National Republican., 1883-02-22
EDUCATIONAL AFFAIRS.
Meeting Of the Department Of Superintendcnce
Of the National Association.
How 10 Make Hard Work and School
Work Cooperate.
Tho Educational Lessons Of the Tenth Census Con-
sidercd by Mr.. W. T. Harris
The Claims OF the south 10 National Aid
for Its Educational Institutions.


tendcncc OF the National Educational associa-
tion yesterday was called to order in the Con.
Rrcgational church by the president, n. A.
Calkins, and was opened with prayer by Rov.
A. ID. Mayo. Mr. IL. VI. Harrington was
elected treasurer, aud Mr.. J. L. Rockwell as
sistnut secretary.
Announcement of the programme of cxcr-
rises during tho session was made by Supt.
Wilson.
Letters of regret at not being able to attend
were read from James MacAlster, supcrin-
tendent schools, Milwaukcc; ID. n. Camp, of
New Britain, Conn; William A. Mowry, PHI
D. of Providence, Il. l., president of the
American institute of instruction.
THE PRESIDENT, DIR. cALKrNs,
in stating the objects of the meeting, said that
the present outlook as TO progress in the di-
rection of better elementary teaching and the
corresponding results that follow in general
education is gratifying. During the past ten
years great strides have been made by the
thinking, progressive teachers toward a clearer
knowledge of child nature, and in right ways
for reaching child mind The results appear
i'm the more general development among the
pupils of these teachers of power TO observe
carefully of ability to think undcrstandinglY
concerning that which has been seen, and in
attainmcnts in knowledge Among the hope
ful signs for the future is the fact that so many
of our schools are becoming fields in which
the teachers are themselves making important
discoveries in the true work of education
instead of COntCntCdly following the tTadi-
tionary customs of the past. The fact that
so many teachers are turning their attention
to psychology, and earnestly inquiring after
science of education which may guide them
in the art of teaching, is hopeful sign.
Great changes also have been made in
the means for ditiusing educational intclli.
Rcnce during the past decade We now have
not only monthly and bimonthly, but weekly
journals, with large ciIculatiOns, devoted To
the interests of education in all its varied
aspects. In addition to these the weekly and
daily papers reflect the general interest Of the
public in relation to educational matters in
their several localities. As an instance of the
increasing interest in matters that relate to
methods of education, IL may be mentioned
that only q few months since the bureau of
education issued as n circular of information
on industrial art in schools, an article pre-.
pared by Mr. Charles q. Leland, of Philadc-
pha, in which the way is pointed out for
making hard work and school work cooperate
with each other in general education aud Cul-
turc, and 1000 copies of this circular have
been distributed already. In these and kim
drcd facts we may find much for encourage
ment and hope. In view of these facts we are
reminded also of the necessity for careful con-
sidcration of matters relating thereto. Allow
me to bespcak your counsel and cooperation
In efforts to make this a profitable and pleas.
ant meeting.
report on industrial education in the Bos-
ton schools was read by Supt Kim
ball. of Newton, Mass. Following this DIR.
Warren, Of the bureau of education, read Mr.
Charles c. Leland's paper Oh industrial art
This paper led to
DISCUSSION OF SOME LENGTH.
Mr.. Marble, of Worcester, criticised the
statement made in the last report about chill
dron between and 10 years of age in the
Massachusetts factories, claiming il was an
erroneous one. He also claimed that the
system Of drawing was not, as claimed in the
report exclusively a Philadelphia one any
more than that the physical law by which
water ran down hill was peculiarly Phila.
dclphia one. He was answered by DIR. War
ron, who said the author of the report, with
out referring to the law unqucstionaby al
- luGCd TO the fact sometimes seen in Massa-
chusetts OF die law being broken in respect
of the employment in the factories under 10
years of age, just as laws on other subjects
were occasionally broken.
Mr.. u. Richards, in discussing Mr.. Ieland's
report, expressed at some length his opinions
on the subject of elementary instruction in
the decorative art, saying he would commence
with the child at the earliest age and instruct
him, as far rs was consistent with his other
duties, in all that pcrtained to industrial arts.
DIR. Mayo asked if any one could tell him
If this education in the industrial arts had
been, when attempted in this county, attended
with results of practical benefit?
Mr.. Marble, of Massachusetts,, in replying
to DR., Mayo's question, said, in conclusion
that the public schools were in more danger
from another source than industrial CduCa-
tion. 1t was growing to be the general idea
that the public schools were responsible for
the moral character as well as the mental
frat tntn Of lA mil la oh nl To Ia,
schools having all the responsibility. He
would throw back some on the parents. As Il
cOrollary, he thought it was unwise to declare
that children should be taught the rudiments
of an industrial art in the schools
Prof. Pickett, of Kentucky, said the qucs-
tion of industrial drawing was an old one
older even than civilization, lie thought that
industrial education was perhaps impractica-
BILE even in cities ii was absolutely so in the
country He thought the schools were under
taking too much. ...u .r
Mr.. Richards replied, defending his opinions
at length
DR.. William T. Harris of Concord, Mass,
then read an essay on
THE EDUCATIONAL LESSONS OF THE CENSUS,
DR.. Harris presented two points of great
importance, first, that the United States had
suddenly lOOmcd up above the international
horizon us iirst-class power and it would
have to deal with international problems IN
the future as well as local ones and secondly
that the old idea of becoming skilled in any
manual occupation, in other words, learning u
trade, is thoroughly exploded. " From our
own point of view as educators, nearly every
item in the census has Il significance as acting
or rcactng on the people rs an educational in
tluence. Let US look for one moment at the
most general item, that of the aggregate pOpu'
latiOn of the Country-50,0 600 or more. Ten
years previous il had been less than 10000,
900, and twenty years previous IL had beer
about 30000OOO. We all know that there Is d
subtle and unobsGrved educational influence
proceeding from the consciousness Of national
ity. To belong tOa weak and dospised nation Ii
TO submit to perpetual training in humility
aud loss Of self respect, A great blight settle,
down ON the character Of the individual like
foul mcphitic yapOr and prevents healthy
growth. 1t was great to be a Roman citizen
in the times Of the Caesars. Ii meant that the
individual walked about clothed with an in
visible garment Of protection The might OF
the greatest nation, the cOnqueror of Tho
world, shielded its humbest citizen. In mod
ern times what well spring of character L
the man is the consciousness that he is an En-
glishman. Eight hundred years of victorious
national growth strengthen the backbone o
each Brton, TO belong TO nation who's,
hagis saluted by perpetual morning SUI
around the world is an education in self 10
spect, manliness, honor, virtue, and product
i've activity hardly to be appreciated. Up t
1860 the United States has not reached The
standard of first class power among nations