Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-03-20
THE TEACHERS.
The Second Day of the State
Convention.
INTERESTING SESSION.
Election Of Officers for the Year.
Papers Read on Educational
Subjects.

at the appointed time yesterday. Teach
ers are accustomed to being punctual
and rain cuts no figure in their pro
gramme. Over nine hundred person
were in the room when Prof. Fosha,
came forward and led in the opening
song.
The first paper on the programme wal
q mastery production by w. 81. V. Ray
mond, editor-in-chief of the State series
of text books. The paper was entitled
"The Proposition of the American Schoo
Trust" and abounded in forcible argu
ments and appropriate illustrations. The
teachers and officers of schools were re-
garded as stockholders in great COM
bination or trust, the children
as raw material, and the good
results attained in the way ol
education considered as the profits ol
the trust. The best methods of teaching
were duly considered, as we'll as many
errors which would tend to lessen the
profits. Attention during the reading
was concentrated on the reader and sp.
plause was frequent and enthusiastic.
Mrs. Julia B. Hoitt, Deputy Superin-
tendent of Public Instruction, followed
Mr.. Raymond with q paper on "Educa-
tional Discoveries All progress was
said to be the result of some discovery.
There was first the felt want, then the
study of methods of supplying that want
and lastly, Eureka, 1 have it," and q
step forward. The oriental nations of
antiquity all had characteristic methods
Of education based upon the underlying
principles of their government. All of
these systems were but one sided, and
woman was left out of consideration en-
tirely. From these days of antiquity the
current OF knowledge flowed westward.
Christianity dawned upon the world
with its tiny but imperishable light.
The glory OF Rome came and departed.
The dark ages shut down upon the
world, knowledge crept into monastic
homes and was nurtured by the
priesthood, the knights and the Mo.
hammedans, until the springtime
of the Reformation warmed it
into activity again. There are three
periods in the worlds history which may
be considered as the three main discov-
cries which have changed the entire
current of its destiny. First, 1900 years
ago the gentle teacher, who spoke ever
from his own serene heights, put ever
behind him the "Light OF ASIA" and
discovered to the waiting millior new
Light of the World" and Christianity
was born. Second. in the fifteenth century
the poor wool-carder rose in his sublime
persistence and gave to humanity new
world. Third, the grand old reformer
of the sixteenth century blessed us with
q discovery that meant liberty, inde-
pendence, education. During these
three periods there ere many who
wrote, all unconsciously, their names
upon the worlds annals, and 70 whom
we now pay our grateful reverence.
Such are the names of the founders OF
Christianity. Following in the train of
these three parent discoveries is train
of lesser ones. The ever developing
possibilities of the universal world, the
mysteries of the waters of the earth and
the stars of the heaven have one by one
come to light, and investigation has not
stopped with the material world but mans
own powers, mental and spiritual, have
been focused under the powerful lens
of modern discovery. Each step taken
on the educational road has only proved
the necessity for otbers-and the neces-
sity has paved the way. There are eight
or ten important subjects which have
lately occupied the thinking minds with
the hope of benefting humanity and
the cause of education. Many good
things have been thus discovered and
put in practice. The subjects are First,
the necessity for universal education to
establish the stability of government; :;
second, the establishment of three grades
of education primary, intermediate
and university; third, the endow-
ment of colleges OF agriculture
and the mechanical arts; fourth, school
architecture and school decoration; ffth,
the introduction into our school curricu-
hum of the study of civil government;
sixth. the advantage of uniform courses
of study; seventh, the need of efficient
professional supervision eighth, the
beneficial effect of teachers institutes,
which a noted writer has called normal
schools with very short course of study.
And now / come to what l firmly believe
are two of the most beneficial discoveries
of our age-ths importance of which has
not yet fully penetrated the minds of our
lawmakers and taxpayers. They are
Ninth, the necessity of professional
training for our teachers; tenth, the
necessity of manual training for our
children. With regard to the former it
has been discovered that knowledge oi
the studies to be taught is not the only
requirement for good teacher. a knowl.
edge of child nature is also absolutely
necessary. This has resulted in the study
of psychology. With regard to manual
training for the children, the public is
convinced slowly as to it's utility, but it
is sure to win its way. 1t is not
designed to turn out skilled mechanics
we only design to increase the power of
the mind for thoughtful and intelligent
work, to inoculate habits of exact and
careful observation, and to develop q
love of industry and respect for manual
work. 1t will not be long before the
graduates from our few manual training
schools will be the lawmakers of oul
country, to testify to the advantage
which such training was to them, and
soc that the coming generations receive
it. And 80 the work will grow. tt
teachers is entrusted the Leadership
of the educational thought of the people
and 80, let us see that we adopt, for oul
own improvement and that of our chill.
dren, only the best; that we lead public
opinion intelligently, persistently and
directly, to clear understanding of ouI
needs.
After the reading of the paper, Prof
Foshay lead the singing of ''Help It On"
The next paper, Thoughts on Obser'
vation," by J. A. Woodson, editor of the