Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1879-11-27


Supt. w. EsSerl Smiths Lectare.
W. Egbert Smith, Territorial Superin-
tenlent Of Public instruction. came in on
the coach on sunday. visited Our public
schools on Monday. and delivered Il lecture
on the subject of education, in the NJ. E.
Church, to good audience Of attentive
listeners, in the evening. Mr. Smith. after
being introduced by County Treasurer and
ex-oiiicio County Sup't Of schools, j. d.
McCanan. introduced his subject by an
appropriate illustration. or parable, of two
trees. They grew. side by side in the
same soil, their roots INTERVIEWING; were
watered by the same showers and warmed
and vivilicd by the same sun, yet how dis
similar. One is straight and tall, stately
and majestic, the other warped and twist
ed, scrawny and scrubby. The first had
been allowed to grow In all the freedom
OF its native elements. the second had been
interrupted in its growth, bent, warped
and injured by circumstances or human
interference when but Il small sapling.
''Thus as the twig is bent the tree inclined,
ETC."
AS with trees, so with men. Circum-
stances have much to do with raising them
to dignity, honor and virtue. MS also in
lowering them to Ignorance, dishOnor and
vice. Educati IN has much to do in form
ing the habits and characters OF men. The
term defined is to draw out, to develop, to
train. 1t is not intended to develop the
mental faculties alone, but all the powers
OF man.
referring to child. the lecturer called
attention to the fact that it is full of rest
less activities. 1t is not its nature to lIe
still, and that education that requires it to
sit quietly for hours pouring over some
lesson, is exceedingly faulty. 1t must and
will have its restless and ever active incli-
nations gratiiied. It will be educated
| somcway or somehow for either good or
bad. Faculties grow by exercise. The
child is a bundle OF faculties. Its cduca-
ton does not by any means bt gin in the |
schOol-r'Om. 1t commences in the nur-
sery, on tile play ground. at home, in the
garden, the fields and the woods. The
diverse or opposite methods of home
training were then referred to and mildly.
but candidly, criticised. Harsh words and
harsh measures, although they apparently
accomplish certain ends, are failure for
permanent good.
The lecturer then explained the Kinder
garten method Of teaching, at some length.
and gave l. as his opinion that, in the
main ii is correct. He noticed moditica-
ton Of the method in the primary depart
meat of the Bozeman public school ard was
much pleased with its workings. 1t could
be advantageously adopted for all primary {
schools. but all teachers are not qualified 1
to teach it. 1t requires special training ,
for the work. In fact, to teach. requires
special training for the special work. I
Whatever views some pers )ns take Of the
subject, it is no easy work to teach child :,
10 special training must be added thor
ough study and knowledge of the clild's "
nature. There is tendency to take low :
Or imperfect views of the necessary quail
ic;ltion OF teachers. The employment of
aulty or unqualified teachers is worse
han labor lost and money thrown away.
! he habit of drumming the cllild's mind h
With knowledge it does not understand. il
eaching by rote or from trxt books eX- o
lusiyely is to be disapproye!. Teachers a
honld be qualified by nature. education
nd technical training for the important
work of teaching. and this in order to
ring about necessary reforms and raise
ur public schools to that high standard =
f excellence and usefulness to which they
hOuld attain. :.
Our public schools are not specially ~ ~
chools of morality, but there is u moral !"
raining and tendency constantly going on
! the school-rooma whether any SPECIAL 81
equiremen,s Of punctuality. the enforce Fl
lent at proper rules governing conduct, tn
nd the habits of systematic study daily In
ljoined or encouraged, all have, ut least, lei
a indirect moral tendency. The statistics fir
crime show that a very large per cent !,
&c Of it is COMPUTED by those who arc
.nOrant and illiterate. Even small de-
rec Of education is great power for the n,
'evention Of crime. A great amount of e;o
inc is perhaps justly chargeablc to in m,
importance and poverty, but these arc -.
und to hold co-relativc relation with ig- ~,
France. If education does half OF what
claimed for it. it is worth all and more
IN it costs. Every intellectual course
'enythens moral course, and every
oral course strengthens religious in
urse. an,
Education is destined to do great things al
. tie honest tolers who are the support run
the nation. 1t is the only science that ciel
/, lift them up to freedom, atfluence and pril
ppiness. Skill, invention and scientific F,
ought. intelligently applied, will enhance at
our comforts. Machinery is destined y
us from long-continued and sch
old evils. Montana is unsurpassed in RI
ur;ll scenery. Her mountains and val mo,
S form landscapes Of matchless beauty. sto,
lie her fields and mines yield untold of q
les. but higher her mission and more ,.,, :.
rious her possibilities and opportunities
he production of community OF high ~
ded men.
'e have given, of course, but a very ! NJ
+ SYNOPSIS OF the lecture. without at City
pting TO give either tile precise Ian lowl
ge employed or the entire train Of opie
ight conveyed. Upon the whole. the oaio
Ire was very good, contained some ex- Oeen
mt thoughts and suggestions. and Desp
we'd that Mr.. Smith is not only quite TRACE
liar with his subject. but naturally Wa
educationally adapted and qualified 81
he important and responsible position ~
Territorial Superintendent of Public year
.nction. The friends of education in AVA!
.man appear to be well pleased witt, 81 on
sit and lecture, and trust he will come uies'
a al no distant day. Bla,
Flour
decidedly spicy. but wellautlienticated
;, is told at the expense OF an old-timer. par'
lie we'll Epaun in EaStarn Monfana VIII &