The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1877-07-06

ton, TO De practical teae her. Something
is wrong in our educational system. II
not, why is it that the very best educated
so often fail in life? Is is not tor want Of
practical education? Thousands Of 9TH
ers, with scarcely any learning, make the
finest of successes. Practical problems
are often unsolved by the best OF scholars.
Every faculty must be trained. Much is
often said against ''one-ideaed men," but
these are not intrequently most success
full. The domain Of knowledge Is too
broad for many universal geniuses. Nor
al training must not be neglected. ssLea-n
your calling and fit yourself for it, is
the sum Of the whole matter.
Discussion continued-Supt. O. r. Nc
Kim, Wichita.
It is hard to give other than a practi-
cal education, ami no easy matter to de-
termtne the future avOcation of the pu.
pill. The primary school must be general
in its scope. Some say memorizing must
not be resorted to. do not agree with
them. Prof. Chi1ds memOrized the whole
Of Smiths grammar when 50 young he
eomprehended very little of It; yet, when
hessbecame older everything became plain,
and there it all was ready for use. In
arithmetic and similar branches, ideas are
first, rules and definitions last-secure re-
suits, theory a1terward.
Political education is absolutely neces-
sary for necessary political life. re-
solved my high school into town meeting
and held an election, and I would recon-
mend other work of similar nature for
the higher grades of school. Much care
should be exercised in reading daily pa
pers, as much is found in them utterl '
pernicIous in its effects upon youth; the
weeklies are better. Our common school
system is at fault somewhere.
Discussion COMMUNICATIONS Mar
win, University.
A stereotyped question:: "Why do edu-
Gated men so often failf' will tell you
The past idea of the end of education was
to make presidents, governors, judges,
lawyers. preachers, doctors, etc. Who
has not heard this stimulus repeated
scores of times? Pupils had been Inflated
with this idea until Imagination had
buoyed them up out Of their proper at
mosphere. They had seldom been taught
true manhood or womanhood, that it was
better to be men or a0Onaesa than presi-
dents even. The educated man was to be
the "gentleman." Hence, thousands
were not workers, were Afrsid to take
hold; were, and ought to be, fiat failures.
Supt. Lennon suggested the proprietY
of having the proceedings of the conven-
tIOn published in pamphlet form.
Motion, that the secretaries prepare
synopsis OF extempcres, and that COM
mittee on publication be appointed, was
carried.
Recess.
The President now announced Supt.
Lennon, Prof. Thomas and Miss s. Searle
as publication committee.
Prest. Kellogg called Supt. Wherrell,
Leavenworth, to the chair.
The duties Of the secretary and his as
sistant, Miss NJ. A. Higbey, were becom-
ing somewhat arduous. and Miss searle
was appointed second assistant secretary.
A paper-"A Course of English Gram
mar for Normal Institutes, was to have
been read by Miss Smithers, Leavenwortb.
Not being present, her time waS occupied
by Prof. Jos Fargrove, Morris county, in
paper on "Good Taste" This was said
to be plea for aesthetic culture in all the
common things OF life. and the work
teachers were capable of doing in this
direction. The paper, perhaps, was a
good one, but was not appreciated by the
audience from the fact that they did not
hear it. With the manuscript held low,
and the voice cramped, those less than
twenty feet away probably heard no more
than q dozen sentences.
Prof. Hay, Of Holton, thought taste was
much needed in Kansas in identifying
our farms, homes and schools; thus mod
flying and softening the asperIties Of life.
Ali ought to make some Improvement in
this direction, as there was q tendency in
new countries to neglect 1t.
Next, paper" Comparative Gram
mar''-Prof. Ernst ReuhI, Atchison.
Prof. Reuhl is only three years from
Germany, and his delivery was slightly
marked by foreign peculiarities. Consid-
ering his short residence here, his pro-
nunciation was remarkably perfect, and
he appeared to be no mean master OF Eng
fish composition. He introduced his scb.
jeet as follows: 1st. What is comparative
grammar? I'd. Whist are its principal eff
fleets? Sd. or what use is it, particularly
to teachers7
That Germans excel all others in Iia-
guistic knowledge, is freely admitted by
the educated. This is not TO be wonder
ed at, when twenty or thirty years are
spent by them in its study. It benefits
the student in the increased mental dis
cipline and breadth OF thought. in the
ability to read the literature of other ma
tons in the original tongue, and in the
facilities afforded for intercourse and
pleasure. To the world in general 1t
gives information as to the origin and
comparative meaning of words, the class
itication of nations into races. Students
stored up in other languages. Homer
mast be read in Greek, Cicero and Virgil
in Latin, and Shakespeare in English, to
be apprecIated-to preserve their beauty
and strength. Hundreds OF TRANSACTIONS
OF Shakespeare into German have been
made, yet all are weak compared with
the original. 1t is so in all Languages.
Comparative philology has done much
to unravel the mysteries Of historical ira
ditions. What treasures comparative
philoIogy have brought to light through
the deeIphering OF the hieroglyphics Of
Egypt Its study impelled SchIieman to
leave his pleasant home in California, and
unearth = world of marvellous wonders
among the classic hills and plains of the
East. Its value In science is inestimabie.
The student Of to-day places every nation
tributary to his scientific knowledge. The
English is mixed language, but we pre-
dict pure English for the future. II the
languages are studied = while taste for
them 10 created, and this Is the only In
centive necessary 70 their pursuit. Teach
ers should encourage the study.
Want OF time EorbIda discussion, and,
among other announcements. was heard
Noon recess.
WEDNESDAY, 2P.M.
Paper-"The Metric System Of Weights