The herald., 1894-01-31

environment aud proper nurture; be
would develop the child through its own
properly directed activities.
Mrs. Pierce next gave clear and
concise explanation OF the methods OF
the kindergsrtens in their attempt to
meet tho child's needs. She next con-
sidered the Importance OF the kinder
gartens as a part OF the public school
system. The hand training. the heart
culture, the quickened senses, the self
control that children bring from the
kindergarten to the primary school
shorten the tirs necessary in the other
grades. point Of great Importance when
we consider the short period the major
ity OF children spend in school. Mrs.
Pierce closed with an eloquent plea for
the adoption of the kindergarten az a
part of the public school.
SCHOOL SUFFRAGE FOR WOMEN.
An earnest letter from Mrs. Caroline
M. Severance of Los Angeles was next
read, in which she urged the parliament
to act as one woman to secure school
suffrage for women, that they may have
power to make the schools what they
wish.
The next paper: The High School /;
Should 1t Be Maintained at the Public
Expense? was read by Mrs. Mary Ben
nett Goodcell of San Bernardino. She
said:
Underlying oil other public questions
is this OF the higher education. I'm
portant in every civilized nation, it is
here of paramount interest. How to
increase our attendance at school; how
to lower abserteeism how to waste no
money, no energy, no time, but to make
every effort tell what methods are best,
what studies are essential, what inf1u-
ences are to be stimulated how
to reach the hearts, the minds,
the condolences of these children ;
what ideals to put before them-these
are matters of profound CONCERN. The
future of this republic is committed to
these children, and not to one or the
other OF the great political parties The
main point is to give him the beet and
most valuable formula, the clearest and
most definite rule; to exercise wise
discretion in these first processes OF sci
entifc education and to form those
habits of attention and accuracy without
which the work of the teacher at any
period of school life will be practically
abortive. 1t is at this period that it is
made not only necessary that the stu
dent shall understand, but that it shall
not be possible for him not to under
stand. 1t is becoming more and more
apparent that in the education of the
masses lies the safety of liberty that
the reputation OF country is but the
reputation OF it's leaders; that the char
acter OF country ia the character of it's
schools, and that il one intellectual or
moral giant is the product of such train
ing this whole humanity is proportion
ally blessed.
The people have not understood nor
have they sufficiently valued the high
school. And on tine other hand, the
high school has not duly appreciated it's
own work and influence beyond the cir
! Gle OF individuals it mas enrolled. trained
and recognized. The people have not
realized the extent to which this public
tone, the commercial intereste and the
political convictions and policies of the
nation are affected by the thinking,
scholarly minds who dwell in the upper
regions Of thought, retiring through
preference from public gaze and free
from political ambition. There is a
great wall between the college and the
community; com paratively few persons
are able to attend college. They have
the brains, without money, without self
| appreciation, without knowledge of
the easy way into the ways OF knowl-
| edge. Settled early in trade, the claims
Of business and family render forever
impossible educational opportunities.
They learn to regard the higher educa-
ton as ''superhuous," few may need
| it but not the many. The high school
I is the college of the nRsaes. 1t is within
the reach of the humblest mechanic. 1t
ia American in the fullest sense of the
word, for American needs, fostering and
engendering love OF the country and
respect for law.
Mrs. Goodcell read her paper with full,
rich voice and was listened to with close
attention.
Tie discussion which followed was
pointed and spirited.
The evening session was devoted to
the Poverty problem.
The first paper on Bricks Without
Straw was given by Myrs d. Campbell
of Los Angeles, aud was an eloquent and
sympathetic argument for relief meas-
uree for the poor.
The subject: Can the Incompetent
Be Made Self.supporting? was eented
by Rev. Ada G. Bowles, pastor of Uni
verHalist church, Pomona.
Miss Bowles distinguished between
incompetency and incapability. The
state assumes charge of incapables.
The two missing essentials in incom-
petents are gumption and grit. She
touched on causes OF incompetency, and
spoke forcibly against unrestricted emil
grafton of the past 35 years. and la
mented the handicapped condition of
women which has prevented their effec-
tive work in removing social obstacles.
She urged the kindergarten and Sloyd
and polytechnic high school as the
greatest possible preventives of incom.
petents.
She advanced the adoption of an in
dustrial and educational department in
connection with the Associated Chart
ties, which shall make incompetents
self-supporting. The rest of the paper
showed the practical workings OF such
department.
The evening closed with an able dis
custom OF the papers presented.
TomorrOw's Programme.
The proceedings tomorrow will in
| = ~