The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-12-21

following are some of the most important
points which he presented. F1rst-The
physiology Cutter adopted is not only
wearisome on account of its elaborate
| description of the most minute and unin-
teresting points, but 1t is also entirely TO
| specific bordering on anatomy.
Barnes history was criticized because OF
| the uninteresting manner in which even
the most important point are presented.
Harvey and Ray each came in for share
| of criticism on the ground that they were
several decades behind the requirements
of the educational world, at present
The paper was well prepared and showed
| careful examination on the subject in
hand Prof Cutter as one of the members
of the text book committee arose in
defense OF the series adopted and quite a
lively discussion followed. Mr.. o. Y.
Miller spoke in defense of the series adj
hitting that it had some faults, but ne
! thought that on the whole it was as good
as could have been adopted
The next subject presented was a paper
read by Mrs. Clark, entitled. What do
you think of the synthetic system of teach
ing primary reading" This paper was
very entertaining as well as instructive and
was well received by the audience. Mrs
lhetic system, and as there were several of
its most enthusiastic supporters present a
very lively discussion took place.
The following are some of the most i'm
portant points presented in the paper:
A recognized principle of primary in
struction is to proceed from the known to
the unknown. The synthetic system re
verses this order.
1t teaches the elementary sounds first.
These sounds have no meaning to child,
indeed, they mean but little to grown up
children.
The true unit of language is the word
because it can be taught 10 mean some
thing to the pupil.
Another remarkable thing about this
system is the rules for pronunciation.
Rules are in their very nature abstract
and primary teaching is in its nature con-
crete and opposed to generalization.
No system of reading is wholly good or
wholly bad. In our fathers early school
days children were taught TO read from
the New Testament, but they learned to
read.
In our own childhood the alphabet
method was in style. We also learned to
read. A few years later the word method
with its devices of object lessons came in
vogue, and the teacher was in the habit of
going to school with cat on her shoulder,
a doll in her arms, and her pockets full of
glass and shingles nails as material to be
used as object lessons, and still the child
rem learned to read.
A little later the Phonic method was
developed, had its growth and decline,
and now fashion, which always travels in
a circle and sooner or later returns TO first
principles, has made a new com bination
of the Phonic and Alphabet methods
under the name of the Synthetic system,
and understand that even now children
learn to read
Upon motion of Prof. Cutter, Mrs Clark
was asked to allow the publication of the
paper in the Western school Journal.
As this paper finished the regular pro-
gram the association then proceeded TO
consider miscellaneous business and the
following set of resolutions We're intro
duced by l.. S. Bailey.
The resolutions were considered by sec
tions, which with the exception of the
fifth were almost unanimously carried.
Resolved, That it is the sense of this
association that the best interests of the
district schools of Kansas demand,
First. That the county superintendent
of public instruction should hold first
grade certificate or diploma from some
leading normal school as a condition of
eligibility to that office.
Second-That cities of the first and sec
ond class should be prohibited from voting
for county superintendent of public in
struction.
Third-That the annual school meeting
should be changed from July to April.
Fourth-That the township system
should be substituted for the district sys
TEN, thus giving us uniform and lower
taxes, equal school terms, better teachers,
and more satisfactory results
A very energetic discussion followed the
of this set of resolutions and
the debate upon the fifth was very sug
gestive of political conventions.
The fifth section was rejected by vote
of about to ratio.
Upon motion of Prof McMichael the
meeting adjourned to meet the third Sat
urday in January.
The sections rejected read as follows:
Fifth-That the rights of the people de-
mand the immediate resubmission of the
amendment.
SiXth-That the secretary be instructed
to send copy of these resolutions TO each
m ember of the state legislature from this
county.