The evening times., 1898-07-09
SCIENTIFIC DISCUSSIONS
Geographical aud Psychological
Problems Before the N. E. A.
TIE ADDRESS OF DIR. REDWAY
Eminent Geographers Discuss the
Upon HistOry-SchOOl Methods
Treated From a Psychological
Standpoint.

| al Educational Association, held in the
| Grand Opera House. Hon. w. w. Stetson,
vice president for Maine and a prominent
| educator in his State. presided. large
delegation of Ohio teachers occupied seats
| on the stage with the speakers.
| Rev. ]. G. Butler. Of Luther Place Me
mortal Church. led the meeting in prayer.
The body of teachers sang their school
| song with enthusiasm ..- --.-
Prof. Jacques w. Redway. of Mt. YER
| non, N. Y. one of the most eminent geog-
raphers of the country was then intro
duced. and spoke on The Influence of
| Topography and Climate on the Historical
Development of the United States; a
| subject seldom touched upon by sociologi-
| cal students and inadequately treated by
| historians. 1t suggested new topics OF
| interest to the student. stating first that
| the building of a nation passed through
two periods-territorial growth and de-
velopment and adjustment to environ
ment.
Prof. Redway dweit upon the influences
which have determined in great part the
growth of countries; the geographic con-
ditions, the typographical and climatic
conditions. AS an instance of the radical
difference in the historical development
! of the various sections Of the United
States he mentioned the typographical
| state of New England: the plateau which
became the great regions Of manufac-
lures calling for skilled artisans. intel
lectual workmen: the mining regions Of
the Middle States resulting in a vast in
fux of foreign element which had natu-
rally had its effect on the historical de-
velopment of the States: tine South. the
region of cotton growing. and its cli-
matte conditions: the great central plain
of the Mississippi teeming with industry
| and growth. resultant in economical
progress. He noted through it all the
salient point that mans development
was subject to his typographical envi-
| ronment. Glancing a moment into the
| industrial conditions Of ancient history.
| he showed that formidable natural bar
riers. disappearing by aid of modern en-
Sineering and undevelopsd history. in
variably revealed itself: long catalogue
of events traceabe to geographic causes
and adjustment to new conditions took
| place. The fact that the application of
steam to the development of power was
a great factor in evolution was empha-
sized. That political organization was
subordinate to typographical conditions
was also demonstrated by DR. Redway
w McGee was then introduced by
Mr.. Stetson. Mr.. McGee is vice presi-
dent of the National Geographic Socie-
ty. and he presented TO the n. f. A the
greetings Of the society.
I'VE place at your disposal all the IA
cilities which are ours" said he
Continuing. he spoke of his subject.
THE Geospheres.'' from the standpoint
of Major Powell's view and gave glow
ing tribute to the founder of the Bureau
| of Ethnology.
AN educator. soldier. who left an
arm at Shiloh: an explorer. who ira
versed the mighty canyons. of the West:
| a geographer. philosopher. Major Pow
| ell stands one of the most vigorous
thinkers America has produced"
Mr.. McGee's paper was for the most
part a technical discussion on the ge
osopheres.
George T. Murphy. assistant superin-
tendent of schools in St Louis. Mo; Hon.
William Stryker. State superintendent of
public instruction. Topeka, Kans.. and
! David W. Hoyt. principal of the English
High School, at Providence. r. l., dis
cussed the papers.
Monday morning Prof. Royce. of Har-
ward the famous teacher of psychology.
will be one of the speakers to address
the m -eting.
The morning session at the New Ma
tional Theater was opened with prayer
Dy fseN. FRANK SeWdli. OF .lNe SHeUeN-
borgian Church. DIR. W. o. Krohn de-
livered a half hours address upon The
mental abnormalities occasioned in emil
dren by certain erroneous school meth
DDS" Dr. Krohn is a psychologist, con-
nected with the Eastern Illinois Hospital
for the Insane a kaukakee, Ill He said.
in part:
Il shall base my remarks upon four
premises. drawn from the different fields
,f ,;aln oil
comes from that hard, Calvinistic law of
heredity, which has held that both nat
ural and acquired characteristics are to
be transmitted from parent to child.
This belief, whose principles would
cause every natural impulse to fail OF
fruition, has now given place to a more
wholesome and roseate philosophy, which
makes the child free agent. Both of
these views are too extreme. and result
in shifting of blame by the teacher
upon the parent, and blythe parent upon
the teacher. The fact is that too much
is expected of the child upon entrance to
school al six years old"
DR.. Krohns second premise dealt with
the stages of mental development. and,
in connection with the third principle
that mental abnormities take effect upon
the higher and finer faculties first-it i'm
pressed the necessity of shaping a school
course so as to coincide with the devel-
oping faculties in the brain of the pupil.
Every part of the brain must receive
its full development" said DIR. Krohn in
conclusion, "for only by growth can life
be continued. Life is growth; the brain
cells which do not progress die; and
growth comes only by active and intelii-
gent development of the brain, by mental
and physical activity"
A short address followed by Prof N A.
Harvey. of the State Normal School,
West Superior, Wis, who treated of biol
ogy as department of psychological re-
search, treating also of the limitations
of the science and its inability to bring
proof as to the effect of education upon
brain cells and tissues.
Supt. l.. c. Greenlee. of Denver. Col.
followed with a ten-minute address,
which emphasized the exercise of COM
nonsense principles, pointing out that
''the danger lies more in the misuse of
right methods than in the use of wrong
methods"
At the conclusion of Supt Greenlee's
address DR.. Bierly. of Lancashire. Pa,
moved that the speech of DIR. Krohn be
brought to the attention of the Commits
sioner of Education to be printed for
general distribution. unanimous vote
referred te resolution to the committee
on resolutions. r---..-- .---r,
Miss May Adele Levers. of this city,
sang 1.-THE Star Spangled Banner. "arous-
ing great enthusiasm throughout the
house.
On Monday morning the session at the
National Theater will be devoted to the
consideration of the study of the higher
mathematics.
AN INTERESTING EXHIBIT.