The evening times., 1898-07-08

ern educational effort IS to seek reform
and reconstruction through organization,
detailed plans. and intelligent critical
supervision, where, after all, no reason
able. nor satisfactory results are obtain
able except through scholarship, skill.
training ability and spirit in the teacher
who stands before the class and does the
actual work"
u. G. Palmer. county examiner of Oak
land. Nd, well-known teacher OF
American history. discussed Principal
Gordy's paper. W. c. Sandsdown. prin-
cipal of Fort Scott High School. Kansas.
took up the vital points of President
Seerley's paper, and w. S. Sutton. Pro-
fessor of Pedagogy of the State univer-
sity. Austin. Texas, again dwelt upon
the salient features of Prof. Gordy's ad-
dress. The meeting closed with a gen.
eral discussion.
Tonight in the opera house at o'clock
DIR. A. s. Draper. one Of the most emf
nent lawyers and teachers of the coun-
try, will give an address on American
Universities and National Life"
President George ]. Ramsey, vice pres
ident for Louisiana presided at the meet
ing at the National Theater. which was
called to order a few minutes after 8
o'clock this morning.
Prayer was offered by Rev. Lucien
Clark. of Foundry NJ. E. Church.
The topic for discussion was ''The Es-
sentials of English Composition in Ele-
mentary and Secondary Schools"
Edward r. Shaw. who is dean Of Peda-
gogy in New York University.
He first spoke of the necessity of cor
rect spelling and knowledge of etymolo-
gy, advocating the system of ''old FASH
ioned" spelling which has been demon
strated to produce best results. He said:
''The subtle aesthetic sense of feeling for
English is to be gained only by thor
ough acquaintance with the best iitera-
ture. not only poetry but selections from
the best of English prose should be
memorised by pupils. The principles of
rhetoric are to be learned not by rules
from text books"
He dwelt upon the necessity for care
full and dramatical analysis
C. c. Thach. of the State Polytechnic
Institute. Auburn, Ala, discussed the
essentials of English composition in
secondary schools. He said:
Until very recently two distinct meth
DDS have been pursued in the effort TO i'm
part good English style; the transla-
tion of the classics. and the teaching of
grammar and rhetoric. The main defect
of the former method is that the pupil
is confronted with a two-fold difficulty:
He is attempting to interpret a language
of which he knows little into another
language. Of which he knows only a tri-
fie more. The result often is an Eng
lish that was never on sea or land.
The study of grammar is excellent
disciplinary work. but philosophiZing
about language is not learning the ready
use of the language itself. What is need
ed in teaching composition is less psy-
choloGy and more practice: more Of the
method of the gymnasium-of the studio
and the laboratory. AS one learns to
walk by walking; TO dance by dancing,
so one must learn to write by writing.
The identical method of the written reci-
tation will doubtless grow in favor, and
will be the solution of the English prob
lem"
Prof. Shaw's paper was discussed by
F. S. Hafford. a tall. square-shouldered
Westerner. superintendent of schools in
Prescott, Ariz., who apologized to the au-
dience for not appearing in cowboy at
tire. He dwelt especially upon the ne
cessity for appreciation of the pupils
work.
An announcement was made that a
round table discussion on English compo-
sitions and rhetoric. composed of some
of the brightest and best men of the con-
vention, would be held next Tuesday af-
ternoon at o'clock in the Central High
School. This evening at O'Clock, In the
National Theater, DR.. Harris, United
States commissioner of education, will
address the association on Our Educa-
tional Exhibit at the International Expo
sition at Paris in 1900''
The National Geographic Society was
among the organizations inviting the Ma
tional Educational Association to meet in
the Capital City, and the officers and
members of the society have made some
effort to render the visit of the educat-
ors of the country to the National Capital
pleasant and profitable. The society will
hold a joint field meeting at Cabin John
Bridge tomorrow.