Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-22
TRAINING THECHILD.
kindergarten Work Elaboratsly Discussed
Yesterday Morning.
SECONDARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM.
The Report of the Committee Of Ten Con.
sidered In the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
at the Temple.


Tho second days session Of the Depart
ment OF SUPERINTENDENT OF the National
Educational Association began In the nan
Of the Young Mems Christian Association
at II o'clock yesterday morning President
Kiehle filled the chair. and the attendance
was quite gratifying. being almost as
large as on the evening previous. In the
audience were quite a number of ladies Of
the city more or less Interested in edu-
cational work. Superintendent Massey ana
many OF the county and city superintehd-
ents OF the State were also on hand
The discussions were Of decidedly an
ferent nature from those on Tuesday. AS
stated in yesterdays Dispatch 1t was I'M
possible for Mr. Melvil Dewey to be here
to read his paper on THE Library and the
Public Schools on account Of his SICK
ness. II was Just about II o'clock when
the visitors returned from their morning
drive about the city and assembled in
the Young Mems Christian Association
Hall for work.
RELATION OF THE KINDERGARTEN.
The first discussion was on THE Kin
dergarten in its relation TO the public
school system" and upon this topic Mr..
John L. Hughes, inspector Of schools OF
Toronto Canada, read a most interest
ing paper. This gentleman began his re-
marks by saving that his chief object In
suggesting this subject for discussion MAS
that the words "kindercarten" and
school might not be continually used as
If they referred 10 distinct or distanty
related institutions. The public schools
should include whatever was best for the
fullest development Of the desirable ale-
ments Of human power and character.
Touching upon the obligation OF a State in
respect to the education Of children the
speaker said that il was not fair that
some children should have better treat
mcnt from the State than others. If the
/ Kindergarten was truly the most stimu-
lating educational process at a certain
period Of child's development, all chill
drcn were entitled 20 its advantages. IL
should. then, not be an appcndage to the
public-school system. but part Of It.
Mr.. Hughes here treated at some length
inc mental conditions of young children,
poftraying comprchonsiVely the differences
between them.
EAkEN GENERAL GROWTH.
lh're were few who did not now be-
,,I'He' ne SAID, that the processes Of learn
US I'dulhE' writing spelling. numbers.
o. ny So lessons weaken interest and
prevent Iuil and general cerebral growth
Whcn forced on children too soon The
true sequence in intellectual growth was
reception reflection. and execution. The
/ first two were Of little use without the
/ third and the third was the only sure
means for the fullest culture Of the others
Inc speaker here made an elaborate dis
cussion on these points to bear out the
/ statement made by him.
lie said That the pupils mind could
not reach its best DEVELOPMENTS so lOng
/ as II remained Il passive instrument for
receiving stimulus from another mind
and transmitting IL 20 the body for exc
cution. The mind of the child should be
cXeCutiVcly active.
The kindergarten was the only educa-
tional system that fully recognized this
/ fact, and the equally important fact that
I the child should perform this complete
educational process from the beginning
of its educational course.
EVOKED MUCH DISCUSSION.
Intelligent, independent. conscious, self
activity IN Response To self-gulding mo-
tives in properly differentiated lines of
work was stimulated by the kinderCar-
ten. No other school processes yet dis
covered accomplish these purposes 50
naturally and so thoroughly as the kin
dergarten. Mr.. Hughes made an able
defence Of the kindergarten. showing
It's great advantages in the training OF
young children, and made an urgent ap-
peal for their general installation as a
part Of the public-schOOl system.
At the close of Mr.. Hughes admirable
paper there was 2 great deal Of general
discussion upon the subject of kinder
/ gartens, in which Superintendent W y.
! Mailman, Of Washington; Superintendent
Radkin. Of Michigan; Barring, of New
Jersey; Greene, Of North Carolina.
Schaeffer. of Pennsylvania: McAllister. Of
/ Philadelphia; Miss Harrison, Of Norfolk,
| Va, and others took part.
Superintendent Greene, Of North Caro-.
lima. made an able argument in behalf
OF the Kindergarten, in which he set
| forth the necessity for a proper distlnc-
ton between the play and work
Ex-Superintendent James McAllister. OF
| very object az the Kindergarten was "a
destroy the distinction between play and
| work. go
Superintendent Sheats. of jacksonville
| Fla, impressed upon the body the i'm
| portance Of existing the aid Of mother.
| in these kindergarten schools.
| At tho conclusion Of this discussion the
BODY adjourned until o'clock for lunch
Meet In Cleveland Next Year.
| There was present the same interested
! audience when President Kiehle called TIN
! department 10 order in the afternoon.
| Before the rcCuldrly-set discussion beSai
| the Chair announced that the time had ar
| rived when il was customary to decld
! upon tie place where the next annia
/ meeting Of the department would be held
1t was agreed that this matter should b'
acted upon at once, ana Superintendent
| Maxwell of Brooklyn, urged the BODY Il
select Cleveland; Q. some one else pro
cided to 20 to cleveland. The date Is L
| be decided on later
| THE FAMOUS REPORT.
The only other matter considered durin'
| the session was the report of the com
| Association on The Curriculum for Sc
| cOndary Schools
| lion. William r. Harris. United State
! Commissioner Of Education, read yer,
| strong paper on sustaining the commit
| tee The discussion was lengthy and wide
| spread. Commissioner Harris gave "A clea
| resume of the famous report upon So
condary schools He gave an elaborai
| statement as to the philosophy OF public
! school education. The four educationa
| forces for MANTLE family. civil society
! the state. and the Churcn-Were trcatet
by the speaker in his discussion. Tn
school gave. a man access to the wisdom
/ OF the world.
a volume of "everal hundred pages. an
! only the salient features were touched
| upon by the commissioner
! After his CONCLUSION the 1lscusSion WI
resumed by Superintendent Maxwell. o
I brooklyn. who spoke against the report
/ Or A. r. Nightingale. OF chicago; Presi
! dent Charles DcGarmo. OF Swarthsmor
/ College Pennsylvania; Superintenden
/ Greenwood. OF Kansas city, and other
! also engaged in the arguments, whicl
! were quite lively and interesting.
Dr. Curry was called upon by the Chai
| for any remarks n might desire 10 make
! He thanked the President for the com
I plimont paid him. and assured him ina
| he would offer such suggestions from INN
10 time during the deliberations as migh
| occur 10 him.
The department then took a recess unit
| $50 o'clock.
Last Nights Discussion.
At night the attendance was somewha
diminished by the threatening weather
Two splendid papers were read, however
on Education nj the Columbian EXposl
ton" The first dealt with the educa
tionai contribution OF the exhibit, o.
| which the Hon John Eaton. eX-Commis
! sioner OF Education of the United States
presented an admirable and comprehen
sive address. General Eaton began b.
IL A Wnok ni0ectinn