The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-18
A GREAT EDUCATOR.
The Estimate Placed Upon President Thomp-
son by the Polytechnic Institute.

Mr. William A. Bell, upon being appraised of the
death OF President Thompson, of the Terre Haute
polytechnic Institute, stated that he regarded
him as the foremost man of the West in tech
nical education. He thought sim among the
most logical ard persuasive of all the school
men it had been his fortune to meet He was a
member of the National Educational Convention
An elective association limited to fifty, which
meets at the same time as the National Teachers
Association
This body held an open meeting in July, 1884,
at Madison, Wisconsin, which Mr.. Bell attended,
and were discussing the question of whether the
report of the committee canvassing the question
as to what kind of high school work developed
the greatest mental power should be accepted
and printed, or referred back until another year.
Pickard, Rickhoff, and Greenwood, all men o.
great power and experience with schools, had
opposed the report, and it was evidently lost
Prof. Thompson rose, and with one hand on the
table, the other in his pocket-leaning forward
as was his wont-spoke for half an hour with
such force, logic and earnestness as to carry the
question and the vote, and the unusual compli-
ment was paid to him of ordering his speech
printed as part of the report Mr.. Bell looked
upon him as the man of greatest power in his
Inca man who looked at the thing itself
rather than the expression. He had no special
taste, so he was informed, for polite literature or
philosophy
President Thompson was induced to come to
the Rose Polytechnic as its president through
the representations of Mr.. VIM. A. Jones, ex-
president of the State Normal School, who was
empowered by Mr.. Rose to visit the Eastern
technical schools with view to finding the
most available man. His representations led
the trustees to elect President Thompson as the
man to build up technical school in Indiana.
Of President Thompson Mr. Bell says, in his
Indiana School Journal, sof June, 1882: Through
the energy and ability of Prof Thompson, the
Worcester school has taken rank with the best
schools of its class not only in this country but
in the world. Some idea of the estimate placed
upon Mr.. Thompsons abilities may be gained
from the fact that he is to receive salary of
ST. 600 and residence free, is to have nearly a
years leave Of absence IN Europe, expenses of
moving, and permission to select his own facul-
ty"
Indianapolis has taken no little interest in the
Rose Polytechnic Among the students of the
senior class is Amuzi P. Hood. of this city: jul
niors, William III. Coburn, Edward G. Elder.
Herbert w. Fulz, and Lucien N. Sullivan;
freshmen, Geo. Fl. Chapman, Augustus Coburn,
VIM. G. Haueisen, Francis L. Hord, and Julian
S. Scholl-ten out of seventy students, or Z per
cent of the whole.
President Thompson's address on "Manual
Training in the Public Schools" given before the
State Teachers Association, December, 1883,
and printed in the Indiana School Journal of
January, 1884 took the ground that such work
is not justifable and this in opposition to very
general feeling in many quarters to the contrary.
This is his only public address to the teachers of
Indiana. He said:
But, finally, the thought has often crossed
me that we may have entirely mistaken the
measure and the motive of the popular demand
for this reform. My ears are not sharp enough
to hear distinctly any call for manual training in
the schools; but / do hear, in very clear and
unmistakable form, a demand that the number
of topics shall be lessened. and the thoughtful
ness of teaching increased. The demand for more
manipulation, more practical familiarity with
fewer things, has been construed into demand
for manual training. People are not pleased
with smatter, but are always satisfied with mas
terry.
There is room for question if this move in
the direction of manual training be not an
evasion of a pressing duty; for it is always
easier to cultivate novelty than to regenerate
the old crops. What is wanted is better
methods of teaching the essentials of common
knowledge, so that the four priceless years of
school life shall be more fruitful For this the
people cry out. We cannot avoid this cry by any
curious debates; we must deal with the question
seriously, patiently and honestly. The work of
pruning, and regenerating, and reforming de-
mands more SKILL and courage, and knowledge
promising.
''And this work must be done by those who
are working from the center of the school sys-
tenn outward and not by those who, in spite of
much earnestness, evidently do not know where
the center is. 1t is the legitimate work of edu-
Gators.
Let me close with noble thought from Pro
fessor Jevonss new book, Methods of Social
Reform:
att is assumed that the main obiectof educa-
ton is to promote success in lfe but the main |
object of education is not to promote success in
life in any technical sense That is the business |
of the professional schools. The main object of |
education is to raise the standard of life itself7
DR.. Thompson addressed the State College |
Association in the course Of debate, last Deem
Der, on the relation of the technical school to |
the college, taking the ground that such schools |
could not thrive under the shadow of the uni |
versity. His position was ably maintained with |
great force and ability, and commanded almost |
general assent.