Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1883-03-02
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EDUCATIONAL AEDS.

\ ! =.
American Review contain articles
on Educational Needs contributed
by Prof. Adler, Prest. Thomas Hunter,
'and DIR. Mary P. Jacobi and Prot. G. S
Hall, Prof. Alder says in his opening
sentence: "The public are growing
uneasy. IT is feared that the brarns Of
our ht:le ones are, overworked in the
schools. Physical deterioration Is the
inevitable penalty of such over work. "
1t seems that the same complaint, the
same effects, and the same causes for
anxious enquiry and criticism exist in
| the eastern schools, as those we have
limited at in previous articles as de-
mandiug investigation and correction
here. Prof. Adler i argues that while
there may be ground for complaint at
the number OF studies attempted III the
schools, that the real cause Of the evil
Is largely in the worry, waste and tedl-
um which result from bad. methods.
He urges as a remedy that the Whole
saler system of education be abandon
ed !; the size of classes reduced; and
above all he says. ''let us have teach
ers who are themselves trained in
rational methods" hsaai. s.
Professor Adler says: Judging from
the utterances that we often hear, the
presumption in many mems minds
seems to be that the acquisition Of
knowledge is rhardship for the young;
but what more damning accusation
can be brought against the prevailing
system of teaching than the fac'
that such ideas should become
current? Who that has observed chill.
dren has not seen how eager they are
for knowledge, what numberless ques.
tions they delight in asking, and with
what freshness and eagerness theil
young minds seize upon the facts o.
the world? If, then, the instruction
of the school wearies and repels them
we must not suppose that the intellec'
tual pabulum itself is dlstasteful, but
that there is something in the condl'
ment with which it IS seasoned, or lr
the manner in which it is ser ed, thai
causes so unnatural a repulsion. The
great fact to be borne in mind is thai
instruction becomes interesting as soon
as the self-active reason OF the pupilis
appealed to, and he is taught to reach
results by the exertion of his own
thought, instead of receiving bundle
of facts, ready made, from the hand Of
the instructor. There is absolutely nc
lesson-not the dry arithmetic lesson,
not the reading lesson, not the history
and geography lesson-that will fail to
become fascinating and delightful to
the pupils, if the instruction given be
fully saturated with the rational method.
The children will then take in knowl
edge as hungry person takes in food
as one who is thirsty drinks water from
a clear spring.
President Hunter argues that The
main causes of overwork in the public
schools arise, First, from the folly oi
teachers in making the lessons too long,
second, neglect to properly explain the
lessons when they are assigned; third,
from an unwisely prescribed course OF
study which unduly burdens both
teacher and pupil; and fourth, from
creating and fostering spirit of un-
wholesome competition. Prof. Hunter
| concludes that while home study
should be required Of children, for the
moral influence rather than its intellec-
tual value; it should be small in quan.
tity and simple in quality and that
he first care with parent and teacher
should be the preservation of health
and the prevention of overworK and
worry.