Page 44 - Industries_of_San_Antonio

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SAN ANTONIO-HER TRADE,

poor, many of whom scorned the offering and preferred illiteracy to
pauper education. Now they are esteemed the schools of the people,
maintained by the people for the general weal of all the people. Material
distinction that money makes the better man, has given place to a higher
spiritual distinction, that mind is the measure of man; hence for all the
best provision needs to be made, that in this race leading to the attain-
ment of knowledge and culture, the fittest may prevail. The development
of genius which otherwise might be unknown, becomes a powerful factor
in civilization, to lead on to the highest realization of the good. It breaks
down distinctions of classes and clans, and serves to make a people homo-
geneous. The attraction of mind with mind, in school, develops a gener-
ous respect between pupils of different social grades, and also fosters the
sentiment of a common brotherhood. Leading to the various public
schools of our city may be seen the children of the most honored and res-
pected families wending their way, and why should they not? for if their
parents have a large part of the taxes for the support of schools, all the
benefits that can come from schools, belong not only to them, but to all,
as an indefeasible right to every citizen. The schools of San Antonio have
taken rank among the best in the land. The system is a thoroughly
graded one from the lowest primary to. the completion of courses in the
high school. Four years course in the primary schools is largely an oral
and an objective one; the methods of teaching presented, are founded upon
the best didactic principles of the new education. Any exception to this
is the want of adaptation on the part of the individual teacher. After the
four years course in the primary schools, a grammar school course of four
years succeeds. This latter is but a continuation of the former, and grants
a thorough and comprehensive knowledge of all subjects pertaining to a
common school course.
"A course of languages is begun in the primary grades, and continues
through the fifth year. It is based upon the principle that the best way to
acquire the power and facility to speak and write correctly, is to be daily
engaged, guided by good usage in speaking and writing. A course of oral
science has also been elaborated by the superintendent. The purpose of
these is to develop the child's thinking, by presenting for his contempla-
tion, subjects from the objective world, while, and even before able to
read, write or reckon, his observation may be quickened, his attention cul-
tivated and comparison and reason disciplined. The lessons also afford
opportunity for the cultivation of language, the teachings proceeding from
the known to the unknown, from the particular to the general. The high
school curriculum embraces a course in languages, an advanced course in
mathematics, a course in history and literature, and in the sciences, afford-
ing such a preparation as to enable its students to enter with profit and
credit the various avocations of life, of to pursue a still higher course of
culture in the highest institutions of learning."