The herald., 1896-02-09
The Los Angeles County Body
Meet at the High School
A SUPERFICIAL EDUCATION
Declared to Be the Only Kind Useful
and Practical
Classics and Electricity CIash-A Sketch OF
tie Farm OF the Future The Teacn-
ings OF History

The Los Angeles County Educational
association met at the high school i'll this
city yesterday at 10 a. m.
Prof. j. d. Graham of Pasadena occupied
the chair. After the reading of the min
utes of the previous session, Prof. George
S. Hull of Chambersburg, Pa, delivered a
very instructive lecture on the subject of
electricity. His remarks were illustrated
by the use of some of the latest chemical
apparatus. H } stated that seeds electrified
for two minutes will sprout i'll half the time
required for other seeds. OF two plants
growing side by side, ono usually absorbs
the local electrical force and grows moro
rapidly. Plants are found to grow most
rapidly between 4 and g o'clock a. IN.
Plants that grow in the dark are light IN
color, but those that grow in the light of
electric lamps are of the usual green color.
Thunder storms invgoraee plant and
animal life because of the electrical in
fluence. he gave a remarkable lesson on
the influence OF bacteria on the roots of
plants and their use in helping in the ab-
sorbing OF nitrogen. Many important facts
of use to farmers and fruit growers were
given at length Professor Hull then gave
an Imaginative sketch OF the farm of the
future, operated almost entirely by the aid
of electricity. The destruction of insects,
weeds, tramps, burglars and other pests
was outlined in graphic and comicai de-
tail. The many useful appliances for the
convenience of the good housewife OF the
future we're described.
Professor Fred 9. Foster of Pasadena
gave an aole and iconoclastic address on
superficial education. He said in part:
simultaneously with attacks on others of
our institutions have been those upon q
tried and productive educational system.
These attacks are made by two classes
of men.
The first is easily disposed of. 1t con-
sists of cheap demaGogues who, despairing
of becoming noted, have determined to be
at least notorious and are able to fight their
way towards this questionable goal with
no other weapon than that with which Sam
son slew the Phlistines.
The other class is made up of men
worthy of all respect-men who are con-
scientiollsly trying to better educational
methods, but who. as it seems to me, are
prone to use old saws and catch-words in
lieu of argument
whatever is worth doing at all is worth
doing WE'LL" they quote. "a little knowl-
edge is a dangerous thing" we are re-
minded. The word ''smattering'' figures
largely in their utterances. The truth in
the sayings themselves serves to conceal
the error of their application. Since
Charles Francis Adams. jr., published his
article, A College Fetish. in the New York
lnuepenuent, apout Htteen years ago,
there has been a hue and cry raised
against the study of the classics. Our
courses were said to be over-crowded, and
these, stignatlzed as "dead languages"
were dec a"ed least necessary.
If anything was needed to prove this idea
untrue. it was the vigor OF the general pro-
test Mr.. Adams article evoked.
Since that time attacks have multiplied,
not alone upon individual studies or meth
DDS, but upon the entire educational sys-
tenn.
The whole question hinges on the pur-
pose of education.
The would-be reformers would early de-
velop special proc.ivities; "educate along
the lines of least resistance,"
Their system might give us prodgies, it
is true, but no less would it give us mon
strosites.
There is indeed a place for specialization
Tor strong specialization. but its place is
not in the grammar school, nor in the sec
ondary school, nor yet in the college.
No one may reasonably question the
value OF the law course, the medical school
or any other OF the special schools of q
university proper, but they presuppose q
broad, fundamental training, and this
training must, in one sense, be a superb
cal training. 1t is as Indispensable to a
wel-conducted scheme of education as is
the backing of inferior metal to a keen
edged AK.
Education, l take it, is not primarily in
tended to promote the power of money
getting; rather to develop, in proper pro-
portion, physical, mental and moral pow
ers to their highest degree OF perfection.
Even from the utlitaran standpoint, it
would be of doubtful good TO sea an ap-
prentice building houses before he had
learned the use of tools and the quality of
materials.
In the body we would hardly feel ii
wise to develop arms alone as do the canos
Indians of Puget sound, and allow our legs
to become useless, nay, a positive disad-
vantage.
The mind, like the body, is many-sided,
and needs many-sided course of develop
ment.
The mind, like the body, has it's Iimita-
tions OF strengthening with years. Under
stand, however, that superficial knowledge
does not preclude thoroughness. Let it be
thorough as far as it goes, though in the
sense that grinding is thorough as applied
to tools. care not how much of arithme.
tical rule remains with the child if it has
served to develop in him quick and exact
thinking.
Prof. Frank J. Policy of Pasadena spoke
at length on the teaching of history. He
stated that much of the present work on
that subject is too dry for the pupils be-
cause it is too difficult and of too remote
interest.
Several suggestions for the revision of
the school laws were read, and the opinion
OF the assembly was taken upon each.
Those that were propositions for warrants
unpaid to bear interest, the ninth years
work to be a part of the High school
course, the county board to be selected by
the teachers, all certificates to be valid
throughout the state, the High school to
have the same support Dy taxation as
other schools, all country teache IS to have
visiting day twice year, and the kinder.
Rarten to be made a part of the regular
school course. Those that were voted
down were for the payment of salaries by
the year, for certificates to lapse after
being unused for two years, and for the
course of study to be uniform tIroughout
Che state.
Professor Smith of Santa Monica moved
Chat the secretary send notice of meetings
to all the teachers in the county. Pro
fessor Hutchison opposed the motion or
the ground OF unnecessary expense and the
carelessness of most teachers; they usually
required the same brass band and free
lunch entertainment that was fashionable
at saloon openings and public auctions
Professor Dickinson spoke against the pre-
vailing mode of turning out "teachers'
from the normal schools who were little
more than grammar grade misses.
The association adjourned to meet at the
same place on the second Saturday o.
April.
Delightful Seaside Trip
Is to Santa Monica over the Southern Pa
cific, going via the beautiful Soldiers
Hn~o nd To arn tbo lDnn act