The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-29
Evening Session of the Association.

ccA IN sAO 81 N
In the evening the association proper met in
the auditorium Of Plymouth Church to listen to
the addresses of the retiring and incoming pres
idents. There were about two hundred and
eighty members present, representing as fine q
body of educators as is to be found anywhere.
Prof. E. e. Smith, formerly of Purdue Uni
versity, in resigning the eavel, spoke briefly,
but pertinently, in saying that the cause of edu-
cation in Indiana was never stronger than now.
1t was gratifying to him that bright future is
before the association. Wishing its members a
hearty God-speed in its work. he introduced
his successor In the presiding officers chair. Prof.
Cyrus w. Hodgin, of the Richmond Normal
School. For half an hour the new president
read an interesting address on ''The Needs Of
Our Profession, in which he spoke Of the-sen-
~tinuous advance in the science of pedagogy.
Teaching had to be adjusted to the requirements
OF the age. 1t was seen that during q rcriod of
religious thought and inquiry the school partook
much or that character; in an age of war it was,
to a large extent, military, and in an industrial
era it was adapted to the wants of workers. II
is the latter character that belonged to the
present, and this called for depths
of scholarship and breadth of learn.
ing among teachers that are required
by no other profession. Indeed, teaching should
be ranked the first of the learned professions.
He spoke of the age as one of machinery, bring
ing the world nearer together, and unifying
civilization, and the teacher should be eouipped
with a thorough knowledge of mechanics and it's
inventions. 1t is not a time when we can dis
pense with all but the three RS. Whatever
gives one a knowledge of nature is necessary.
There Is required now among workingmen a
directive intellect to control the hands. They
must know mathematics and mechanics. other
wise they will be out little better than paupers.
Machinery has changed the demand from mus
GUAR to brain labor. He said that this was q
time when the demand for schools
was the same under every form of political gov
eminent, for the mechanic must derive his edu.
cation in the public schools or he will not be able
to compete with the rest of the world. In offer
ing this instruction the teacher requires a more
comprehensive knowledge, not necessary for the
pupil. 1t is one of the permanent needs OF the
profession;a and another is that the teacher must
know the child's mind. A third need is that
which will lessen the dangers of malpractice:
and then again ir is necessary for the teacher to
understand the school system III all its organic
parts and It's relation TO society. He should
also be free from ~cast-iron regulations.
He should be free from ignorance, as to the his.
tory OF teaching, in being conversant not oplv
with present methods, but with all that have
been in use; for there is danger of adoptinp
forms that, while appearing as improvements. are
really nothing more than ancient ideas of theory
and practice.
AT the close of the address the association cor
rected its record of last year regarding the cleo
VIZ Va htoi W uithiue IhTs. IoluOQ secretary.
James r.. Heart. of Union City, was appointed
assistant permanent secretary. Following this
came the announcement of committees by
the chair. that for the purpose of
selecting members of the Reading Circle
board being composed of Mrs. w. w. Byers. of
Terre Haute; F. B. Churchill, of Aurora, and
A. Z. Rogers, of Danville, while the committee
en- revolutions comprises Professor Lewis H.
Jones, Of Indianapolis; E. A. Butler, of Rush
vile; Mrs. w. N. Mailman, of LaPorte. Mrs.
Maggie Hill, OF Rensselaer,, and John P. Mather.
of Warsaw.
DR.. Hobbs called attention to the movement of
education looking to the ultimate brotherhood
of man. 1t is n school of instruction, embody
ing the interests Of all nations in contradis-
~tinction to that spirit which builds up home in
terests at the expense Of those of foreign cou n
tries. The association will meet this morning
and afternoon to follow the programme an
nourced. In the evening Professor George
Rowland, of ne Chicago schools. will deliver an
address on Character in School,