Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-06-12
EDUCATIONAL TOPICS,

versity by his personal efforts.
- MI. E. Gray, OF Chicago has promised to
give $4,000 to Oberlin on condition that 500 900
can be raised from other sources.
Detroit people will give President Angel, of
Michigan University, complimentary reception
ana banquet before his departure on the Chinese
mission, ABOUT the middle of next month.
The graduating class this year at the Uni
verslty OF Rochester has high standing. In
tne whole class there Is only one member whose
standing Is not high enough to permit him to
speak at the commencement
During the recent semi annual examination
In Baltimore Of applicants for teachers posi-
lions, 119 candidates appeared u Of whom were
colored. The total number OF successful ones
was 81. Eighteen Of them were colored teach
ers--or 25 per cent OF the number examined
A speaker at a recent meeting of a Massa-
chusetts teachers association, said very aptly
that too many teachers and pupils seem to en-
urely lose sight of the true end and aim of all
study, and instead Of teaching and studying to
know, oevote their time and energies to pre-
pairing for Rotations and examinations with
little thought of anything beyond
1t has been decided by the French auth ,r-
ties that the best scholars OF the normal schools
shall make scholastic trips to various places
during their vacations They are to be accom-
panied by their masters, and are to write me-
me moirs upon a. what they have seen and heard.
within the boundaries of France, they are to be
extended to foreign lands should their results
Justify Sucn measure.
Mrs Valeria G. Stone, in presenting a gl t
OF 100000 to Wellesley College, says that sac
has ''Often and sadly observed the pittable
Worthlessness both to themselves and others OF
the lives OF women when given up to selfish
frivolity or wasted In the pursuit OF mere per
SOnal enjoyment" She desires, she adds to aid
In training women OF learning too generous for
sceptical conceit, and refinement too thorough
for fastidiouS SeltiShneSs.
DIR. William T. Harris one of the lecturers
q col Of
the house there In which Mr.. Emery lived last
summer, which strengthens the suggestion that
future winter session OF the school is possible
Ii Is hoped TO establish several 81, 900 scholar
ships, and benevolent woman of large In
come-not q resident OF Concord-has already
given 81, 600 to establish the school more firmly
The following is from brief synopsis of a
recent lecture by Col. Higginson on teaching
when they are convinced that the story which
Is being told them is true. Connect the study
OF history with human life. Make them feel
have done, and an interest viii be awakened in
it On their part. Only a little history, however,
can be mastered and remembered, and it is OF
the utmost consequence to know that little
thoroughly. And let it be made as attractive as
possible"
The almost universal custom of whole
class OF school children thrusting out their
hands, swapping their fingers, and resolving
themselves into mob at every mistake IN read.
ing and recitation, would be tolerated nowhere
elsewhere in a civilized community outside of a
schoOlrOOm. No better eXpedient could be de-
yised TO frighten the timtd, exasperate the
quick-teInpered, and paralyze the spirit of all
but the stoutest-hearted child in the recitation
room. 1t Is utterly opposed to the true spirit of
the schoolroom, which ought to be spirit of
helpiuineSS. f0rbearance and encouragement to
the slow and timid and hle-minded.-JOuTldl
o Education.
In the last number OF the Popular .Sciencr
Monthly Paul r. Shipman, in ''The Classics tn 1t
Educate U.s." combats the scholastic idea that
Latin and Greek are essential factors in liberal
education. He makes the dreadful prediction
that Ii they are not abandoned, man handicap
ped by the conditions, will be passed by woman.
now almost abreast of him, and that before the
end OF the next century, unless woman gets
handicapped herself, our great poets novellsts,
historians, scientists and philosophers-the
leaders Of thought and masters Of styla-Wlll
wear petticoats or Turkish trousers, aad the
lords of creation sent to the rear will become
weaker vessels.
In the current number of a new quarterly
magazine with the cumbrous title journal OF
the Military Service Institution Of the United
States" PROT Niche has valuable article on
Education In its Relation to the Military Pro-
1eSSlon." In answer to the two questions
whence come our OfficerS?' and "HoW are
they educated?" he gives a clear and compra-
hensive view of the West Point method of in
Struction. From this we learn that more than
one-thlrd OF the young men selected by men,
bers OF Congress are incapable of passing the
preliminary examination, and that only three
out OF five OF those who do enter, succeed In
graduating. He emphasizes the fact that West
Point Is an academy, not a college or univer-
sity. that its aim is special not general educa-
ton.
- The profound defect OF our whole educa-
tional system, except the distinctively scientific
schools, is Its utter failure to train the senses
and the bodily faculties. In our schools and
our colleges too, the pupil is mostly shut up to
one single avenue OF knowledge-the printed
page. Said one professional man Of sixty
when was four years old put my head In
book and have kept it there ever since" A
large proportion OF those even who have ha1 a
liberal education might say the same. Educa-
tional reformers are attacking this defect but
as yet with small results There is an educa-
uonal conservatism which is just as stubborn
Meantime, our public schools are only begin
ming to train the hand and eye.-Spri.qi Ia
Republican.
Prof. Russell, OF the Worcester Normal
school, describes sensible and healthy plan
adopted for the noon lunch at that school.
full hour OF intermission is given. and a large
room set apart and furnished with tables
wherein the pupils eat their lunch and amuse
themselves during the hour. In Winter hot
closet has been provided for warming the food
The results Of this arrangement are excellent.
The pupils enjoy themselves, exchange food,
and the habit or association has developed the
bringing OF great variety OF wholesome food.
1t is a pity that this is not done in every public
school Young people who are studying hard
require gOO0 deal or fOOd, and should have
leisure to eat 1t comfortably. Little ones in the
primary schools should always have a light
lunch, even when their school hours are short
There is not 30 much nonsense talked now as OF
old concerning the evils OF feeding children
between meals"
TO do something toward remedylng brain
pressure In Schools The London Spectator SAWS
that 1t should be determined beforeh ind
what amount OF time may be fairly ex-
pected to be required for lessons to be
prepared at honesty, an hour a day far
those under thirteen, and an hour and q half or
TWO hours for those above that age; and parents
should be asked To inform the teachers If the
time thus fixed Is exceeded in order that the
task, II needful, may be reduced in amount A
still more important consideration is the char.
acter OF the task prescribed. Ii 1t consists of
new work, and Is preparatory to the lesson of
the next day, 1t may present problems which
Will puzzle and distress slow uhOughted child.
especially II he has access TO no Intelligent help
at home. But II, as a rule, home exercises are
supplementary to those OF the school hours
and have for their main purpose to illustrate,
deepen and fix what has already been explained,
there are not open to the same objection. The
be solved at school with the help OF the teache,:
the solitary work of the home student should
consist OF the easier task of recapitulattng and
InethOdiSiDg what is already understood
A Ballad Of the Street.
AyeIow car swept down the st.eet;
After it the patteriug feet
Of running beauty who would
Ride in it if only she could
Manage to attract the bosses
And get them to stop their HOSES.
a how IA v,otIi