The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1883-03-24
Educational.

In the March number of the North 1merjcGn
ReUielo there is an able and interesting article en-
titled Educational Needs, - which consists of sew
eral different parts composed respectively by Prof.
Ct. Standby Hill, Felix Adler, President Thomas
Hunter OF the New York City Normal and High
School, and DIR. Mary P. jacob. Prof. Hill places
hygiene as the first principle to be observed in the
education of children, and indeed, the element Of
health is most essential to endurance and great
achievement in study and mental labor. Both
in Germany and Greece the golden age of letters
was preceded by a golden age of national gym
nastic enthusiasm which constitutes, especially in
the former country, one of the most unique and
suggestive chapters in the history Of pedagogy.
Symmetry and grace, hardihood and courage, the
power to do everything that the human body can
do with and without every conceivable, apparatus
Instruments. and even tools are the culture ideals,
that in Greece and Rome and Germany respectively
have influenced, as they might again influence,
young men, as intellectual ideals never can do save
in a select few. Physical training does not reach
its end until it leads the young up to taking an
intelligent and serious and life long interest in
their own physical culture. Every step forward in
methods since Comenius has resulted from a deeper
insight into children's psychic growth Prof.
Adler does not put so much stress upon corporal
development but nevertheless fears that the brains
Of little ones are overworked in the schools, and in
sists that physical deterioration is the inevitable re
suit of such overwork." lie further suggests, that
q the development Of memory be exaggerated at
the expense of,the understanding. Let the size Of
classes be reduced, so that greater respect can be
paid to the individuality of the pupils. 1t is well
known that in changing from one kind of physical
exercise to another we experience a sense Of relief,
which is often preferable to entire rest. Why not
apply the same principle to the teaching Of the
young? If the pupils complain of overwork, this
must be due in part to the fact that there is not a
sufficient alienation in their daily tasks. An ex-
ceIlent means Of obviating this difficulty would be
to introduce technical instruction and art model
ing into the schools. The latter would be a means
of testing the ability Of the pupils in a new direc-
ton. The introduction OF industrial education
into the schools l. often urged as a means
Of fitting children for their future station in
life. If placed on this ground solely, it is
justly resisted by those who insist that the
school shall be kept sacred to the enlight-
ment Of the mind. But technical and art
education ought 10 be advocated for educa-
tionaI reasons chiefly. They are as important
for those who will eventually enter the professions
as for those who will follow the humblest trade.
This educational value must be kept in view. 1t
is because hand and eye education are a new means
of brain education, that we are justifad in recon-
mending their inclusion in the curriculum Of the
NNLbO4S. IL > 1IlpI tdHA LAUt VIZ 6AltuAu supply Il
sufficient variety Of tastes 70 the aptitudes of our
pupils, and rouse the talents that may be slumber-
ing in the corners Of their souls" President
Hunter thinks, that d" John Stewart Mills defni-
ton Of education IS general and comprehensive.
- Education, - he says, includes whatever we do
for ourselves, and whatever is done for US by
others for the purpose Of bringing Us nearer to the
perfection Of nature" The child should be trained
10 self-reliance and self help, and hence he should be
required to do something by his own unaided
efforts. School time should be divided As nearly
as possible into three equal Parts-one-third for
study, one-third for recitation and the remaining
third for recreation and physical exercise. The
great aim.of every system of public instruction is
to secure the services Of teachers specially trained
to produce the best results in the shortest possible
time. The born teacher Is "a rare as a born poet.
DR.. Putnam jacob offers many minor suggestions
Of great value and all Of her article is well worthy
Of perusaI in its entirety.