Dr. Georg's Criticism

Last week Dr. Georg took occasion to eriticise at some length the position of The Democrat with reference to needed reforma in Ann Arbor's schools. In replying, let us Hay once for all that we are making no criticism tipon the late lamented Prof. Perry.. He is in no sense a factor in the 'present oontroversy and The Democrat has always entertained for him a high regard. Neither Prof. Pèrry nor any one school board is responsible for the conditlons of wbich we complain. They are abuses which have been slowly tastening upon ovir school system int a long time. The Democrat explolts them at the present time because the selecüon of a new superintendent offers an opportunity for reform. Our charges are spe.cifleally that in the average of teaching ability, in auxiliary equipment, in supplementary readlng and appaoi-atus, and in the quality of the work done our lower grades are not what they should be, and what tho 'tax-payers have a right to expect. For thls condition the board of education, past and present, clothed as it is with full authority, is res-ponsible and must bear the criticism of the public. Basing his claims upon hls personal knowledge of members of the board and many of the teachers :hat the criticisms cannot be true, it is surprislnj; that one of Dr. Georg's intelligence should consider those who are directly responsible for the condition eomplained of the proper arbitrators in thls matter. [f Dr. Georg would take the trouble to consult edueators oí recognized standing from other cities, who are conversant with the existing conditions in Ann Arbor, or the faculty of the State Normal school, he might perhaps flnd tha their opinión of the grade work in Ann Arbor is not so exalted as that held by those who have carefully refYained from noticlng other schools. Our methods of seleeting teachers have been the very upposite of that pursued in progressive schools. The broadest and ablesrt men at the head of oar colleges and schools do not huid the doctrine that the itrpnge.st faculty can be built up entirely of the graduales of that particular lnstitution. Instead teachers who have been edueated in widely different institutions and under varying conditions are selected in order to asaimilate the str.mg points of all. Our Universlty and the Chicago University, for instance, have ürawn upon both America and Europe for the members of their respective faculties. Progressive public schools pursue a similar plan in building up a strong teaching force. We can cue instances of school boards which send their superintendents out to other cities to luint up the best obtainable teachers. Only last week we nut a prominent superintendent who was out on such a mission. Then, again, those of our large cities which employ a large number of resident graduales maintain training schools where local graduates are requlred to spend two years in technieal preparation and demónstrate their strengt!) befort; fchey are given positions. Detroit, Saglnaw, Bay City and Granel Rapids follow this plan. lêachers ai e also required to visit other senool systems to observe anu ,i; nt by their strong poinls. As a f.trther preparation leaciiera' instltutea, ci.nducted oy experts in v-rious Unes ui educacional work, are malntained. But the Aim Aroor idea seems fo lic to fcxcluae uil ideas which do not bear the stamp of home procluction. families, nations, in3titutions, all degeneratc by lilis poliey oí exiclJSion and inbreedmg. Tne perron who has arrived at the :;nclu.'ion that he know.s all mat i wurth knowing is in ,1 fair way to bicorne a back number. Tiien again, the best teaching ability obtainable ana the highest order of professional skill are required in the primary grades where the great raajority of our children receive ail of their schooling-. That Ann Arb.ir u, not up to date in this particular is apparent to all whose so-urce of intormation is not conlined to the school board. ui-, Oeorg's appeál haa not convincei The Pemoerat that all of the methods by which fhe broadest and keenest ssional .sKill are infused into i i idem schools can Jje neglected and the schools not suffer. And it is this negiect and i ts .'iisequcnces of which The Uemo-orat cfamplains. We claim that it is iriiposslble to send a pupil up through our schools and then put t.iat pupil back in the grades, without reference to personal fitness or pr sional skill, and malntain flr3t clasa ■'.. The ideas of a feacher t" sefected must necessarily lic conflned to I local observations. New methoda and new ideas are barred. Such a teacher raust necessarily practlce only thofe methods which were practiced upon her. lt i.-; this procesa of inbn and entire disregard of outside progthat has induced the dry rot which is consuming our primary schools. There may be many who have not observed it. There are some, Uke the doctor, who will refuse to sec. Bu't tlieic are. intelligent parenta, many of them members of the high school and University facultics. who are in entire accord with The Democrat in this matter. If this U not stifiiciently si eciflc to put the do. -tor upon the right track we will venture further information in the future. Miss May Webster, of Owosso, is the guest of Ann Arbor friends.