won’t have any- j Qrds and reports, care of school property, thing to do v.'it.k it. They don’t Imve it in | oconomy in supplle.s, comprehension and Chioago. Cooley told me he thougiu it stiff j mindfulness of instructions. These are nec- and ariHicial. I believe the best schools essary virtues of members of an organised don’t have it.” ----- ’■ ” said the New COLLEGES. “They iuve. it in Elmira. Cns. , „ , ••Where?” asked the Opinionated Gcntle- ’ “In the Rcfnrvnaiory.” •■They he.ve it in lots of places.” said the Olil Liner. ••In Hempstead titore are more than 200 defsiks on the printed spocificatiens of th e sr.hnoi commissinner. tonehing on and apper taining to leraporatm-c ------ ” •‘Of the tearher?” broke in the New One, ••Don't iiuc-rru.m me, young m a n ,” said the Old Liner. ’■'. may bo over -10, but I have my- license. They-rate her on temperature of the room, condition of lohcher's desk, pupils' dc.sk.s. fioor. walls, woodwork, w in dows, blackboardt-., attitndo when standing, attitude when sitting, pleasant face’, expres sive face, confidonco in countenance, combi nation of colors in dre.ss, politeness even when admini.tterir.g punishment, tact, self control, prompinos.K. ae.sthetic development, knowledge of what is going on, vocabulary, current events, dawdling, tasteful deeora- tion. high mor.al and professional ideals, fam iliarity with history of education and quantity and quality of instruction.” •’The .Manhattan plan, .before . consglida- tjqm-'Tv.as-about-as full 'as that.” -said the dfle who has not yet made up .his rnind. \if’hey h.-t'd fiyo largo'.blanks-for uftV'In sizing up a teacher. They recorded everything and som e addirional information; Sanitation, system , business qualifu-ations, memory gems, general condition of cla.ss, punctual ity, apperception, ccrrel.atinn. manners, progress made and remarks.” ,.:!‘AVerp'the rcmark,s ptintable?” .-asked the New one. ' . -r .I’Milo.’. said the Old-Liner, ‘JlloWTild you happen to let him in .aniong tiuT m en.' Make hSm be seen and not heard.” “Then the new r'oquifements-are an ev i dence that we are Brooklynizlng the gchool sifstem are they nof? They are much sim pler than the-M anhattan plan.” ' ”Oh, yes.” “They are even sim pler than the former Brooklyn requirnments. We had to rale t 9 .achers in- a. greap many-more-Things,’!. .said ttie Theorist.' ‘and now wo treed rate only teaching ability, scholarship, effort, person ality and control.” .. . - ............. ....... , . i^Btu 'the whole thing'fs absurd,” repeated the Opinionated Gentleman. “The whole Idea of my putting down on a blank the faults of my assistants is repellent to me. I'banish it from my mind until they have gone away on their vacations; then. I slap dbwncsbme marks and seal up the envelope and m a iriV o u t o f m y 'sight a?''s6'on as p o s sible.’' •■\Don’t you show them their marks?” .-.GCertainly not. My place is to help teach ers help children to an education. . I can’t afford to have oiir relations Impaired by the artificial constraint as between marker and marked. It’s the old Calvinistic idea of God as'-a stern Judge and recorder—with his eye on- everything- you ■ do. Did you ever read John Fiske’.s account of his childhood con ception of God?” \You can search m e,” said the Now One. .-f.'Never mind him.” , said the Old Liner, \ijbur modesty in the choice of that with •which to' compare yourself has moved us, proceed.” \\Well, when Fiske was 5 years old bis Idjea of God was of a tall figure in spec^dcles ■with a pen In his hand and another behind his ear. He was in a narrow office Ju.st over the zenith. It had a tall standing desk run ning lengthwise on which lay several open ledgers bound in coar.se leather. Standing at;:the-desk, God looked out upo'ri the whole •ttibrld diligently regarding the deeds of men and recording them in ledgers, ft was an Ineffably solemn thought that every -word and act -were thus written down to confront the little boy at the day of Judgment.” \Do you suppose?” asked the One W hose Mind 'Was N o t Made Vp, “that the teachers have any such notions regarding the super- In'fendents ?” '\I don’t suppose; I know it.” said the Opinionated One.. ’’Instead of a help and an inspiration the horde of superinteri'flehtB are dreaded and unwcicomo. The whole Idea of being watched and recorded is repugnant to “■v\'hy should that be?” said the One with the Unsettled .Mind. “Might they not as w e ll accept tbe common experience of those who work, •’I. have hoard it said.” ventured the New One. \ th a t com p leteness is the school- mastcr'.s foible. Ho m ust carry everything 1 to a dreary and complete conclusion.” “ Whai objection is there,” asked the Doubtful One, “ to your rating those things if you want to? Would it not be possible ■for each principal to add such details as he thought necessary?” \No said t-ie Opinionated One. “If you are going to do anything reduce the details. The whole thing involves a distressing waste of time. If. as the City Superinten dent says, the great m a jority of teachers will be second class, that is ’B,’ -what In conscience is the use of w a sting time putting it on paper? We should have a report that says; This teacher is deemed superior for the follow ing reasons, th is teacher Is called superior for the follow ing reasons, all the rest are ordinary. If i t is the policy of this adm inistration to save clerical work there’s a place to begin.” “One rating ought to be enough,” said the Old Liner, \and that Is -whether the teacher satisfies the requirem ents of the principal for the carrying out of his school policy, .-t teacher Is chiefly valuable as she finds her place in the plans of the manager and •putS“forth ,her energy to make them a suc cess.” . ........... \How about the principal’s place m the policy of- his superiors?” asked the New One. . ' - ‘•The young man certainly talks too much,” said the' Opinionated. •’In St. Louis.” continued the Old Liner, not noticing the interruption, \no teacher may be appointed to a school -without the prjacipaTs re.eommendation. That is the ■Way of every-departm ent of businests, and tjie only.xwaj; in which sm ooth businesslike atrention-to duty may be secured.” “What ought to be the basis of marking,’’ asked the Doubtful One. ”up from nothing or down from perfection?” •■‘‘The Manhattan way,” said the Ne-w One, “was to mark a teacher ‘excellen t’ u n less you had some reason 'vhy she should he marked otherwise. Every mark that -was less than ‘excellent’ had to be accompanied by a sea son for deparepre from that mark.” —A sia result:” said the Theorist, \Super intendent Jasper’s records shoxv 95 per cent, of the ratings as reaching excellent.” ■’’Is that a fact?” “It has been so stated. There can be no doubt as to where this adm inistration ex pects you to do the m o st of your marking. It is at ‘B.’ If a teacher can show enough positive evidences of superiority then mark her ’A.’ If there are thrust upon your notice enough glaring defects to make a teacher conspicuous for them, then you sho.uld mark her 'C or ‘D’ and have your reasons teady to substantiate in case she appeals. Sir Joshua Fitch says that we should not attem p t to record anything unless we have carefully pre.served the data by which wo can assure ourselves that the rec ord Is thoroughly accurate. As a teacher ought to have data to prove a pupil’s fitness for promotion a principal ought to be pre pared to sustain his opinion with facts. The superintendent says that teachers have claimed that marks have been made by prin cipals who have not spent two hours la the teacher’s class room all term .” \And there’s the m eat In the whole cocoa- nut,” said the New One. \You fellow s have been so w isely discussing whether you ought to mark or not. and wondering why this Is and that isn’t, but a blind man riding by on a horse can see that the superintendents have perfected a little schem e that com pels you to get into the class room where you ought to'be: to' look for what ought to be there. If- you mark a teacher deficient for two or three terms It is very much up to you to show why you haven’t done m ore to help her get up to a satisfactory mark. This Is one of the cleverest things that ever hap pened. The Board of Superintendents put out this scheme of rating two months ago. They let alL the chronic ste-wers stew around about the absurdity of marking a teacher’s scholar.sliip and dress and personality. Then they cajled the principals over and gave an interpretation of the details, so sim p le, so pertinent to school improvement and so much ea.=ier than the former plans as to make the objectors look sm all enough. Tbe new style gets closer to the requirements of the ch.nrter: It doesn’t make the words ‘fair’ and ’good’ mean poor. .Meritorious Polytechnic In s titu te.- The examinations having been complet’*-! during the past -week, nothing m ore rem ains before college closes except the commence ment exercise, to be held Wednesday evening, June 18. The following men will be awarded degrees upon that occasion: Bachelors of Arts—A. W. Melsel, Harold.-Somers and J. K. Van Vranken. Bachelor of Science in Cheml.stry—B. F. Baumgarten, O. H. Burke, W illiam O. Weldmann, Fred S. W hile. Bach elor of Science in Electrical Engineering, P. D. Rapelje.-'Civil Engineer—\V.- M. Brls-- tew, John Clausnitzer, Jr. CB. S-), Louis C. Dornbusch, Joaquim M. Buenaventura and A. C. W'. Lundoft. -Bleofriral Snglneers-r-El- liott Du Bois (B. S.J, Harriott C. H a ll, P. D. Rapelje. .Advanced degree of Master of Science and Chemistry—H. G. Leberthon. The class day dance, held Friday evening, June 13, was a very enjoyable alfair, the col lege gymnasium being draped in the class colors, old gold and red. .A large electrical de sign displaying the numerals ot the graduat ing class was hung from the gallery facing, the entrance to the dancing floor. A new fea ture was the throwing open of tbe yard adjacent to the gymnasium fo'f the use of promenaders. Numerous Japanese lanterns hung about the inclosure aided in giving a festive appearance to the occasion. Lighv refreshments were served. Last Tuesday the class of 1905 held Its election of officers for the ensuing year. The results were: President, C. Furgueson, suc ceeding himself; vice president, H. H. Jack- son,; secretary, C. A. Benoft; treasurer, A. Zoebisch; editor, E. J. Streubel. The 1992 basket ball team had its picture taken last week, in order to have It pub lished in Spalding’s basket ball guide for this year. The editorial board of “The Polytechnic” next year will consist of the follow ing men: 1903, Mtllllam J. Berry, Harry T. Lees, E. W. Boughton; 1904, Fred H. Lane and Giles X. Haley; 1905, E. J. Streubel. The class of 1906 is also entitled to one representative lO be elected as soon as possible in the fall. N e x t week the regular exam inations will have ended and upon Monday and Tuesday entrance examinations will be held. It Is rumored that the Incoming freshm a n class will sh.-cw large gains upon all ot the courses, particularly the engineering. It is to be hoped that this may be fulfilled. The announcement will be made at the com ing coramencoraent of”the-nam es of tlie win ners of the various corporation prizes, as w e ll as of the R o sslter W. Raymond prize, offered for the best essay on an engineering subject, submitted by a member of th e grad uating class. These names are awaited , w ith interest. The college will - reopen on Sep-- t ember 29. - . A d e lphi College. There Is an extraordinary pressure, for re served seats and adm issions for the com mencement exercises In the Academy of Music next Tuesday evening. Professor Griggs, the orator ot the occasion, has hosts of friends and admirers in Brooklyn and this Is also an occasion of unique interest for the supoprters of Adelphi on account of the great Improvement in the prospects of the college In the last few m o n ths. .At the same tim e and place .occurs not mnly the award of diplomas to graduates of the col lege, but also the sam e ceremony for the graduating class of the Academy and of the Training School for Kindergarten Teachers, which Is carried on by the college. After the formal ceremonies there w ill be a social of the graduating classes and their friends In the assembly room' of the Academy of Music. During the past week, beside the regular Adelphi examinations, there have been car ried on a series of Competitive tests open to students from the various high schools. The -wlnnerr. in th is contest w i l l . receive free scholarships, five , of which have been recently founded by the trustees. From June 16 to 21. inclusive, will occur at Adel phi the entrance exam inations for the Mid dle States and Maryland colleges, under the general direction of the C o llege Entrance Examination Board. An unusual number of the faculty of the college and academy are to spend the sum mer abroad. Including President Levermore, Professor Scharff, Mile. Charvet, Mrs. Reiner. Miss Bpth-Hendrlksen. Miss Pate- man, superintendent of the primary school, and M iss Ayer. Bryn. Ma-wr College. The first matriculation scholarship given by Bryn Mawr College for New York, Ne-w Jersey and Delaware, goes to L illian Rau- schere Ellis, prepared by the P r iscilla Brals- lin School, Bordentown, N. J.' The second goes to Suzette Kemper Grundy, prepared by Packer Collegiate Institute. N either of these schools has sen t before a student w in ning entrance honors. The Brearley School of New York has -won first honors twice and second once; Dr. Sach’s School for Girls one first honor, and .tw o second; Miss Dana’s School, Morristown, N. J.; the M isses Hebb’s School, W ilmington, D e l.; and Rye Seminary. RS’c, N. Y.. have each sent one student win ning second honors, -while the D w ight School for Girls, Englewood, N. J.',' has tvon one and Miss Spence’s School, N e w York City, two first honors. plonship of United States. This race cleared away all doubts as to whom the championship belonged. The members of -the senior divisions -who are. going to college are Murphy, Travis and Laidler, who will enter AVesIeyan; Reed and V a lentine, to Princeton: Van Tassel and B r istol, to Yale; Ackerman, to Harvard; Schoenyahn, Rudick and Clegg, to Cornell, and Tyler, to Columbia. E rasm u s E a ll. The members of the Unteruns gave a ver- salzen,- or drama, on Monday afternoon In study hall A. The programme was as fol lows; Selection by the orchestra, sorrg by the B o y s’ Glee Club. The cast of the drama of several scenes io given below; Wltkow, a Jus tice of the peace, Tafel; Uirlke, his wife, Jo hanna Ebeling: .Arnold, his nephew, F. Brower; Hertha, .Arnold’s wife, Bertha R o h lfs; Seeberg, a friend, H. Neaderland; Tnudehea, the maid, M. Nelson. A piano solo was rendered by Mis-s Helen Toothe. The \contest for honors in debate at the school pn Saturday evening last was an in teresting one. The topic discussed w a s that the government should own and operate the railroads of the United States. The argu m ents were cleverly and forcibly presented. The judges, consisting of the Rev. Mr. Chase of the Flatbush Congregational Church, Pro fessor Burton M. Balch of the Boys’ High School, and Professor M. E. Merchant, award ed the silver medal to Ford Moran of the negative; the bronze medal to Nathan Berger of the affirmative, and mention to H. B. Con lin ot the negative. Professors Boynton. Low and Tibbets were Judges as to the m erits of the debate and aw'arded the decision to the affirmative. A debate was held in liberal 1 -A on 'Wednes day on the subject that the English were Jus tified In their attitude toward the Boers. The affirmative was upheld by Brierley, Doggett, Hegeman and Avery, and the negative by Lewis, Dorff and Welton. The decision wa.s awarded to the negative, the announcement of which was made by Roys Brown, chairman of the committee. On Monday at 12 all the pupils were called to a standing position by the ringing of four bells. This was recognized as tbe fire signal and In all the rooms lines were Instantly formed waiting the order to resume seats or to leave the building. -.A' second four bell signal came and every one began to move. Quickly and in an orderly fashion the squads ot thirty from each class room moved to the place of egress assigned and In less than four minutes all the students were gathered .on the lawn in front ot the building. This was done to comply with the laxv and to prac tice the students In case-of real danger. It w'as made the occasion for distribution of medals won for various contests. The names ot the students ot the senior class recommended for graduation were post ed on A\tednesday. There were many anxious ones and the lists were soon scanned to see whether or not their names were Included. The Hat will he revised later, after students who may have conditions have had an oppor tunity to pass oft such conditions. The eight best \term essays have been chosen. The writers and subjects are as follows: Elizabeth Seldenroth, 4 B, “German Soldier Life” ; Carrie E. Graf, G B, “Disraeli” ; Harding Johnson. Jr., 6 A, \Rise and Fall of the Spoils System In New York” ; Susan B. E a s tern D istrict H ig h School, t The fifth term classes have Just completed an extensive study of the Sir Roger de Cov- erly papers. M acaulay’s \Essay on Addison,” “ Henry Esmond” ,and Pope’s \Iliad.” E s says by students ot that class have been subm itted upon the follow ing subjects: “An Eighteenth Century B e lie,” \Prisons of the Eighteenth Century,” \Position ot the Cler gy, the Theater. Classic Spirit, Amusements and D w ellings of the Eighteenth Century.” These essays are based upon the study of the eighteenth century and the ‘”Vlcar of W akefield.” , An open Invitation has been extended to the students of the school to visit the print ing office of the Interscholastic Bulletin. Students of the third and fourth terms had a trial examination In Latin. The questions were taken from former R e g ents’ exam ina tions. Miss W agenschitz lately showed her Ger man classes some excellent specim ens of -ji-ood carving from the Black Forest. The students of« the fourth classical class made a trip to the docks on Thursday after noon in order to collect specimens of sea weed. These specimens are to be used In the study of botany. The Latin honor list ot the sixteenth classi cal class for the month of May is one of the largest of this term. The list contains twenty-five naraeo ot students who have passed with over 80 per cent. In recitation work. The final examination for the June promo tions will begin on Monday morning, but reg ular recitations for students who are ex empted will continue until the end of the term. AU of the. students will be required to take at least one exf-iuln.atlon in order to have practice In taking them. For all other subjects .exem p tions will be based on the following qualifications: All students with a general average of 70 per cent, are exempt in all suojects. .All with an average of 80 per cent, exempt with honor. AH hav ing average below 70 per cent, will be ex amined in each subject below grade. < Two botany excursions he.ve been planned to be taken by the students during the cou'i- Ing week. One ot these is to be made to Sea Cliff and a second to Rockaway Park. In the physics laboratory a large shipment of goods and supplies has Just been received from a Boston firm. The lot includes ap paratus for 'individual' students In experi m ental m e o h a n ics.T h e advanced physics class Is now conducting a series of experim ents in momentum and In action and reaction. A number of girls In the German c lass have regular'.m eetlng on Thursday, May-29. • Tbo roll call and the business o f the day -were followed by one ot the m o st interesting de bates of the season, the subject being; \Resolver That the execution ot Charles I of England w a s Justifiable.” Jessie P. Cooke and May F. Crocker upheld the affirmative and Lillian W hitlock and Florence .M. Conk lin the negative side. The Judges, the M isses Palm er. McCabe and Burton, gave their decision In favor ot the affirmativq. The society was honored by the presence of the first president. Hazel Hawxhurst, tvhd now attends the Heffley Preparatory School\. A scries ot conferences between the prin cipal and the teachers of each departm ent in the school, which began on Monday, May 26. terminated on Wednesday, Jiino 11, with a m e eting of the teachers of English. At these gatherings all m a tters relating to the arrangem ent ot the different lines of work have been carefully considered. Conferences concerning the new course ojt study to be adopted for all the high schools of Greater Now York were held at the Board of Education rooms on the afternoon of Tuesday, June 10. The G irls’ High School was represented by Professor .Arey and the -Misses Brink. Cochran, Higgins, Olsson and Gates. Miss Jennie M. Jenness, president of the Alumnae Association, addressed the members of the senior class on Tuesday, explaining of the youth; but in their desird,; to fit;'themselv't* for teachers. In schools and colleges.-they ar« devoting them sc’.ves to the calllhg they. hav* chosen. Shall we lower the standarci of the teacher* in our public schools by m aking It Impoesl- ble for women of.advanced education to bo employed as teachers in them? Having been a teacher m y self, I appreclato that no matter how elementar:' the grade, a teacher'W ill always find that the broader her own knowledge and culture: the more acceptable can she make her teaching. The sim p lest studies under the subtle, mysteri ous workings ot the alert child mind, often develop startling questions that tax all the wisdom of the teacheru to answer. The school board need not fear that a teacher will have too much experience or be at all embarrassed by her wisdom. She will need all that she can command to do Justlc'e to the young minds, and added to learning she'imust el cv w i A r t f A n #1 f i r » m r i A c e « (lA tl.* W n hav^ Judgment and firmness In deallngiw lth their moral faults and patience and wisdom In dealing with their Intellectual w e a k n ^ s . Were It possible to procure more m o th ^ * and married women as teachers I believe tn advantage to the- schools and to the young would he greater than we could compute. Just as the Romans chose to subm it th® responsibility ot their governm ent to the senators, those who had gained the wisdom and dignity only acquired by years Of expe- to them the -work' fiance, so I believe the tim e will come \when ganlzat on and the we will rate at their true value the qualities -An Invitation was extenoed to the seniors I __ . — __ _______________________ been rehearsing the German comedietta, * <TA v» e l n TA ’’ <%%• eo? ilnrAlr /lo i* T 'IcK Jg Townsend, 6 E, ’’Night” ; Charlo’.Ue Harvey, 7 B. “English Literature Clubs of Johnson’s SCHOOLS. A d e lphi A cadem y . The sessions of the primary school closed on Friday. June 13, with an entertainm ent work? Is it not an acknowledged fact that means mnrltoriotis in your opinion. How four laborers and a boas -will do more and much youf opinion will affect the raise of a better work than six men w ithout super- teacher’s salary you do not know, but it vision?” makes you assum e the responsibility of \Because.” said the Opinionated, \they knowing what Is going on In your own school furnish mere machine strength, while the and of recording it. Best o f all, It is openly v u D i i u d . / , o u u < } - aa J( AfAjicii a i a c u b c i A d i i J U i t f U t In the assembly hall, which w a s attended by a very large number of parents and friends of the pupils and greatly enjoyed. The entertainm ent consisted of an operetta entitled, “In ■ a Japanese Garden,” the libretto of which was w r itten by Miss Klbbe, the musical Instructor, the music be ing adapted from various sources. The dis tribution of prizes and honors folio-wed the entertainment. Boys’ H ig h School, All during the past week tests have been given by the teachers In the various sub jects. The tests occupy from an hour to an hour and a half and are a great improve ment over the final exam inations. The new course of study w ill be completely ready by next term. In Latin there will be five hours a week in the freshm an, sopho more and Junior years, while In the senior year tbe student may take four or seven hours a week, as elected by the scholars. This Is the most Important • change in the course, for It will allow .a gradu'ate from this school to enter into the sophomore class la college Latin. The commencement of the class of June, 1902, will occur In the auditorium on the evening of June 24. There will be forty- eight graduates, which Is the same number as last year. Wilbur Caswell, who has at tained an average of 91 per cent, for his course, will be valedictorian. At the Cornell scholarship examinations for the twenty-one state scholar.ships there were seventy-five contestants, forty-five of this number being from the Boys’ High School. -Among them were Schoenyahn, Luckcr. Ford, Murchle, Rudick, Cosgrove. Joerger. Koenig. Peacock, Surpless, Sudransky, Welristeiu, Chatterovitz, Demsky. Holzman, Mdrks, Ray- all. Greenberg, Smiley, Froelich and Met calfe. .Another cup has been added to the long list of cups won by the track team this year. It is the Long Island Interscholastic League’s track cup: also the relay team ended its sea son by winning the New York A. C. banner for winning tbe Interschoiastic relay cham- Tlme” ; Anna W. White.- 7 C, '“Choosing the Bride” ; Madeline Brush. 7 D, “ The Evolution of International Law” ; N e llie H. Choate, 7 D, \Harlan’s Brat.” These essay's will be submitted to a committee for Inspection. From the number the best three w ill be selected for the Young awards. The new society. Delta Psi, with .Miss Law rence as adviser, has completed Its organi zation. -A spread was given in Miss Pond’s studio on Friday. Inspector Hill of the state department spent some time In looking over the work of the school not long since.' A very favorable re port came to Dr. Gunnison from State Super intendent Skinner relative to this visit. The character of the Instruction In general was praised and the work of three of the de partments was given especial notice. The Girls’ Debating Society is holding regu lar meetings. At their last session the ques tion of the Boer war was discussed. At the m e e ting on Wednesday afternoon the subject ot governmental ownership of railroads will be debated. The school is now In the m idst of revle-ws. This is a trying and busy time, but It v/111 soon be over. The presentation of the \Rivals\ was given before large audiences yesterday after noon and evening at McCaddln Hall. -At the commencement of Columbia Uni versity last week the degree of doctor of philosophy tor graduate work was conferred on Professor George A. Hubbell. A higher diploma was granted to Dr. \Willis Boughton tor advanced work. A new consignment ot lantern slides for use in the English work was received on Thursday. On Tuesday and Wednesday the regents’ examinations will be given. They will in clude second term Latin, fourth term French, German and Greek, si.xth term algebra, sev enth Virgil, busines.s arithmetic and com mercial law for commercial three and tour. On Wednesday and Thursday afternoons an examination will be held for admission to the high schools. T h is-w ill be at Erasmus Hall and will be In charge of the high schools of the city. The students at Erasmus Hall have always taken a deep interest In forensics. This spirit la greatly fostered by making class debates a regular school exercise In the de partments of English'and history. The first debating society was established in 1897, with Mr. Ferrj- of the English department as hon orary president, and from that time Erasmus Hall has never been wanting in men able to put up a good, strong argument. In the fall of 1898. Erasmus Hall was admitted to the Long Island Interschoiastic Debating League, in which the school took a prominent place at once. The following year, however, V|^as the banner year for the buff and blue. Four dehat.'-s were won with unanimous de cisions upon the part of the judges, and the cup came into our possession, where it re mained until this year. Prominent among the debaters of the past were Heaton, ‘01, Columbia, ’05; Rossman, ‘01, Cornell, ‘05; Pink and Skinner, ‘00, St. Lawreriee. ‘04; Lloyd, ‘00. Polytechnic, ‘04; and Kerrigan, ‘06, Yale, ‘05. It is interesting to note that these men have maintained the high rank they secured here, for all ot them have made the debating team In their respective colleges. Two y^ars ago a Junior debating society was started, to which students of the first three.grades were eligible as members. This has served as a preparatory school for the senior debating society, and some of the best debaters in the school have learned in this younger society h.ow to express them- selve.5 with clearness and force. For example. Berger 4G, who won the bronze medal in the recent contest, was last term a member ot this society. .At the beginning of this year, great enthusi.ism was awakened in debating circles by a new plan proposed by Mr. Ferry. All the members of the senior s.oclety were invited to take part In a preliminary con test. at -ahi-eh six nierabers were to be chosen to take part in a final contest for medals. Some t-a-elve or thirteen men came forward for the preliminaries, from wh.'m a com mittee, marie tin of teacheis, selected for the finale. Bartlett, 6.A; Lncher. oB; Berger, 4G; J.loran, riF; Conlin. 5F; .and Hughes, Com. 4. The final contest took place at Erasmus Hall, Saturday evening, June 7, when the silver medal was won by Ford Moran, and the bronze medal by N a t’ian Berger. Honorable Elgensinn,” or \Gott sei dank, der TIsh gedeckt.” Tbe young \actresses’’ have taken a great deal ot interest in the play and act their parts -with excellent expression. The classes In beginning Latin were en tertained on Tuesday by an illustrated lec ture on \Ancient\ Italy,!’ delivered by Mr. Davidson. This lecture will tend to make the study ot Caesar’s Commentaries more- comprehensive on the part ot the pupils. The students of-ilology have started to fill several aquariums with examples ot algae, which they are e.xpected to collect. In t’nis st.udy m o st of the work will be done w ith the compound microscope. A debating team from the sixth classical grade has challenged the fifth classical to a debate on the subject: \Resolved That pro motion by examination shall he discontin ued.” The sixth class will uphold the' affirmative tvith the following speakers: Messrs. Marron, HVolfs-and Saltpeter. The negative speakers of the fifth class are Messrs. Smith, Hodjins and Duffy. On Friday, June 20, an interschoiastic de bate will be held between Eastern D istrict and Comtaerclal Hlgh Schools. Eastern D is trict has the affirmative on tlje subject: “Re solved, That corporations, ordinarily called trusts, are a menace to the people of the United States.” Mr. Cornln of the faculty visited Princeton University on June 1. He afterward w it nessed the base ball game between Prince ton and Yale, in w'hlch Princeton won. Com m ercial H ig h School. A debate between representatives of rooms 12 and 19 occupied the Friday morn ing assembly period on the question: “Re solved that the liberty of the press should be restricted by the government of the United States.” Hathaway, McCormick and Donniez from Room 12 spoke for the af firmative, but the representatives of Room 19, Frankenstein, Nathan and Cordoza were able to offer a stronger argument, and they were awarded the decision. The spring m eeting of the Spanish Alumni will take the form of an excursion to Brigh ton Beach on Tuesday evening, June 24. Members will assem b le at the corner of H alsey street and Nostrand avenue a t 7:45 P. M. sharp. In case ot rain the excursion will he hold the following evening. A branch chapter of Omega Alphq, PI has been formed in the Commercial High School, with membership taken from the fourth and fifth term s. A chapter house -will be se cured In the fall. Ten members. Including Dr. Semple of the faculty, have been Initiat ed at the chapter house of the Manual Train ing High School. The schedule for examinations Is as fol lows: June 18, English and history for all te r m s J u n e 19, German or Spanish, for all terms, and physiology for the first term, geography in the second, physics for the third and chemistry- for the fifth term; June 20, bookkeeping tor all term s and Spanish for first term, physics In the fourth term and law for the fifth term. The exam ina tions close on June 23, w ith arithmetic In the first and second terms, algebra in the third and fourth and geometry and type ■writing for the fifth term. All exam ina tions are to he held on the second floor. The morning session will be from 9 to 11:30 o’clock and in the afternoon from 12 to 2:30 o’clock. Boys will return to school on June 25 In the morning and cards w ill be given out In the afternoon. Cards are to be returned and books collected on June 25. Large sheets are due in the office on June 29, at 9 o’clock. The promotions -will take place on June 27. Special efforts are being made by the Camera Club to present a large and credit able collection of Its work at their coming exhibition, the last -week in June. The last championship debate In the Junior League to decide the supremacy of the schools will he held in the Commercial High School Building next Friday evening be tween the representatives ot the Eastern D istrict. High School and the local team, on the question. “Resolved, That the va.st business combinations known as trusts are a menace to the welfare ot the United States.” The speakers. Davenport, Cordes and Nelson will uphold the negative for the Commercial High School. The last appearance of the orchestra this season will be at the school building on Juno 25, on the occasion of the annual re ception. and the following evening, at As sociation Hall as the graduation exercises of Public School No. 2. G irls’ H ig h School. The guest of honor on Monday morning. Dr. John Mickleborough. principal of the Boys’ High School, offered to the young women the sincere and hearty congratula tions of that institution upon the excel lence of their work, of which he declared It was well qualified to Judge, as the two schools were In constant com p etition. ' Dr. Mlcklehorough’s principal topic was the significance of our secondary education and the relation between teaching and the result ot teaching. .At the close of his re marks he Introduced one of the pupils of the Boys’ High School, George F. Gentes, who recited in .superb fashion Senator Thurston’s ringing speech, delivered a t tbe opening of the Spanish war. The great ap plause which folio-wed testified to the enjoy ment of the audience. Mr. Gentes recently took the first prize at the elocutionary con test held at Hamilton College, Clinton. New York. .An e x tract from “King Henry VIII,” a dia logue between Cromwell and 'Wolsey, was recited by Mary E. Sharot. Lillian S. Camp bell of the sixth division gave a vocal solo, entitled “Sweet Mother. Pray for Me.” ”0 Vales, With Sunlight Sm iling.” was ren dered by the singing class. •At the close ot the ses.slon on Friday. June 6, a teachers’ m e eting was held In the assem b ly room. Various m a tters con cerning the welfare of the school were sub m itted to the teachers by the principal and full explanations given of the manner in which estim a tes of pupils’ work were to be made, promotions effected and special ex am inations conducted at the opening ot the school in September. ■At a m eeting of the Girls’ High School Debating Society. May 29. an Impromptu discussion was held on the subject, “Re solved. That the Influence of the mother upon the child Is greater than that of the father.” E stelle W estlake led the affirma tive side and Emil 3 - Cox the negative. The judges. Miss Ellis, Emma Dugleo. Helen Stratton and Ruth Goddard, decided In favor of the affirmative side. The Dresser Debating Society held Its for th e m to Join th e m e m b e r s ot th e society on t h e i r picnic at Far R o c k a w a y on Satur day, June 14. ■Tho condition ot the weather has favored the carrying on out of doors of the -work in the physical culture classes, a pleasant change, greatly appreciated by the pupils. Ball games and running m a tches have proved particularly enjoyable. Dr. Felter was tho principal speaker at the opening of the Charles Commercial School, on Jefferson and Franklin avenues, on June 2. M a n u a l T r a in in g H ig h School. Every student in the June class of 1902 has been successful in passing the gradua tion examination and will receive a diploma at the commencement exercises at the Co lumbia Theater on June 23. The school may ■well be proud of the sho-ft'ing made by this class. The tickets for the exercises are now being printed on >the school press, while the programmes are being done outside at the e.xpense of the Board of Education. The Engineering Society Is ' having the year’s collection ot m agazines bound for the use of the members as a reference llbrarj’. The society at present subscribes to three scientific periodicals. ’ •> On Saturday last. Professor ' Henry F. ■Weed accompanied the students of his chem istry classes to a large zinc manufacturing plant in New Jersey. Mr. \Weed- expects to arrange another trip to a New Jersey iron works to study the process of extracting the metal from the ore. . -A number ot students of. the graduating class, although their work Is finished, are taking special instruction to prepare tor col lege entrance exam inations. Many of the girls are preparing to take exams to enter the Brooklj'n Training School for teachers. The final exams tor June promotions will occur during next week. In order to be ex empted from these examinations, -students must have a grade ot 85 per cent. In each subject instead of 80 per cent, as formerly; ■ Several students represented Manual at the M etropolitan Athletic m e et on Friday afternoon. Jam a ica N o rm a l School. The final exam inations in the different sub jects began on Friday. This year the pro gramme has been so arranged that there will be but one exam ination a day. Follow ing is the programme: Friday, June 13, spell ing m ethods: Monday. June 16, drawing II and music II; Tuesday, June 17, first period classes will have their exam inations; 'Wednes day, June 18, second period classes; Thurs day, June 19. third period classes: Friday,. June 20, fourth period classes; Monday, June 23, fifth period classes. . , At a m eeting of the Agonlan Fra ternity, held on Friday. June 6. the following officers were elected: President, Janet Barr; vice president, Elma Downing; recording secretary, Ethelinda McGarrah; corresponding secretary, Lillian Remsen; treasurer, Carrie Moore. M iss Vera W ilkes has been substituting at W oodhaven and Mlsa Mary Sly at H o llis. On Monday, June 9, about forty of the seniors took the Maxwell examination. The Epsilon Chapter of the Cllonian Fra ternity held Its regular m eeting on Friday. At this m e eting Miss Minnie Briggs was made a member of the fraternity. On Saturday afternoon. June 7, the Alpha Delta Sorority gave an outing to those who took part in their play. The Delphic Fraternity held a m e eting on W ednesday, when it -was decided to give a re ception to the Cllonians on Monday. June 23. Friday was celebrated as bird day In the primary department of the model school. The class of 1902 received their class pins on Thursday. AGE LIMIT FOR TEACHERS. M rs. C raigie Shoxys H o w \Women Over 50 \Tears H a v e Done Best W o rk in L iterature. To the Editor of the Brooklyn Eagle: Considera'olc discussion has been aroused by the recent suggestion or recommendation of the school board that no -Vi’omen be licensed as teachers after the age of 35, and restricting the privilege of promotion above the fifth grammar grade, to high schools, and princi- palshlps, women under 40 years of age. The Long Island council of womans’ clubs, as sembled last Saturday, passed a resolution protesting again any such discrimination. The m aturity or development of the facuL ties is so variable that it is impossible to fix a period beyond which a person Is in capable of intellectual growth or denied of the power to aid in or to supervise the In tellectual culture of the young—one young woman may be wise at eighteen and another utterly devoid of discretion or Judgment at thirty—but that does not prove that all girls' are wise or that all women over thirty are unwise! . In the selection ot those best fitted for the office of teacher, other qualifications are required than'those of mere hook learning. The education of a child comprehends the ed ucation of all his faculties, and the character of the teacher will have a greater influence in forming the character of the child. The great development In ouf educational institutions with the m u ltiplicity of teachers positions offered has led to such a scramble for appointments that we are losing sight of what the chief requirements for such posF tions should be and there is hardly any other professional board so careless In the choice of its candidates or so likely to pass use less, discriminating laws, as the average city hoard of education. There is no more reason for fixing a period beyond -which a teacher is prohibited to ad vance and use her Intellectual faculties than there would be in imposing the same restric tion in any other profession. It it bad been possible in the past to so restrict women v/rlters that no woman should be permitted to follow the vocation of authoress after she was 35 v>-c would have had none of the best works of Fredrika Bremer. Harriet Mar- tlneau, Mrs. Jameson. J. AA’ard Howe, Char lotte Bronte. Mrs. Stowe or George Eliot, ■who all did their best literary work after 35. If George Eliot had been prohibited from writing at a fl::ed period we should have had none of her incomparable novels, as she at tempted no fiction until after she was 37. when “Amos Barton” xt-as written. She was 42 when “Silas Marner” and “Romola\ xvere written. 50 when “Felix Holt” and \Middle- march” appeared, and 56 when she wrote what was thought hy many to be her finest production. \Daniel Deronda.” Many of our most x’alued present day writ ers are past two score and ten yeara. Tl'hat a loss -would be ours if Margaret Sangstcr, Miss W ilkins. Mrs. .Ameli-j Barr, Mrs. Bur nett and others were forced to retire from literary work because they had reached the half century mark! Rosa Bonheur did her best work late in life and in all lines women of to-day are displaying an intellectual ac tivity that seem to take no note of the flight of years. In the University of Berlin this past year, among the students were sixty-six women from Russia, thirty-one from -America, four from' Scotland, and others from England, Prance. Sweden, Austria and Switzerland. Of these nineteen were married women and four were widows, one .American woman a graduate of the Chicago Unlversiti', is pursu ing Egyptological and archaeological studies. One of these -women was 61 years old and most of them -were women past the bloom of TEA C H E R S ’ LOSS OE PA T . of -wisdom and mature thought in th4 ^ a r - dlans and teachers of the young, and 'appre ciate more fully than we do to-daj'.the true province of the teachers and the dignity and responsibility of the calling. The province of the teacher Is ,not alon® to carry class after class through a certain routine of studies and fill them up .with facta after the Grad-grlnd system , neither Is It to be such a forcing operation as that of Dr. Bliraber's school, whore \M ental green pears xvere produced at Christmas and intellectual asparagus all the j'ear around, and - every description of Greek and Latin vegetable got off the driest twigs of boys under the frosti est circum stances, with no account taken of nature at a l l! ” I som etimes xvlsh that w e had a Dickens capable of w r iting of the foibles and fol lies of our school system to-day as. he wrote of the English schools. We may not repeat the'sam e forms ot inhumanity and injustice depicted by him in the Squee'rs school. In the Grad-grind school, or in Dr. BHmber’s \Mental Hot H ouse,” but we are still far from realizing the true province of the teach er In fitting the child for his future duties In,life and her responsibility In his Intellec tual and moral development, or w e would not for one moment allow, that the age of thirty- five was_ a fitting time ,to .lim it the powers p r progress of the teacher’s usefulness.- A prominent educator ^ recently hinted at the higher duties demanded of the- teacher when he eaid, \Just for the reason that the majority of our city children have before them a life of drudgery, the period of child hood, In which the child has not yet become of much pecuniary value for industry, should be carefully devoted to spiritual growth, to training the intellect and w ill and to build ing the basis for a larger humanity.” The teacher should aim not only to instill knowl edge in the mind of the pupil, but to stim u late his .ambition, to Inculcate noble ideals and to foster the principles of moral ethics, as .-nuch o' the success, of h is after .life will depend upon his treatm ent, of his fellows, and his view s on moral and social questions. Milton said, ”I call a complete and generous education that which fits a man to .perform Justly, skillfully and magnanimously all the offices of life, both private and public.” To be able to do this requires more than mere book learning. The child must be taught how to \help him self, how to control himself, and In seeking to Instill ft love ot knowledge and the power of self-control'fne teacher must have learned- herself to love knowledge and have m astered the secret ot self-control. And when she -has had’years of experience-and remains devoted t6 the pro fession'she has made her choice.Ms it not al most a self evident tact that' she is more valuable as a teacher at 50 \than she w a s at 30? The fullest dignity of the teacher Is not attained before 40. At that time the Intelli gence is keenest and the reasoning- -po-wers and Judgment, through years of experience In deallngiw lth all phases of character, adds to rather than diminishes her value as a- teacher. Those who would rob the schools of the experienced teachers because the hand of points to a given hour would Inaugura; a m ost Imprudent and unwise policy th; would result, not only In Injus tice to till; teacher, but would deprive tha schools of their ablest -workers. Has the teacher not learned new lessons with each hour dex-oted to teaching and gained wisdom with each day’s experience? She has learned, not alone from books, but In \leading out’’ the m inds of her pupils her own mind has undergone a change as It enlarges and expands, w ith a new -Insight into character, draxvn frorn the study of those who are looking to her for. aid and Inspiration. ■'What is true education?\ asked Edmund Burke. \Reading a parcel of books?.N o —restraint of discipline; emulation; exam p les of. vir tue and Justice! These form the education of the xx-orld!” In this conception of the true province of the educator, we have a plea for the mature teacher—for the best knoxvledge Is the fruit of e.xperience, and each new experience is an Increase In knowledge. ' '■ A teacher should not be retained In. office xvhen found incom p etent, no m atter whether she is 25 or 35, any more than'she should-be declared unfit for promotion, sim p ly b n - t h e ground ot her age. Let .our Board, of E'du- cation decide the question of the teacher’s fitness and the term ot office for each Indi vidual separately, and not by a sw eeping restriction that may rob our schools of their best teachers, by depriving the conscientious ones of the privilege of advancement to higher positions which they may be found peculiarly capable of filling -with'credit to them selves and advantage to the schools. We have advanced a good way in civilized teaching. Let us through personal Influence and intelligent discussion continue year by year to raise the standard of bur educa tional institutions by raising the standard of requirements for teachers, among which Jet experience and character count as!xvell'-as scholastic attainm ent. Let us aim'\at a broad and invigorating culture, not a narrow and pedantic one, and rank character, build ing as important as scientific or ■ schiolastlo training! MARY E. CRAIGIE. 143 Linden avenue, Flatbush, Brooklyn. June 10, 1902. ■Rules of Board, o f E d u c a tion H n ju s t to Ne-wly A p p o inted Persons.:- To the Editor of the Brooklyn Eagle- ' W ill the Eagle please publish th is’ letter and perhaps by so doing secure the assist ance of the Teachers’ Association, or some other association, or ex-en the pub lic in general, in enabling new teach ers to receive rebate money for tim e lost by Illness, as well as the teachers who have been more than three years In the pro fession. The undersigned, after a flx’e weeks' absence, caused by the dampness and chill of the entrance room in which she taught all winter, finds that because she has taught only two years (instead of the three\ required by the new rules) she will receive’ nb p’ay for any time during her Illness, nbtwi'th- standing that It was a direct result ' of her school work, and that a $30 doctor’s bill Is staring her In' the face. Another instance of the same Injustice Is the case of a young girl who. having taught less than a year, was obliged to remain a t home for fifteen school days, as a result of m easles contracted from a lUtlo colored boy in her class, where several other oases soon followed. Because this young woman has not taught the requisite three years she will have to lose fifteen days’ pay, not withstanding the fact that the Illness was caused by the exposure in which she placed herself by fulfilling tbo calling o£ teacher. A third case I might mention in of one xvbo having tauglit about two and three- quarter years, was unfortunate enough to slip on the wet stone stairway while leading her class up from recess. The result Was a twisted apkle, which me\aht eight days at home and several calls from her physician, with loss of pay, and her doctor’s bill in the bargain. To me this feature of the bylaws is m ost unjust. If teachers who have been In the serx'lce more than three years arc entitled to twenty daj-s’ rebate monej' for absence caused by illn.-ss, why it is that the teach ers xvho have been teaching less than three years, but subject to the same exposure, are denied this consideration? I leave this question to be answered. M. T. Brobklj-n, June 12. 1902. s\ hot iim eng; »er, elud ures l\arg Ade Bain I:, .4
