The San Francisco call., 1898-12-30

James Keith, San AndreaS; Dr. U. Stanley Hall, president Clarke Univer- sity. Next came an interesting talk upon the subject of "The Use of Pict-
 ures in Literature Study" by T. L. Heaton of the University of California. At 3:15 Miss Alice E. Pratt of the San Diego Normal School introduced the
 question of What Are the Schools Doing and What Can They Do in De- veloping a Taste for Good Books v J. A. Metzler of St. Helena followed Miss Pratt In discussion of the sub ject. At o'clock The Desirability and Feasibility of a Systematic Course on the History of English Literature, was introduced for discussion. Tracy Kelley of Modesto spoke upon the subject from the standpoint of the grammar school, while Miss Eleanor B. Pearson of Palo Alto took up the idea as applied 10 the high school system of the State.
 The department of music at the Christian Church was in good hands. Mrs. Juliet Powell-Rice of Santa Bar bara is chairman of this department and Miss Estelle Carpenter of San Francisco secretary. The chairman herself spoke on Music in the Santa Barbara Schools" Dr. F. B. Dresslar of the University of California read an excellent paper on vocal EXpresslon, being followed by Dr. G. Stanley Hall in a learned discussion on 'Psycho
 logical Methods of Teaching Music to Children pr. Frederic l.. Burk of Santa Barbara, the associations new president, came next with a splendid talk upon The Evolution of Music" A general discussion of the topics intro duced then followed under the leader ship of Miss Estelle Carpenter, the sec retary, in which both members and outsiders joined.
 The department of nature study had its headquarters in Armory Hall, on Hinton avenue. Professor Volney Kat tan of the San Jose State Normal School is chairman of this section and Miss Etta M. Kinney of the same in- stitution is secretary. The topics in- troduced at to-dayS session were as follows:
 The Present Condition of Nature Study in the Public Schools of Califor- nia," general discussion; Nature Work in High Schools" c. D. Snyder of Santa Rosa and Fred. w. Koch of Merced; Nature Work in County and Village Schools Miss Susie NJ. Dickworth of City Schools" Miss Kate Hodghnson of the John Swett Grammar School, San Francisco. In this department much of the apparatus and material used, as well as much work ac- complished by the pupils in different schools in the State, was on exhibition all afternoon.
 At the Presbyterian Church the de- partment of the California Association of Teachers of History" held the fort. A general discussion took place rela- tive to the needs and condition of the department in which many present took part, but no special papers or addresses were presented. Professor Bernard Moses of Berkeley is chairman of this department and Mrs. R. V. Winterburn of Stockton is secretary.
 department that has attracted much attention all week has been that of the Education of the Deaf and Dumb, Blind and Feeble Minded Dr. A. E. Osborn, the Well-knoWn superintendent of the California Feeble-Minded Home at Eldridge, is chairman of this depart ment and Mrs. Jennie Bright Holden of San Francisco secretary. 1nis after noon R. H. Webster, superintendent of schools of San Francisco, addressed his hearers upon the Necessity for Special Training" for wor-1 of this nature. He was followed by Professor A. N. Hol- den, principal of the San Francisco day school for teaching of speech to deaf children, upon the subject of Modern Prodigies, From a Teachers Point of View" "The Training of the Eye and Ear in Young Children was discussed T the medical department of the Univer- sity of California. Dr. Alexander Gra- ham Bell, the well-known inventor of the Bell telephone, who arrived day be- fore yesterday from Japan and who reached here last night, spoke at 3:30 upon "The Education of the Deaf, and Kindred Topics" His address was heard with special interest and at the close of his remarks he was rendered a -ntn of h o,,Iye b,rt l1 1l | ment.
 | Tonight both business and pleasure l were combined by the teachers of the State Association. The Alumni Asso- citation of the State Normal Schools
 held its annual reception at Germania Hall; the alumni of Stanford Univer-
 sity held reception at the First
 Christian Church; 'he teachers of
 Santa Rosa held reception at Society
 Hall. and 2000 people listened to able
 addresses by Superintendent elect | Thomas J. Kirk of Fresno upon the
 subject, The County Institute" and by | Professor Bernard Moses of the Uni
 versity of California on Social Life in
 Japan" Several private affairs were | also arranged in honor of certain city s | guests
 | State Superintendent-elec Kirk's ad-
 dress at the Athenaeum attracted con- | siderable attention, both on account of | its subject matter and from the fact | that as the next State Superintendent l of Public Instruction MT. Kirk will in all probability endeavor to put some of | the reforms he advocates into effect. The speakers subject was 'The County Institute" and in strong terms he ad- vocated its abolishment in the future. | Upon this subject the speaker said | To the institute as now conducted I
 make the following objections:
 | First-The time (three to five days) is | too short for the most valuable profes- sional training, or for any considerable | instruction. Hence the institute must l deal largely with generalities and cannot
 meet the wants of individuals. The teacher returns to her work, conscious of her ignorance. She has been permitted to look upon inviting fields of knowledge which she has not had time to explore. She realizes that she has not succeeded as she ought she has learned that there are good methods which she has not
 mastered. but her fund of available knowledge has been little increased. and she has ltlle added power to overcome the difficulties in the daily work. Some few teachers may have written thoughtful essays, the preparation of which has. no doubt, done them good. Institute instruct
 ors have waxed eloquent over their re- spective themes but the mass of the teachers have not received the benefit commensurate with the time and expense
 certainly not if that time and money can