Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-02-11

flied for her position as County super
intendent.
Principal A. r.. Jolley is entitled to
credit for securing the institute here,
and in making it a success; and ne
evidently realizes that as these insti-
tutes become better known they will
grow Gas they should in popular favor
They educate the public as well as the
teachers.
PROF. GILLAN's LECTURE.
In addition to the regular work
there was a lecture on Friday evening
at the city hall by Prof. Gillian on
Educational Progress" He opened
by showing how in the past the
thoughts of men centralized upon self.
This was true both individually and
nationally "The other fellows" were
only bond servants. The Romans
called all barbarians, outside Of their
citizenship. TO the Germans there
was nothing beyond the mountains"
But Christianity as the dawn of the
new civilization opened the eyes OF
men. They began to see that there
were other rights as well as their own,
and that "the other fellow" had
brains rs well as self. This has been
II very slow process, but it has always
gone forward. Slowly the people OF II
community realize that there are other
communities, equally good, and that
their town Is not the hub OF the uni
verse. This idea Of decentralization
In reference to our position and rights
in life Is always coming to the front.
The ocean, which in the past kept
great continents apart, has become n
commercial highway, by reason of our
splendid steamers. Nations in this
way are brought together into close
commercial and social relations.
without that ocean they might have
stood apart for centuries. So the
mountains are no longer impossible
barriers, for by their tunnels they be-
come the gateways Of nations. The
same progress marked the history of
our public school system, And this
progress could be noted by the number
of crude things we left behind, and
the crude ideas we had outgroWn.
Among these, he mentioned the old,
cold and uncomfortable school house,
and where there were seats marked
"paupers for those who were too
poor to pay any tuition. We have
come, he said, into the Benlah land of
free schools, but we should make them
altogether free by having free text
books. The taxation for this, he said
would be small. He argued this point
Mt length, and said II was as reasona-
bic and logical as free school houses,
teachers, fuel, etc He also referred
to the passing away of old text books,
the arlthmetics and the
readers. The former with It's duodeci-
mails and allegations, and the latter
with its lessons in austere theology,
with the present text books,
show the progress we have made. He,
Prof. Gillian, quoted from them to prove
this point He also spoke about the
change in the idea of school discipline.
This was great advance. We are
now, he said, engaged in child study,
The old idea was to make the child
learn. and not to spare the rod If he
did not. The lesson Is now assigned,
AS Of old, but we the teachers guide
the child and try to find out the cause
Or the motive why he does not study.
II the child is brought into near rela-
lions with his teacher In this way, he
may be made to study in Il why that
no fear of the rod could bring to pass.
The lecturer illustrated this by show
ng how lying might come from
variety of causes or motives such rs
cruelty, malice, revenge, cowardice,
vanity, etc, and that we cured lying
by removing the causes. The lying in
such cases was only the symptom,
The old idea of school discipline dealt
with the symptoms. Child study told
rs to deal with the disease or motive
Of action In this way, the dull boy
ms u chance, rs II careful study and
interest In his case might discover
some point of character which, deyel-
oped under proper training, might
make a splendid man out Of the most