The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1897-07-17
National Educational Association.

| "duhcS, Situlu bS IiOhu'tiNt VI 81 Cd
good in the cause of education. livery
phase of the great problem of the edu-
cation Of the masses was discussed, the
difficulties and dangers pointed out and
ways and means suggested to overcome
those difficulties.
Discussing the subject, Extremes in
Education" 0. L. Corson, State Com.
missioner of Common schools, Column
bus, O., referred 10 two classes of ex-
tremists-''those who are satisfied with
everything that has been done in the
past and have no desire for improve
ment, and those who are dissatistied
with everything hat has been or is and
demand constant changes. Between
these two classes the teachers OF the
public schools are in constant danger on
the one hand of falling into tina; state of
! dissatisfaction which means profess
sional decay and death, and. on the
! other hand, Of becoming the victims OF
an educational policy SO unstable as to
result in the most superficial work in
the schoOlroom, and the loss of conf
dence on the part of the common people
in our public schools. The first extreme
| discussed is found in the tendency in
some sections of the country to ignore
| the people in the management of their
| schools While it is true that the very
safety Of our government neCesstates
| that our public schools be kept free
! from the interference and influence of
! both political demagogues and sectarlan
| fanatics, yet at the same time it Is
| neither wise nor necessary that in free
| ing ourselves from the reign OF the
| demagogue we institute the reign of the
autocrat. All educational advancement
| and reform must have their roots deep
down in the hearts of the people. We
| need boards of education representa-
tive of the best their is in the commun-
itv elected by the people and respons-
Ible to the people. and teachers and
superintendents whose tenure of Otti ce
Is secure enough to encourage faithful
ness and efficiency, but not so secure as
to make possible permauency in spite
of laziness, lncompetency aud lneiiici-
ency.
The other extreme was found in the
tendency to overcrowd courses of study,
thereby making impossible the develop
ment OF ability on the part of pupils to
do continuous, independent, hard work.
While no one doubts that boys and girls
can get scores of lessons III as many diff
ierent subjects each dav, vet it is a mat
ting they will develop the power of con
tinuous application so necessary to sue
cess. While a reasonable and sensible
correlation of studies will aid in this
work, 1t does not, by any means remove
the difficulties, and the seDseless eX-
treme to which this great principle is
CARRIED by some theorists Is Il matter of
sincere regret to the earnest, practical
teachers of the day. This extreme is
equaled only bv the extreme to which
the grandest of all studies-the study of
the chlld-is carried by some persons
who are far more ANXIOUS to have a
reputation for being original investiga-
tors than to know the child in his real
condition.
Miss Reel thought "the civil service
reform idea should be applied to teach
ing. Generai government clerks are APP
pointed for four years. why not teach
erS be employed for the same length OF
time? Anxiety concerning reappoint-
ment initiates against good work dur
ing the latter part of the school year.
appointments for not less than four
years would Increase the effectiveness
of school work"
There is no denying that, whatever
may be the evils of a lack of desire for
improvement on old methods, that an
unstable educational policy, the con-
slant changing of methods, text books
and teachers, has resulted in greater
evils, and lack of confidence on the part
of the people in the public schools is
not the least of them. Our educators
must be more stable in their meth
DDS, more conservative of we'll I'M
derstood principles, and more sensitive
| Of the immediate educational needs of
| the people if our public schools are to
| be a success.
! While all those who have the inter
ests of our public schools at hcart agree
as to the necessity of having boards OF
education representative Of the best
| there is in the community, it is hard to
! see how such boards are to be elected
| by popular suffrage without the inter
| ference and influence of the demagogue.
1t might be that the peupie would rise
superior to the Corrupring influences
brought to bear in municipal contests,
and elect men of ability and integrity
if they were called upon to say who
should manage their schools. At all
events they would then be responsible
and responsibility should. in school
matters particularly, he an incentive to
the exercise Of scrupulous care.
AS for the four-years' term for teach
ers, we believe it would result in yrea,
good. OF course a school board should
not be compelled to keep an unfit per
son, but, the teacher being reasonably
competent and progressive and of good
character, 1t would be better for all con
cerned to adopt the four-years term
As Miss Reel says it would increase the
Many interesting and instructive ad.
dresses were delivered the most inter.