New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-07-31
TEACHERS IN CONVENTION.
sFn YESTERDAY.

SUBJECTS DISCUSSED YESTERDAY.
AN ADDRESS ON SCHOOL ROUTINE BY W. MUELLER
THE KINDERGARTEN SYSTEM EXPLAINED BY
MRS. KRAUs BOELTE..
The convention of the German American
Teachers Association occupied itself yesterday with
hearing addresses educational subjects The morn
ing session began at O'Clock in the large hall OF the
Lederluanz Building, in FOurthst j. Keller PRESIDED
and the hall was about twOthrds filled by an audience
which numbered more ladies than gentlemen.
W. Mueller Of Cincinnati. read an address attacking
the mechanicaI routine OF American schools" He said
that an article in prominent educational journal had
upheld routine special and necessary feature Of the
American educational system. urging that foreigners
apt to regard this feature too prominent and
also as an evil but that so far as discipline con-
cerned routine was necessary; also that the habit OF
punetuality in attendance and In performing schoo
tasks which routine enforced, had excellent influence
on scholars after entering practical life The speaker
admitted the truth of all this What he should reier 10
his structures kind Of criminal court reguia
TONS the maintenance OF which many teacherS
seemed TO regard as the principal duty OF their Calling
Under ideal conditions such pertaned to Socrates
and his pupils instance the Of instrueting
assumed purely intellectual character But the teacher
could not exercise direct intellectual ana moral
influence his pupils under modern CONDITIONS the
number pupils under the OF one beng TOO
large and the limits OF time and space being 100 mar
row. Rules Of discipline. to be productive Of good
should be based on the nature OF the child.
The expression OF certain peculiaries which are the
signs of Joyful and happy youth ought not TO De sup
pressed though at the improper time, they disturb the
work of the school The wise teacher would guide these
proclyites into their proper channel All rules should
be made with the view of dispOsng rapidly and as
quietly as possible Of the necessary mechanical routine
Of the sehoolroOm to gain time and strength Tor
intellectual activity.
Mr. Mueller thought some freedom ard natural action
on the part the scholars preferable to the usual man
ner Of marching them class room on the stroke OF
bell in military order This mechanical routine oil
the worst sort and under it children little more
than puppets in the hands of the teacher. the
system of keeping q record OF merits ana de-
merits had an evil influence on the minds OF
the pnpils. In age when society demanded
a certain independence OF thought and action on the
part of individuals children IN the schools were denied
the simplest exercise of free understanding and WILL by
complicated rules and routine and peTncious system
OF espionage. The most prominent Anglo-American'
AS well as the German-American teachers, had
protested against this and declared war against the
use OF police regulations in the elementary schools.
saying that the pupils not for the sake OF the
discipline but the discipline for the sake of the pupils,
should be kept in view. The custom of compelling
children to learn by heart lot Of rules
which they could not understand, one
sided exercise OF memory which cramped the
general development OF the mind. Rules ana
definitions were seldom applied in practical e 1t was
of far less Importance that the scholar should know the
rules and definitions Of his grammar than that he oud
have possession Of the different forms OF speech, and
should have learned them properly. Dr. McCosh
had said in recent article in The North American
Recietc that the American exceed all other nations IN
practical inventions they created instruments that
could hear and speak, but they had so FIR not been able
TO make a machine which could teach. 1t was stlll
necessary TO kndle FIRE with fire. and life alone had the
noxyar of hrin Cin 10 forth life
DR.. DOnai, OF New-Jersey, and Mr.. Hamann. OF Mil
waukee replied briefly to Mr. Mueller taking the ground
that routine was essential III the schools OF America.
owing to the peculiar character Of the people, tue dspO
sitOn Of the children the crowded condition Of the
schools and the requirements OF system OF general
education.
H. schurcht Of Newark, read part OF elaborate adj
dress ON the history Of the American school system
part OF his address will be given on Thurs
nr Keller reported for the Seminary Committee that
1924 900 had been raised towards establishing such
school. The design TO make the Seminary branch
of well established institution owing 70 the CON
ditlons mpOs d, negotiations with two schools had been
broken of, aud the proposals OF Enee'nanh lhsuute
IN Milwaukee had been accepted The Gernan-American
ber2.
There were more ladies and fewer gentlemen present
at the afternoon session. Mrs KrausBOete read paper
on "Tbe Kindergarten-the first Workshop Of the Child
and ON the training Of kinderearten teachers.
Kindergarten system OF Mrs KrausBoee, assisted in
Illustrating her remarks by the exhibition mo- rrS OF
education for the child was that which would
allow each individual TRAIT 10 develop uSelI.
The human instincts the child developed gradually
into individual dispositions which gave 10 eacn being IT'S
own characteristics FrDebel studied The chlds BODY
and soul The tree and instructive activity OF the
cd's soul showed itself In play, and nature TINS
instinct to the child order That Its bodily aud
menal powers should develop together. The true
kindergarten was ideal world for the child. Pesta
ozzi said / have discovered the b for the cul-
tufe Of the understanding IN addition 10 thif, the
g for art and for action DE found" FrOeDel did
this. His education 10y work and Tor Work
awakened the childish powers, and also q love
Tor work. Play must have an aim and an
external result 10 have educating influence The
sneaker explained and i'll lstrated the games aud eXer
c s OF the kindergarten beginning with the child OF
three years OF age and ending with teir tenth year,
though at seven years Of child prepared TO do
the customary school work. The FrOebel system, she
said, was improperly taught by many teachers lncOr-
rectly trained, frequently tho children objects
and blackboard figures initiate. The true system DIS
cOuraged imitation and taught the child 10 exercise his
own ingenuity and invention.
Professor j. Krsus, OF NewYOTk, followed with an
position of the FrOebe system, and dwelt on the i-
pOrtance OF the kindergarten an elementary branch
OF the public school system At O'Clock in the evening
dinner and entertainment Were given members OF the
convention In the Turn Hall.
At t.-days morning session addresses Will be delv-
cred by A. Schneck on Corporal Punishment" and
by Mr. Schroeder, Of HOboken, on Sex IN Education :"
IN at O'Clock, reports will be read from
important committees and at O'Clock in the evening
Professor A j. Schem, OF NcWJersey, VIII lecture in
the Turn Hall I" The Fostering OF the Mother
Tongue in the Family"
4 COLLECTION OFARMY PORTRAITS.