The herald., 1894-04-06
THE TEACHERS CONVENTA
Topics of General Unrest
Discussed Yesterday
Colonel Hill Advocates the Anrther
Study of Human Natre.
Prof. john Dickinson Talks . Algebra.
Prof. Barnes of sanford
Gives AN InterestlE
Talk.

The County eachersinstitute met
yesterday at the usual hur.
In sections one and to Miss Kather-
inc Ball taught drawag and Mr.. Th.
Bessing read paper q Gymnastics.
In the high schoolaection, Mr.. A. b.
Winship spoke on Lierature.
He said:
Chronology Is thqworst tyrant on the
globe. l protest gainst chronological
or geographical literature.
Literature is to enjoy, to appreciate
and to know. l gould be willing to leave
it there. Literaure is for reading, not for
study. We study literature for the
reading.
It is vicious to think you know litera-
ture when you simply enjoy II. lAtelA'
ture ia not 10 make cultured young men
and women, but to toRe up the quaiIy
of books and papers that Will be read
The Young men and women who 80
ont from your school to read the scare
lines in newspapers have failed to re-
ceive any benefit from your instruction.
The purpose of literature 10 to teach
nature, human nature, art, PATRIOTISM
and truth. We are apt TO emphasize
poetry as II 1t we're the chief kind oi
literature. Perhaps not per cent oi
all reading is poetry, yet poetry Is the
chief Literature" taught in our public
schools. We need to put in more time
on the study OF human nature.
Truth, the Gospel OF human nature,
should be emphasized. For character
building no book can be used SO well IN
our schools as the Bible go long as uHed
only for the study of truth.
A friend once congratulated Huxley
ON a recent utterance OF his. Huxley
answered: 81 do not know that what
have said will stand the test OF time,
but do know that il will create great
deal OF discussion" $3.50
That remark is applicable to the late
report OF the committee Of 10.
Every teacher should have set of
public documents, especially such doc
umentR as deal with educational sub
jects. All these can be had by sending
few postal cards to the national bu-
reau OF education.
Col. Jacob l. Hill OF Norwalk took is
sue with Mr.. Winship in regard to his
advising people to turn from the study
OF other natural objects to the study of
humanity or human nature.
Mrs. S. A. Sears OF Seattle crossed
swords with Mr.. Winship in regard to
his advising teachers to teach the iuve-
nile literature of today.
She said that the average high school
pupils Of today do not know anything OF
Abraham, Isaac, David. Jonathan. Her
cules, Gulliver, Sindbad or any other
character Of the great epoch making
past, in literature or history, either
sacred or profane.
We seem to be afraid OF studying the
s,v1v 4.aouvlu ls0r6 ut ssvv av41oIl siIHpffn.
tion and most of their material from che
masters who wrote in the epoch making
days, in the early formative period Of
each country.
When we want TO teach the pupils oil
heroes and heroic ages why should we
not teach the stories as they are told by
the real masters?
Mr.. Hutchison asked Mr.. Winship to
name half dozen living authors whose
works are OF real value.
Prof. John Dickinson spoke for half
an hour on algebra. He showed the
great Importance of algebra and claimed
that pupils should begin it much earlier
than usual and that 1t should take the
place OF much of the arithmetic and
geometry now taught. Prof. Dickinson
attacked the courses of study as now
followed in most parts OF California.
State Superintendent Anderson took
issue with Prof. Dickinson and stated
that Whatever shortcomings there were
should be charged to the teachers for
lack of interest and use of authority.
Prof. O. |. d. Moore of Santa Monica
read q paper on geometry, giving the
details OF q working plan for regular
school room work.
He showed many faults of the ordi-
nary work done in geometry and gave
many valuable hints which were appre-
ciated.
The discussion which followed was
very animated and was participated in
by Messrs. Long. Dozier, Hutton, Gra-
ham and Hutchison.
@Mrs. S. A. Sears OF Seattle. who had
crossed swords with Mr.. Winship. took
the floor and begged pardon of tho pres
ident and members for presuming to
address body OF teachers simply be-
cause she WAS teacher, and that. too.
upon the subject of literature. which.
she had been so kindly informed. mad
been settled 80 years ago. She was
glad to know that the living writer's
were really great. 1t is always pleasant
to be acquainted with men of Reniua.
In the afternoon the institute met in