Morning journal and courier., 1884-01-17
Reform in the Schools.

Professor H. H. Straight's lecture at High
 school Hall Last Evening.
 Last evening large audience assembled in High School hall to hear the lecture of Pro- lessor H. H. Straight of Chicago upon the subject of industrial education.
 He spoke of different educational expert ments and the method and attainments of each The experiments made upon savage and%a deaf mute many years ago by devoted men were the beginnings of modern systems of education. Pestilotzy dreamed of an educa- ton that should develop and bring into play all the faculties of man. His weakness was his lack of scientific knowledge. The begin ming of the child's education is the kinder garten. In the public school the element of production, which is the most important one of the school. is omitted, but we must secure the development of the intellect. The unity of mans nature must occupy our thoughts during the next half century. Man IS en- vironed by nature. The conception popular ly held of mans nature is wrong. The mean ing of the new education is vague. It is not mechanical education. Our present educa- ton is too mechanical. Organic education expresses better the meaning that is to be expressed. We cannot educate the hand without educating the brain. The unity of mans nature must not be overlooked. The entire work of the schools should be recon structed in reference to industry. There must be an industrial disposition, indus trial power. The schools are to devel- op body capable of bearing al the ordinary strains brought upon it. The schools must develop such sense of the beautiful as will give fnesse and finish to | whatever work the people undertake. Over | all this knowledge conscience must preside. The school thus organized will be the out growth of Preble's ideas. The expression oi thought in material form will be an impor tant feature in the schools. prominent | motive in creations of the hands of the chil dren shall be to give pleasure to others 1 The work will teach the pupils the fundamental principles concerning the moulding os wood, clay, etc, into varied forms. Many countries of Europe annex gardens to all the schools. There should be two divisions of training; one fol 1 the Sabbath, one for the days of the week | The one should be calculated to instruct 1T the bible and the other in the manual arts | tive productive occupation. Teach reading in such way as to create a taste for gooc reading Teach arithmetic in such 8 way as | to show it's use and influence. Teach the children to tell stories in dramatic way and lead the pupils toward the mountain-top ol humal experience by all possible ways.
 The honesty of the country has not been increased by the substitution of mental fol individual education. We complain of bossel in politics. People will always be ruled by bosses until they are taught to understand the complexion of their natures. The Nor nal school must teach the teachers how tc train their pupils the rudiments 1T this way. Different influences affec the lives of the children, oul young men and women must be filled permeated with the great ideas upon whict the welfare of the race depends. Public sen.i meat must be accused, the people educated Every man must be made an observer who can study and test facts. Thus can the eff feet of race climate be determined. Thus can the true science of education be built up The science of education is the last to be de veloped and it will be the grendest when it ii developed.