The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-12-29

Provo, Dec 2S.-This morning there
was witnessed another importing of ed
ucators, which gave the streets OF
Provo an enlivened appearance. 1t was
nearly 10 O'Clock when all were seated
in the auditorium of the academy
building. On the stand were to be seen
the familiar faces of President G. H.
Rrimhau. DR.. ]. R. Park, Professor
Joseph T. Kingsbury. Professor Benja-
min Cuff, jr., and superintendent AL
lison.
The first business before the conven-
ton was to add an amendment TO the
constitution of the association, prov1d-
ing for the assessment of fee of 90
cents to defray certain expenses which
have been incurred. The executive
committee adopted the plan of pinning
a badge upon each person who had
paid the fee, which would be prima
facie evidence of having done so.
EDUCATIONAL WASTES.
superintendent Oldham, of Cache
county, read a paper upon the subject
wherein are We Internationally Waste
full
1.-The title of this paper" said he,
seems to indicate that there is waste
in carrying on the work of our educa-
tional system. 1 do not think that this
can be truthfully denied, for there is
waste in all the operations of man. and
it can scarcely be expected, in systems
as extensive and complicated as our
educational systems are, that the ele-
ment of waste will not enter, more or
less. To absolutely prevent waste, is
impossible To endeavor to reduce it
to a minimum, is a most laudable pur-
pose.
-
also designate it, is especially worthy
of consideration at this time, on &C
count of the conditions that surround
US. We have had a number Of years Of
financial stringency, economically call
ed hard times. and this, with the ad-
vent of statehood; the recent adoption
of an entirely free school system, and
the necessity of erecting expensive
buildings to accommodate our school
population, together with the other ex-
I penseS of government, both local and
general, have given the people abund-
| ant reason to complain of high taxes,
and to demand of all entrusted with
| governmental affairs, an economical
| administration.
| Among the suggestions made for the
elimination of waste were the follow
ing: the state board of education should
have power to make examination ques-
|
| able persons should be eliminated from
the ranks Of teachers; the present dis
trict organization system should be re-
placed by county boards of education;
county truant officers should enforce
| the compulsory law.
'The pleasures, the aims, of a large
part of society are destructive of that
which the school attempts to build up
| hence this waste of energy, of time
81 - Irfl - Il
of society. Parents, also, are response
BILE for a great educational waste There
Is a strong spirit of retrogression abid-
! ing in many homes. They take but lit
| tie interest in the training of theiI
children, and that training is often OF
a, perfunctory character. Their chill
dren are not sent to school regularly
nor for a sufficient time each year, tC
firmly established in their minds the
ideas taught
1T would be well if the attendance
at our schools could be made more uni
form. Our present law requires 2
weeks attendance each year, but tina
ten weeks only. OF this time, shall b.
consecutive. 1 certainly favor a chang
that would require the child to atten,
the whole period specified, consecutive
ly; and that the time should be ex
tended to 80 weeks each year. if tn
and, further, that the compulsory ag
shall be from seven to Il years; sub
ject, Of course. TO those exception
noted by the present statute"
Thousands OF dollars are wasted b.
the purchase of useless apparatus
there is danger of waste in imprope
arrangement of the order of studies.
Great educational waste comes frOr
employing unqualified teachers. Muc
.4,.J 8
fort flies wide of its aim, many char
acters are left uniformed. or are de
formed; in short the pile of social rub
Dish heaped up by unqualified teach
er5 is growing higher and higher, yea
by year. The great educational neces
sity Of our state is thoroughly quail
fed practitioners in the science and al
of teaching. When we reflect that on
of over 1000 teachers employed in tn
schools Of the state, there are 500 c
, them that have received no norma
training; and but IS per cent ~
graduates of any normal school, co
lege, or high school, we can begin 1
: realize the amount of unskilled wor
that is being done, from the first state
ment. and what a lack OF SCHOLARSHIP
is revealed by the. second one.
: Again, I am of the opinion that OF
} teachers begin their work at too earl
from teaching until they are IS yeal
old, but L think this restriction shoul
apply to all under 20Y
The 3. Y a. Guitar and MandOli
D club played the Danube" waltz.
THE PAPER DISCUSSED.
: Professor j. A. Smith of Ogden can
+ forward and led the discussion upC
p the paper read by Professor Oldham
: He took issue with the latter upon 4
subject of examinations, contendir
a that in a state like this, where scho
a systems are comparatively new, e.
p aminations should be left to the ioc
+ board who are familiar with the ci
. cumstances and environments. Al
\ other subject touched upon by Pr
n fessor Oldham was in reference to Il
y apparatus used in the school room. NJ
q Smith did not believe that the teae
ers were to be trusted with the wo-
q of ordering what they require in Il
way of apparatus. Teachers are a
to have hobbies. Those who are espet
ally interested in geography would
apt to fill the room with apparatus f
conducting this study, to the negle
. Of other studies. The same would a
- ply to the mathematical lobbyist.
Several of the teachers devoted f
Il minutes to discussion of the ma
- questions raised in the paper,
v PROFESSOR MILLsPAUGHs P
y PER.
= Professor j. T. MiHspaugh read
a able and highly instructive paper
" the subject of relative merits of te
= hook instruction and oral instruct :,