The herald., 1895-11-26
Assemblage OF Pedagogues of
the City and County
INTERESTING ADDRESSES
By Prominent Educators, Both Local
and Northern
Exhaustive Discussions Upon Methods OF
ruction-Tcchnical Work Done
In the Various Sections

The Los Angeles City Institute vas
opened ut o'clock yesterday morning at
the auditorium of the high school. Nearly
xll Of the 800 teachers of the city answer
ed to their names at roll call. The ihsti-
tute then sang America, after which the
invocation was offered by Rev. Warren +.
Day.
City Superintendent ]. A. Foshay made
few remarks concerning the condition
of the city schools. lie stated that in
1885 the number of teachers in this city
was seventy one, that IN 1892 the mum Der
had increased to 202, that in June OF this
year the number was 2Sl, and that there
are at present 80, not including subst
tute teachers. Last June there were en-
rolled 1851 pupils. In September the
number was II 900. For the increase of
1888 pupils there we're but 10 schoolrooms
avallable, or an average OF 1Oo new
scholars for each new school room.
1t was impossible to put the names OF
all good workers on the program, he
said. but he was sure that many of thnse
whose names DO not appear will add
greatly to the interest of the work by
earnest ana able discussion Of all subjects.
The speaker then eXhorted tho teachers
to do NOR professional reading ana to
put in more time at scientific child
study. He was sure that when the new
school buildings were ready for use a n
era of great prosperity for the schools
would begin.
Superintendent T. II. Kirk of San Ber-
naruino was the next SPEAKER. He de-
livered an extended ador ss on the sub.
iect If study in school government. He
was of the opinion that there is too lose
confinement OF the pupils in most school
rooms. There should be as much liberty
for the individual as is consistent with
ho i,rh Of at hat
qualities Tor teachers he would choose
Judgment, deliberation, swifin.ss IN con-
clusiun, executive ability and kindness.
Teachers should turn their faces from
the past with all its m stakes and errors
and should seek to live closer to the
hearts OF the children. They should
no, efully hail the dawn of a new genera
ton
After recess of twenty minutes the
high school orcht stra perform eda beau
tiiul selection with considerable skill.
Mrs. Laura e. Riddell OF San Diego
made an excellent address ON the subject
of the Engl language. She deprecated
the common habit OF careless pIonuncia-
ton and enunciation. She illustrated
her remarks by placing various combina-
tions OF letters on the blackboard.
Among them were the following to indi-
cate tbs conversation OF the average man:
Wyeh, wyheu, Inc deb, Stub call uts;
whicb, bv inter pr citation is How are you
How are you? How are you? Fine day.
So | call it.
Write down the average conversation
of your boys ana zee how utterly incOr-
rect it is" Mrs. Riddell related Der ex-
perience with her own bows, who used
slang and street talk to the almost entire
exclusion of good English. She acquired
his language and SPOKE TO blm therei n
till The GOV was uisgusted and sought re-
lief in good English. \ San Diego teacn-
er had much success in correcting the
language of children by telling stories
that were interesting and were couched
IN the pest language.
IF we could see the great benefit that
Is to he derived from good language work
We would devote the greater part OF our
time to its teaching and requirement"
Miss Agnes Crsr OF the normal scnool
spoke on the two aspects of En- sh
work in the public school. she said in
part: "We are all troubled over the same
thing. We stumble at the same places.
The college and the public complain
that the public schools do not aid the
pupils in Mastering language. TO teach
literature we'll it is necessary to love
both teaching and literature. Tue inabil-
ity to express thought shows lack of cul-
ture. 1t is no longer considered a sign
of deep thought, but as sign Of its alb
sencc. the range OF subjects suitable
for class reading is necessarily very linz
tied. We must often repeat the same
things to different classes. Unless we
ale file. with the spirit of the beauty of
literature we are apt to become mummi
fed. Such a poem as the lode to a
Grecian Urn" is in itself calm delight.
1t is necessary to be great reader in Or
der to be able to select what is tttest for
illustration. The great question is, what
does the child need, not what does he
want. Most of us who teach literature
are flesh and bloc women AMI have to
put in so time on other thoughts.
There ar times when we are weary over
our work all day and all night. We must
do the best we can while we are doing.
question the propriety OF keeping the
pupils of tDe eighth or ninth grades so
long on the study of such poems as 1.-The
Lady OF the Lake" Fifty per cent of
the pupils leave school befure the age OF
IL years; 70 per cent leave school before
they reach the age OF t.. We need to
guard against the CONNIE habit of teach.
ing boys and girls as if they were but
larger infants.