National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-02-15
THE CLOSING SESSION.
Last Days Work Of the Department Of Superin-
tendence in Washington.
History Of the Public School Libraries Of
the District,
Addresses by Distinguished Educators in Favor Of
Generous Congressional Aid
Public Reception at tho Bureau OF Edu-
cation Last Evening.

Several interesting features marked tho
closing session of the department of superin-
tendence of the Nationol Educational associa-
ton yesterday. A paper on Hand Work in
Schools" was presented by Prof. J. M. Ord
way, OF Boston. He gave an entertaining
description Of his experience among the
technical schools Of Europe, and said they
had great influence on the proletariat of the
European countries. A paper on Public
Instruction in Industrial Pursuits" was read
by Mr.. A. =. Marble, superintendent Of city
schools of Worcester, Mass His argument
was that industrial education should be con-
fined to technical schools, as il is yet Of an
experimental nature and consequently in
furious in public institutions. The above
papers were discussed by DR.. Ii. S. Jones, of
Pennsylvania. A recess was then taken, and
the members called on the President and
secretary Of the interior.
When the session was resumed In the af-
ternoon Col. Rogers, OF New Orleans. adj
dressed the association on the educational
department of the coming exposition at that
city. DIR. B. JOY Jefiries followed with an
able and interesting paper on Education of
the Normal Color Sense-Color Blindness"
The subject YVES illustrated with charts con-
tanning balls Of merging tints, skeins Of yarn,
and devices illustrative Of optical delusion.
DR.. Jeffries urged the necessity Of optical edu-
cation for the young as preventative of color
blindness in after life. The next paper was
on "Reading: How to control and direct the
reading of pupils how to induce them to read
the best literature" by Mr.. George J.
Luckey, superintendent Of city schools
of Pittsburg Pa. The paper stated that
ut took full century to drive the spelling
book, with its long columns of meaningless
words, from the head of the list of school text
books and even yet it finds a revered place
in mn Ia off Pol ntrar
of by some teachers. Those who made
spoilers, never thought of filing them with
words in every day use but they burned
midnight oil in their efforts to fill columns
and pages with words of similar sounds.
Tho attack should be made along the
allies, the speller and the grammar, should
be it, possible entirely destroyed. Five,
six, and seven years of the pupils life are al
most wasted in an effort to learn to read ac-
cording to rule. Imagine, if you can, 10
year-old child trying to deliver properly the
masterpieces of Webster, Clay. or Calhoun;
or q girl Of 10 summers attempting to
enter into the feelings of Demosthenes while
addressing the Athenians, and all this before
the pupil had read story of half dozen
pages or is able to read Understandings the
current news of the day.
One difficulty is that reading is confoundcd
with elocution. The pupil who understands
what he reads will require no drill on en-
phasis, infection, or facial expression. No
boy with o bruised toe ever says ouch !"
without giving the proper emphasis, inhec-
ton, and facial expression. The paper favored,
instead of statesmen's speeches and orations
in reading books, the adoption Of simple stories
Of history, adventure. and travel, such as
Robinson Crusoe."
Mr.. Charles G. Edwards, Of Baltimore, read
read another on the same subject. He said
the popular mind is greedy for reading matter
that can be understood.
Mr.. ]. Ormund Wilson, superintendent of
city schools of Washington, next read an IN
teresting dissertation on reading" In the
city of Washington two years ago, said the
paper, there was no provision whatever for
regulating or furnishing general reading for
school children. There was as there is now,
no public library, and there were no school
libraries. When boys were discovered fur
lively reading BILLY, tho Kid" 1.-THE James
Boys" dick Dead Eye" &C., which they
had bought complete for 8 cents or borrowed
from an Obliging companion, tho books were
duly confscated, and an appropriate lecture
was administered; but no better books were
furnished in their stead with which the nat
ural and commendable desire for reading
might be satisfied. There were no funds
appropriated for the use of the schools that
could be applied to the purchase of books for
general reading.
Relying on the maxim, "The gods help
them who help themselves" it was determined
to make an effort within the schools to sup
ply this very evident want in our educational
facilities
By gifts books and by purchases made with
funds derived from musical and literary en-
tertainments given by the schools and lib
orally patronized by the public, an excellent
library Of between 5000 and 1900 volumes
was soon provided for the high school.
The course Of study for this school looks to a
free and constant use of those books by the
a m iDG
them has been prepared and published. To
keep the library in its present good condition,
also to increase the number of volumes from
time to time, each pupil who is able to do so
pays small annual fec for its USE
Nothing was done until the beginning of
the present school year toward providing
suitable reading for pupils in grades below
the high school. On the twentieth of October
last, by invitation, Mr.. A. r. Spofford, the
well-known librarian of congress, delivered a
most valuable address to the teachers on the
topics, What to Read, When to Read. and
How TO Read" This address was replete
with the best thoughts and practical sugges-
tions of a master in his profession, thoroughly
versed in books and the best methods of read
ing. The teachers received it with great
favor and by unanimous vote had it printed
for their own use. 1t awakened enthusiasm
and furnished valuable instruction. The
publication of IL by the press Of the city
also created q general public interest in the
subject.
At the close of the address brief statement
of q plan for furnishing books and guiding
the reading Of the pupils was made to the
teachers as follows; A list Of goud books in
the several departments OF literature to be
prepared and published TO aid teachers in
making selections; teachers TO make them
selves familiar with the books to be read By
their pupils; a small library to he formed in
each school where the pupils are old enough
to engage in general reading (the term
'school' as here used signifying the pupils in
charge Of one teacher; each school to consti-
tute library association. and, with the adj
vice aud consent Of the teacher to manage its
own affairs; the pupils, with the assistance
and advice Of the teacher, to arrange for pro-
curing books and bookcase TO appoint a
librarian aud any other officer needed, and to
make q catalogue and necessary regulations
for the use and preservation of the library ;
books to be obtained ut first by loans aud
donations from pupils and others, and by
purchase as fast as means will allow the boys
TO be induced to give up their cigarettes, the
girls to forego some of their small Injuries
and each to contribute the money so saved to
the library also to be encouraged to earn
money for this purpose.
1t was suggested that there were large
number OF boys and girls who could and
would gladly, with the appreciation of their
parents, aid the new enterprise. The library
was to be for the use and benefit Of all,