New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-07
EDUCATION.

SAND TEACHERS EXPECTED TO BE PREsENr-DIs-
CUSTOM ON INTERMEDIATE sCHooIs-PRof' PEA
BODY on ELECTIVE STUDIES.
| IRON AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRTBuSEl
DETROIT, Aug. 4.-Thc National Educational
Association began 1th annual meeting at the Opera
House IN this city this morning. The programme for
the meeting already laid out includes session OF three
days. the Association holdinga general session in the
morning and evening Of each day. and breaking into
departments for the discussion OF special subjects the
afternoon The attendance this morning looked scany
in the big audience room. than 400
being present but delegates arrived in
the afternoon and evening to-day. and 1t is expected
that nearly 1000 teachers IN all Will be present The
hotel accommodations already oyertaxed. and 1t
becomes a serious question where the later
to find place to lay their heads The local
committee have made late appeal through the
city newspapers, TO the citizens OF Detroit
entertain the visitors but the to this general
appeal has limited, only 20 80 volunteering to
receive guests 1t must be explained however, in
defense OF the hospitality of the City Of Detroit that
many its public spirited people out oftownand that
many Others already entertaining friends among the
gates from abroad The telegraph has given you an
outline OF todays proceedings. Let me try to present
few OF the suggestive points as to ITS spirit and
personnel The President OF the Convention, chosen at
last years meeting ut Ithaca is Prof 5. H. White OF
Peoria, H.. Westerner in look, of the physical
type Lincoln nearly feet tall and sallow
slightly ungalny and bearing but dgniied,
shrewd, and successful presiding officer and Of the
most active sensible, and valuable educators OF his
State. The Secretary, Mr.. A. r. Marke, superintendent
of Schools at Worcester Mass is keen, businessike
gentleman, and makes admirable officer. The ad-
dress of welcome, delivered by Duane Doty, SuPcrin
tendent OF the Detroit schools, stalwart and pory
parsonage brief, direct, and suggestive, and the
response also brief point, and the Assoc
citation entered without other preliminary upon the
discussion Of the topic OF the day.
INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS
This was the subject intermediate schools and the
question especially discussed how fill the chasm
between the common schools and the colleges. 1t
brought before :he Association at ts last years meeting
by the aggressive President Of Princeton. Dr. McCosh
and committee was appointed to present a report upon
il this year The Rev. Dr. George r. Hays President Of
Washington and Jefferson College, made the report. He
is a young to bear such honorary titles, but his
vigor aptness and practical impressed the Assoc
citation decidedly. His report. dscardng private board
Ing schools and preparatory departments in colleges
inadequate and temporary expedients called attention
TO the public high schools and to academies like Phillips
and Exeter as the feeders colleges To the high
schools he looked do the great work OF preparing
students and the bulk of the report devoted TO dis
Guessing the defects of these schools their relations TO
colleges and the remedies for these defects Upon the
question of the relation OF the State to intermediate
schools. the report says:
take the whole work III this department OF intermediate
education IL leaves II unnecessarily exposed 10 polit
zeal nnuencecOnfnes II to comparatively small mum
OF places and leaves the people TO take 1t matter
not deeply interesting them-while rendering them
sum equal TO their contribution qnlckeDs their
efforts develops their interest, doubles the number of
places that reached and in each doubles the
amount expended in the cause by drawing forth the
gifts people Indeed whether the State proposes
to have the work done by academies or high schools
there are these and other strong reasons why 1t should
appropriations to promote the efforts OF tue
people instead OF as substitute for them Neither tle
~ tho Sfuf "a
vduas administered for the largest results unless 1t
employed develop 10 the utmost the efforts Of those
receiving the benefits IN the direction OF seli-help
The discussion upon the subject took somewhat wide
range. No dissented from the conclusions OF the
report, which unanimously adopted and com
mendoi the debate dverged into the question of pr
vate schools against high schools and high school studies
proper against high school studies entered into as pre-
paratory TO the college DIR. Harris Superin-
tendent Of the ST. Louis Public Schools said that while
the colleges had advance in their qualifications
admission modern literature and the developments
OF modern had far increased the field OF study
in the high schools that IT practically excludes very
much that is taught the college at present.
The result that II high schools are 10 be used as pre-
paratory for college. courses must be aid out in
thenone the skeleton course the college student
and one the habilitated skeleton, fulfilled with modern
science. committee was subsequently appointed to
consider this vital question OF courses OF study In
high schools and to report at the next years session OF
the Association.
This was the only focus upon which the discussion of
the morning concentrated aud after adopting the report
the Convention adjourned its morning session.
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER INSTRUCTION.
This department more flly attended than any
other of the four which the afternoon session
divided II presided over by President Reed OF the
University Of Missouri hale and hearty veteran, who
next year will complete 80 years OF constant labor as
teacher The OF the department was the very
scholarly and able paper OF Prof A. T. Peabody OF Har
ward College upon Elective Studies in Universities and
Colleges" The Professor bears the typical face OF the
educator most OF all who presenta face or re-
0nement and power which culture has transformed
plalnness into great attractveness His paperreveWed
the experiences Of Harvard College in pursuing the cleo
five system study and strong argument In favor
of that system against which however, at its inception
the Professor was strongly preJudiced' quote le"
passages from his argument
No Young man can now hold the same relation to all
pOrtions OF the realm OF things movable hat one
rrould VIXEN | was a young 1t Ia only by many
added years OF study and reading that can now put
himself what used TO he the position or newlcr
ated bachelor OF arts. But limited number Of sub
rct one may by concentrated and digent study make
himself three years II not an eminent Schoat AT cst
proficient and though with much 10 learn NJ 10 teac
TO drect and occupy position OF trust NOW, Is IL
not better that few thin should he studied thoroughly
with mind and soul and strength than tha there sn9u
be a rapid rancing half score OF otogies without
any detailed knowledge penetrating apprehension OF
anyf - -. -,
bic preventive for bad scholarship that mas yet
There not few minds OF respecta
BILE and superior ability that lack capacity IN
some direction. Now persistent failure ana lnferl
ory department are very apt 10 break down
students spirits, quench his AMBITION ana reduce MN
I'm the branches which no might do well to the stand
ard established by his incompetency In those in
which he cannot but do i'll. Far better IL 1t
that he be relieved early as possible from
the need Of attempting what he cannot do. The cases
OF disase utter and invnobe Indifference 10 certain
departments probably much more frequent than
those OF native ncapacity and they crave the same
treatment Let young man choose the branches that
he Will study and rely on his putting into them
the best work that he do student Is ashamed TO
make utter failure elective study. AT Harvard
Of have not been rare-Cases