New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-30
THE DISCUSSIONS ENDED.
FINAL. SESSION OF THE ECONOMISTS.


REACHED AS TO THE PLACE OF
MEETING NEXT YEAR.
The final session OF the seventh annual meeting
OF the American Economic Association was held
yesterday morning at Columbia College. The conn-
ell met for a few minutes directly after the ad-
iournment at ! o clock. TO discuss the place ior
next years session 1t was decided to hold II west
OF he Allegheny Mountains but the place was not
fixed
The first paper entitled 'The Hlstor,ch'
School a Retrospect" by Professo" w j. Nsh'e!'
OF Harvard University. Professor Ashley began
by sketching the history OF the movement es-
pecjally in Germany and pointed out that the
charge OF extremism often brought against Pro-
fessor Schmoe- arose from ignorance OF the VIII
ings Of the creators OF the school The speaker
then turned TO the present position OF economic
teachings in America, and in regard TO the MS
toricai school said in part as follows:
'.ln tho first place II may still be necessary 10
guard explicitly against the common misulder-
standing that the historical school, even IN us
most extreme sense. is concerned only WIN 'he
history OF the past. The purpose OF the historical
economist like that OF every other economist -
to penetrate to understanding OF It's economic
life of humanity. His main interest must ever lie
in the present But he pursues this purpose under
the inspiration and guidance OF the great principe
o. development And while he does not "ehy '"a'
a statistical observation or a phlosophic analysis
OF present facts regardless OF their past or future
Is possible and may be fruitful. he believes
that the masterkey TO their understanding - to be
found in a perception OF their place IN the Cuii.I'
Of time He wishes indeed. to know the present
and he is ready TO accept ali apparently sourd con-
cusions 10 the present howe.er honoh cir
cumstances may for a time turn the his oricai
economist into the economic historian INA, y MN
ton The economist who wishes to construct i9r
himself some sort OF picture OF tne ennu, bicS
the historians tell him nothing or nothing that ne
finds it possible to accept as b"ea pss It is seq
ment OF the great curve OF human de'eo''"o""
The second and closing subject on the programme
was THE Teaching OF Economics IN secondary
schoos " TO be discussed by Professor = ~ Patten'
OF the University OF Pennsylvania r'o'e'''' '
c. Adams, and others.
Professor Patten opened the dscussion' ne De-
gan with reference 10 the report o. 'he
Committee Of Ten on Secondary Education AN, ana
called attention 10 the uniortuhate posdii.t,tn a.
Of economies due 10 the fact that history politics
and economics were given TO one committee VIII
there were eight other committees ior tns va. ,h
other parts OF the curriculum THIS showed iat ,le
sciences did not receive adequate rec h ~
ihcse subjects there should have been three commit
ressnipton from the recognized opponents It was
natural that historians should sympathize WIN w
dmctjve textbooks should be excluded from the
schools IT. however all disputed facts ana theorT 5
we're excluded from the schoolroom. history Woul1
fare as badly economics or wa the Suppy an NJ
good seTSGl Sa c a of sSry than in economic
If economics Is to be joined with some ON, r"n
have nut II with geography than with history. There
is much connection between me in.'ii i
and contents Of geography and economics than be,
tween history and economics. Geography treats OF
the physical environment ana mus coNris, a p
OF the ground which discussion OF ma'e''a' "e"'''
The speaker then outlined what was. in MS opn-
ion model high course under present con-
diiions He would have II composed OF ilvr group
stYdie to each and Of eo WhG time eq 6e gve FIST
history politics and political geography seeSnu t TO-,
aod nhvsics fourth English language and litera-
tIire and nth one foreign language -
that the natural sciences are already anght IN me
grammar school Training In careful oeseryaiti3n
mart in inc early education of children, IT ms
work is done properly, the advanced WORK III a,s
he student reaches the university and mas the
help trained instructors and weil-equippeu 'a'o''
In his closing remarks the speaker shoTsd w o9
rourse in economies In the secondary schools ana
how economic Facts and IDEAS can be maze use u
III Professor tnf H. G. Adams OF the University Of
Michigan was the next speaker lie ra1ssd am tu.
cult subject as political economy In the hahus u
the teachers who controlled me seconhay SGno1 ;h
West at any rate. was getting to be me pe9pe ,s
college and what they wanted OF s ,hs nrg ne
should understand his own life. TO obtain thls
end the schools should teach srch snoJ ,honyht
Instead OF introducing the abstract science OF p9
iiticai economy they should Introduce by the sue
English speaking people. to which most OF the ch'
dren belong. . ,,,, =. 49, ,oooh
ing OF political economy in the schools pecanse nr
said in this country almost every teacher mas an
economic theory Of his own. and II IL were iaush'
in the schools instead Of about twentycseVeh d'ier-
emf theories there would be about DOWo. ,
Professor Giddings, of COLUMBIA College sa'a ne
was opposed to putting system or theofetical Po-
If.too nj
thought II would be good thing to Introduce some
elements Of economics The solution or the question
was in getting proper teachers. 90, , ,,.,
In closing the meeting. Professor ca x lhankrrn
Columbia for her hospitality during The last week
and called attention to the fact that when Inc az
sociafon assembled next year II would have pasSe"
the frat decade Of its history.