The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-05-20

| tury after his death that the people be
gan to realize and appreciate the value
4 OF his work.
| The truths which he endeavored to
carry out, like the seed which fell upon
| good ground, are springing up and
| bringing forth hundred fold.
| The whole world seems TO he awak-
ening 10 the fact that children are not
miniature men and women; but that
/ they are physically, Intellectually and
morally different from their elders
This being true the problem which
confronts educators can only be solved
| by careful experiment and the study Of
child-nature.
In 1879 Mrs. Quincy Shaw in Boston
began the work of child-study in the
United States. She made an attempt
TO discover what the minds of the chill
| dren under her charge contained.
Since that time the interest has grad
| ually grown until every earnest, pro-
| gressive teacher is devoting some time
| to its consideration.
Among the most prominent leaders in
| The movement in our country are DR.. G..
| Stanley Hall, Colonel Francis Parker,
| DR.. Earl Barnes. Leland Stanford and
DR.. Krohn of the university of Illinois.
| This study seems TO naturally divide
| itself into three forms one of which is
to observe the child at his work and
play and take notice of his actions and
expressions, the object being to learn
| TO understand him.
! Another form consists Of examining
a number of children of a certain age
and comparing their stages of develop
ment both physical and mental
1 I, e T. 20. h1-fu n
which to judge children For instance
in the schools Of St Mary's, Ohio. af-
ter an examination of about twelve
| hundred pupils the following conclus-
| ions among others were reached:
Boys are more nervous than girls in
the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and
seventh grades.
The largest number OF nervous pupils
is found IN second, third and ninth
grades.
Fifteen per cent Of the pupils had de-
fective eyes. Four per cent are very
strong. The largest percentage of
weak eyes is found in the fourth grade.
An effort is being made 10 learn more
of child-nature by finding out by what
fears, hopes and beliefs 1t is influenced.
Much of the data can only be gather
| ed by parents but a teacher may do a
! great deal that will be of definite value
TO herself and pupils.
Simple tests of vision will reveal to
| her the necessity of seating some pu-
| pills nearer the black board.
Quiet observations may prove that
! the inattention of the troublesome boy
\ on the back seat is due TO his inability
TO hear we'll
The child who presents stubborn
| and warlike disposition may be hunger
! ing for a sympathy which he fails to
receive in his home life.
| The greatest advantage that has been
| derived so far is that it has changed
the attitude of the teacher toward the
pupil by arousing her interest and
sympathy, and as consequence her
burdens have been lightened and work
| pleasanter.
AS DR.. McMurray has said: '"The
| best result of all viii be not so much
an increase of scientific knowledge but
| a common sense ability to appreciate
| childrenS physical and mental needs"
| At the conclusion of the commence
| ment essays Superintendent Dyer adj
dressed the class briefly and although
not an eloquent gentleman his short
talk was replete with good sense and
brim full of good advice to the gradu-
ates His talk was really a splendid
thing and it was so accepted by the
audience.
President Herman then presented the
diplomas and Rev. Burns delivered the
benedictiOn