The herald., 1893-12-03
The Teachers End Their Second
Session at Pasadena.
A Lively Discussion Caused by the
Proposed Pension Law.
The Matter of the Coeducation of the
Sexes Considered From All Sides.
Relations OF tho High school
to the University.

teachers, although not 80 large as on
the opening day. many of the delegates
from surrounding towns returning home
Friday evening.
ON co-EDUcATIoN.
The first speaker of the opening ses-
sion was introduced by President Dozier
Immediately after calling the meeting to
order, at 9 a. M, Prof. Earl Barnes. OF
Stanford university, one OF the brightest
speakers of the assembly, whose address
upon co education in secondary schools
was listened to with much interest.
In this country we are now trying the
experiment of co.education. In most
European countries there is no co.edu
cation, even in the lower grades. In
this country, on the contrary, CO eduea-
ton was introduced in the city of Hos-
ton from 1886 to 1880. The west is gem
orally in favor OF co-educstion, it bsing
used in San Francisco in the secondary
grades until 1864.
OF over 700 teachers and professional
men questioned in regard to their prefer.
ences, only one-third we're opposed to
co-education.
The great predominanee OF females
among the teachers is shown by the sta
tistics from 91 cities, which averaged
three times "a many female as male
teachers.
In 81 cities there were high schools in
which boys and girls sat in tbs same
room. 1t has been demonstrated that
when the boys and girls are separated
the boys become more coarse and vicious,
and the girls become silly.
Our curriculum on the coast is becom-
ing femalized. This is the direct result
OF the prepondersnce OF girls and female
teachers. In Stanford university there
are half as many women as men. There
are 22 men taking Greek as their major,
and not one woman.
We are fast moving towards condi-
tion OF female schools, Differed by fe-
males, which would be as absurd as are
tirely by men.
DISCUSSION.
The discussion of this paper was par
ticipated in by H. F. Wegener of Red
lands and Mrs. M. ]. Friok of Los An
geles.
The opening was made by Mr.. Mege-
ner.
In France there are as many men as
women in the public schools, while in
the private schools the women teachers
outnumber the men three to one. In
this country there ia no eo-eGucation in
schools having over 500 pupile. In Nor
way and Sweden there is no co-educa-
ton. There ie something in the mascu-
line teacher which ewaksns this spirit of
the boy as we'll as the girl, and be
lieve the conviction ia gaining that we
have too few men in our schools. NV
own observation is that in the company
of girls, boys are more modest and re-
fined than they are at any other time.
More of the objections OF co-educstion
are based on physical ressons. II
girl puts as much work into brain work
as boy a physical wreck will be the
result. 1t aeems to me that it is folly
to harness strong BOY and frail
girl to the same load.
The closing discussion on this subject
was by Mrs. ]. Nj. Frick OF Los Angeles,
whose paper was OF an interesting char
acter, and was listened to with much in
terest.
WEST POINT METHODS EXPLAINED.
The closing address of the morning
was delivered by Mr.. Calvin Esterly of
Pomona, who chose as his subject West
Point Methods and Products.
West Point and it's methods often
came in for a share OF cemmendation
and criticism. Very few, however,
know much of it because OF its peculiar
educational position.
The education is entirely conducted
by army officers and West Point gradu-
ates. Every cadet has long and some-
,hot LAT tn hnt ol.
most any one OF ordinary intelligence
can run it successfully.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Only one paper was delivered at the
afternoon session, by f. P. Davidson OF
San Diego, who took as his subject The
High School in Its Broader Field Than
as Preparatory School for the Uni.
versity. This article was exceedingly
well prepared and delivered.
As the sun pours its light and heat
over the planets 30 should the higher
schools shed their influence over the
schools of lower grades.
The colleges and schools should move
more together for the mutual benefit OF
both, while teachers in the high schools
should endeavor to inspire students with
a desire for the higher education. DIR.
Harris says that the common schoola
should point upward. always holding
ite hands towards the universities.
1t should be as ladder with its bot
tom in the gutter and its top in the
universities.
The neglect of the high schools by the
state was commented upon and more
generous support urged.
OTHER VIEWS.
Other ideas on this subject we're given
during the discussion by Messrs, G. Y.
Root Of Santa Barbara, F. K. Rerham,
Santa Ana, W. Scott Thomas, San Ber-
nardino. Thege gentlemen almost to
unit approved the idea that the high
school is auxiliary to the university and
that it's main object should be to pre-
pare its students for the college.
They held that only very email per-
centage of the students ever entered the
high institutions of learniug, and that it
was an iniuetice to the majority to di-
rect studies in this direction rather than
in the line of preparing them Tor the
practical work of life.
LIVELY CLOSING SCENES.
The closing hours OF the convention
which were devoted to reports of COM
mittees and the election OF officers for
the ensuing year, were exceedingly
lively. Indeed, spectator might have
been led to believe from the heated dis