Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-02-16
EDUCATIONAL REFORMS.
President Eliot Makes Some Suggcs.
tiOns TO the Superinte mdenss.

The session OF the Department OF superintend-
ence, at the Franklin school building was opened
this morning usual by singing 10y one OF ths
schools from the Franklin building. Rev. Richard
Edwards, OF Illinois, offered the opening prayer.
President Dougherty announced the following "a
the co nmittee 10 report next year the proposed
establishment OF a National Normal school In this
city: Messrs Young, OF Nevada; Sheldon, OF Mas
sachusetts: Draper, OF New York; Allen OF ILL.,
nols, and Newell, OF Maryland.
Dr. Charles w. Eliot, president OF Harvard Uni
versiIy, was then introduced, ana read paper en-.
titled, suggestions on keeping down the average
age OF graduation from public. primary, grammar,
and high schools respectively. and on shortening
the period from the beginning or the primary To
the end OF the high school course" Dr. Eliot's
attention at the outset TO the fact that the
erage age OF boys on their admission 10 college
was Increasing, and now the average age OF admis-
sion at Harvard was eighteen years and ten months
Then the average age OF Graduates from American
colleges was twenty-three years. As three or four
years were taken Tor professional preparation
parents found that Their SONS were not ready 20
earn their own living until twenty-seven
twenty-eight years old. lie thought the sub
Ject should be considered with the view to
abreviating the course, without at the same time
the college course In this view he thought atten.
ton should be turned to shortening the period In
the preparatory schools Here, he thought .
year might be saved In this connection Dr. Eliot
compared the secondary schools Of France. classi-
cal course, with the Boston grammar schools and
the Boston Latin school The French program he
considered decidedly more substantial and called
for more exertiOn on the part OF the pupil lJ
Introduced him at an earlier age TO the study
or serious subjects The French boy Of eight be-
gan the study OF foreign language and OF history.
But the French boy curing h.s whole course gives
but one-thlrd OF the time 10 arithmetic that tho
American boy does There was no single subject on
the programs In which the French boy did not ac-
complis more than the American boy. The French
10y makes greater total attainment by the time
he IL eighteen than the Anerlcan boy by the time
he Is nineteen. Better programs needed, he SAID,
better teachers American schools can never equal
the schools OF Germany and France until our
teachers secure Ia their tenure OF ONCE during
good behavior, as In those countries Ihe schools
need The nle-work OF highly trained aud expert
enced teachers. He urged the improvement of
teachers and program. he knew that frequent
schools, but the complaint was due not 50 much
10 actual overwork 10 want OF Interest and
want OF conscious progress Ihe consciousness
that one Is working without making progress ID
wearing on a man, and more 50 on CHILD A
pupil will be more wearied by an hour Of work In
which he takes no interest than In two hourS
work in which he Is Interested. He urged the en-
richment OF programs Ia this respect. HE thought
programs could be shortened o. omit ng the ire
que reviews ana examinations. He deprecated the
artincial value set upon accuracy OF atIainments
He thought it al abomin Die waste 20 pat chill
dren 10 doing In diflcuit way that which, In
year or two later, they will be able 20 do In an
easier way. DIR. Eliot referred 70 various
10 the retardasion or the pIpiL Dr. Eliot Inoueht
the reduction or scnool hours had gone Iar enough,
and that steps should be taken in the olher direc
ton. The ideal school should be so conducted that
the chlld's physique would not be Impaired and
his enjoyment OF his daily life not essensd by at
tending II. IL should De the teachers that needed
rest and recreation, and MOI the pupils lie thought
vacation schools would be good tning In some Ok
our ciues. -
the paper said Dr.. Eliot had brought them lace
~ face with the real living issues concerning the
public schools he thought tne doctors s, slate,
ment that the great heed OF the public school
Courses to-day was condensation and ehncn-
ment presented the important question OF to-day:
He had. In his own experience, however. found IL
difficult 10 condense because the great body OF
teachers were opposed 10 It. He thought DIR. Eliot
cnssion OF tne subject The superinJen sents were
engrossed In the det ails OF administration They
stood inside of the enormous routine OF public
DR. McAIlister said that until colleges MODERN
tied and humanized Their courses OF study. as ne
public schools TO arrange their courses 70 lead The
pupils 10 the front doors OF these colleges.
OF Philosophy, also discussed the paper it was
then decided 10 continue the discussion at quarter
past O'Clock this afternoon.
THE AFTERNOON SESSION.
After Q recess, paper was read by Col n r. z
Dawson, Commissioner OF Education, ON Alaska.
The afternoon session was held In the hall OF the
High school building on o street Papers on the
superintendent and teacher were read by super1n-
a. z Winship, Of boston They were discossed ae o1
superfntendents John B. Cary, OF Richmond va;
GtOfKe IuCkty, VI flblsourk, SOu0 w. BlO4A @
Topeka; w. X Baker, OF savannah ana A c. GOOD.
win, oil Owensboro, KY.
the closing session will be held this evening
when the theme Tor discussion viii Be "NationI
Aid TO Education"
THE SESSION LAST EVENING.
At the afternoon session OF the Department oe
supertntanoence, National Educational Anoc1a.
ton at the Franklin School building yesterday.
afIer the discussion OF Mr.. WickershamS paper on
Normal schools" Senator Stewart was invited 20
address the gathering, and IN his remarks he out
lined briefly his bill 20 establish O National Nor.
NAL school In this city. resolution was adopted
70 refer the suggestions OF senator Stewart 70 Q
committee OF nve 70 report next year. euperin-
tendent Powell introduced Q resolution favoring
the passage Of an international copyright law,
which he asked might be LAID over. resolution
WAS adopted requesting the authorities In charge
OF the census 70 0e very careful In the compllAtoo
OF educational statistics on taking the next
AZ the evening session MT. W. T. HarriA, of Con-
cord read Q paper on "Aoral Trimming In The
Schools," which was discussed BY Dr.. Edward
BrOokA Prot Z 7. Tappan, Nes9x HowlAnA
Lucky, Marble. cove, and harr1A
u street, reports stolen from him while IN saloon.
corner LIST and 3 streeta an overcoat worth eI2---
william Buger, reports the larceny OF g worth oe
ciothing.-P. L. Bonnet No. Ql3 street -.
ports sfolen from his house Q gold waTch and
other jewelry, value e30.-Dr. WARD repQrta
stolen from his stable S23 worth q harusA