The morning call., 1894-05-11

Miss Crary, while for the men geography
appeared to possess N ore charms than the
discussion of esthectics.
Bishop Nichols, who was to have spoken
in Miss Crary's session upon Noble Lit
erature." was prevented by illness frem
being present. Miss Juliet P. Rice of Los
Angeles read paper upon "How far can
the study of music and drawing in our
public schools he made training of an
esthetic naturep
Music" she said, sis mighty power
for the molding of character. 1t is repre-
sentative of human experience. picture
of emotion" The paper was in realty e
plea for teaching children music for the
educational value there is in 1t, and not
for recreation. Miss Molle Conners OF
Oakland also spoke in the same vein.
In a paper on classic mythology Miss
Ruth Merrill of Santa Cruz said: in
order to make classic mythology power
full factor in the spiritual and esthetic
training of students every school should
make this its care. that no child reaches
the age of 10. or II at the Oldest, without
having read the stories of mythology. 1t
is surprising how large Is the percentage,
at least in certain places. of those who
have grown up to later youth without any
knowledge Of myths"
The discussion OF geography was chiefly
confined to the point of view from which
it should be taught. Melville DaZier OF
Los Angeles, in his paper on the subject.
said: "Geographyis is practically an unlIm-
tied field of knowledge and investigation,
including in its scope an array of topics
more comprehensive than is presented by
any other study. l would encourage the
practice of closely studying the maps"
In the discussion that followed many
teachers were OF the opinion that it would
be overlooking the mind of pupil to read
between thu lines of map.
Superin tendent SWEET was, perhaps. the
most opposed TO the picturesque and I'M
aginative wav of teaching geography.
At the afternoon session, which took
place in the auditorium of Golden Gate
Hall. T. L. Heaton of Fresno presided:
The first speaker was Samuel L. Black OF
Ventura, who led discussion upon "The
Control by County Boards OF Promotions
and Graduation" He said that each
board had undoubtedly done the best it
could under the circumstances. and gave
an exhaustive account nj the system
adopted in Ventura County, which he
said bad ''resorted to plan tending TO re-
duce to minimum the drudgery OF writ
ten examin ations."
An animated discussion followed, 10 the
course of whicn Superintendent l.. Scott
of Santa Cruz said: "No one thing has
done more to further the schools OF Cali
fornia than the local pride engendered By
the establishment of county boards"
Frank Morton, principal of the BOYS
High School, San Francisco, led the dis
cussion on Dep artment Work in Gram
mar Grades" Debate upon this SUBJ
]eet," he said. appears to be waxing
warm. On the one hand we find the Ber-
nn Educational Congress of 1890 faVoIing
the abolition of the department System in
the symnasia. because unity and CO.
ordination cannot be seenred with it.; on
the other, the Boston School Committee is
about to establish the system In the Bos-
ton grammar schools. because conscious
ness OF the law of unity in diversity can
not be secured without it,
''The chief fault in our elementary
school products to-day is lack OF clear-cut
notions and definitions, lack of accuracy
and clearness of thought, and lack of
accurate and truthful statement. Under
which system can the needed requirements
be the better secured in the higher ele-
mentary grades? l answer unhesitatingly
under the departmental SYSTEM"
The discussion on Professor Morton's
paper was deferred till Superintendent
MOlyneaux Of Pomona had spoken upon
The Course of Study for Country
Schools" "The best course of study is
that which besl provides for practical life. +"
he said. Each grade should prepare
efficiently for the one above it; each school
for the one above 1t"
general discussion followed. Professor