Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-12
Prominent Pedagogues Discuss the
Important Subject.
THEIR VIEWS ON CONSTANT STUDIES
Better Education Necessary for
High School Teachers.
TERESTING PAPERS

The departments of secondary and higher
education held joint session yesterday
afternoon at Columbian University Hall.
There was good attendance, and close
attention was paid the papers read and
the discussion which followed. The first
paper was read by DR.. James M. Green Of
the Trenton, N. j., Normal School, who
considered the questions: Are there studies
that, as constants. should be pursued in
some measure in every course in the sec
ondary schools, and in the freshman and
sophomore years of the college? If So.
what are these constants, and what should
be the minimum requirement in each in
these six years?"
DR.. Green said: 1.-THE basis of all of our
theories of education should be the careful
observation of what seems to best fit the
youth for the experiences he is likely to
meet in life, and at the same time. for the
fulfillment of the highest possibilities of
the soul, two objects which, while they
may seem to diverge, are in harmony.
THE question we are to discuss Is, Are
there studies that, as constants, should be
pursued in every course in the secondary
schools and at least two years in the col
lege?'
I'VE should precede this question with
another: Are there lines of mental activ-
ity that are common and continuous. the
product of which depends upon the rela
activity appear and require for their COM
petent discipline given proportion of time
each week during the six years III question,
this time should be accorded.
This is in contrast and opposition to the
plan that seems to have gained consider
able credence. that there is an Individual
ity possessed by the different minds that
warrants a kind of catch as catch cam
mind where 1t seems to be interest ed and
develop it from that standpoint
There appear to be at least three lines
of mental action that are common and con-
tinuous
THE school nomenclature of these three
lines are mathematics, language and his
tory.
Mathematics.
Mathematics should include arithmetic,
algebra, geometry, trigonometry and
analytical geometry.
AT first glance these different names
might seem to represent different subjects,
but to the psychologist they represent sim
ply progressive phases of the same SUBJ
Ject. 1t is mathematics that trains what
might be termed the measuring abso-
uteiy comparative faculty Of the human
mind along all lines of Judgment as to
material conditions, as we'll as space rela-
lions. When one pauses to consider how
much of mental activity is involved in
these lines, including, for instance. ali
financial transactions, all comparisons of
values all unknown quantities and hypo-
theses, no further claim for their recogni-
uon seems necessary.
Language.
by language is meant the Interpretation
OF the thoughts Of others and the express
ion of our own thoughts. 1t involves what
we include generally in grammar, rhetoric
and literature in the mother tongue
strengthened by the comparative consdera-
ton of the same phases in at least one for
elSn tongue. When realize q
OF language, regarding it as the storage
battery OF the thought of all the ages the
epltomizing of our civilization, we realize
that from its study we are gaining that |
which alone can put US abreast Of the times
III which we live.
History.
BY history IS meant thu study of tbs
growth and development of our institutions. |
civil, religious and political. There is IN
.volved IN this subject that which is essen
tial to society in the form of its municipal |
and general government, it's means Of |
transportation, mediums of exchange and |
relations to mankind in general.
These three subjects are of sufficient i'm
portance to require a given amount Of time |
each week for at least six years and thew
can, as basal subjects, receive this time,
and permit of a sufficient consideration of |
the requisite number Of other important
subjects that need to be taken up co-or-
dinate with them, each for much shorter
time"
The paper was discu by Frank Thilly. |
professor of philosophy in the University
of Missouri and DR.. George e. MacLean, |
chancellor of the University Of Nebraska.
Natural Science First.
Professor Thily said, among other things, |
that the function Of the secondary school
and college is to educate human beings A
man is educated when he understands him.
self and his physical and psychical environ
ment mature and society, when the world !
arouses in him the normal intellectual |
aesthetlcal, and moral feelings, and when
he can act upon 1t for his own and others
good. Hence such studies should be chosen |
as realize the ideal First among these is |
natural science by the laboratory method. !
Here the student is brought into direct con-
tact with facts and taught to handle them; |
he learns to perceive things, to anaiyze
them, to understand their relations, TO
make Independent judgments. He also as
sociates names with objects, expresses his |
ideas in clear and accurate language, be-
comes truthful, self-reliant, and exact At |
least three years should be devoted to the
study of science, preferably to physics |
chemistry and biology. But the facts of |
the world must also be measured, and their |
cumulative relations discovered, mathe-
matics must be studied first because it
develops intellect, especially the powers of
abstraction and deductive reasoning. 1
should, therefore, require at least two
years of mathematics.
Study of Mental Phenomena.
the world, however is not mere matter,
it is spiritual. Mental phenomena are as
worthy and capable of being Investigated, !
a knowledge of them as useful as the facts
of the corporal realm No man is prepar-
ed for complete living who is unacquainted
with the laws of consciousness and prin-
ciples of human conduct, the science of gov
eminent and economic life and the histor- |
ical development Of the human mind. |
would recommend a minimum requirement |
of three years for history, one year for So |
cfal science and political economy and one |
year for psychology and ethics.
We cannot understand the inner spiritual |
life of people nor give expression to our |
own states of soul without the aid of Ian
guage. Every child of every nation should |
learn to read, write and speak its mother |
tongue correctly and smoothly. But ma
tional spiritual life is not an isolated thing |
1t Is a part of the total spiritual life of hu-
mainly. Hence in order to understand and |
enjoy our own literature we should know
something of the literature of other peo- |
Piles. Four years should be given to the
nf liSh rta