The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-12-29
UTILITY Is THE WORD
Oklahoma Teachers Show Up
Professional ShamS.
POWERFUL PAPERS READ
By Alert and Brainy Members
Of the Profession.

Oklahoma City, o. T., Dec. 2s-(speeial)
The formal program of the Oklahoma
Teachers association was taken up this
morning, the attendance being encourag-
! ingly large at the early stage of the ses-
sion; and yet it is to be regretted that
any teacher should miss hearing the papers
read today. = noticeable feature developed
in the days experience is the increased
unitarian tendency among the teachers,
as distinguished from tie purely theoret-
zeal side of education. bSery paper read
today inclined TO the fsfmer view of edu-
cation and in the cRper Sham in Our
Profession" the writer humorously but
cautiously arraigned the "crammng'
tendency of the present school system,
regardless Of any practical or permanent
benefit to the pupil In criticizing the fail
ings of his profession the teacher is no
ticeably different from the bankers, the
lawyers, the doctors, the editors, etc, who
when two or three are gathered together.
formally ''resOlvat' that they are the
whole thing, sans puer ct sans reproche.
and the rest of the world must keep
silence.
The opening paper on the mornings pro-
gram was on Mathematics" by Professor
Thatcher, of the Edmond Normal school,
and 1t led to a fruitful discussion, partic-
ipated in by n E. Butcher, of Norman;
G. w. Stevens. Of Guthrie; President Boyd,
Of Norman; L. W, Rice, of Yukon; Presi-
dent Mur6augh, Of Edmond, and others.
In part. Professor Thatcher's paper was as
follows:
An eminent educator said: 'The exact
ness of it's idea-speaking of arithmetic
the simplicity and beauty Of its relations,
attracted the attention of reflective minds
from time immemorial." Mathematics is
the "core of concentration" Prominent
American educators corroborate this state
ment, Parker and Tompkins especially
urge the proposition.
Mathematics correlates with a large por-
ton of the subject matter embodied in a
system Of education. 1t forms the basis,
the means of acquiring other knowledge.
i is the highway which leads into a broad
civilization and education.
Mathematics is practical, hence the sec
ond argument is the unitarian or practical
idea in education.
Lastly, the great argument for math-
ematics as the core of concentration is its
educational value. 1t strengthens the rea-
soning faculties; it elevates the ethical
tone of mans nature. The titled nobility
of this country must be the sovereigns Of
the ballot box the smith at the-4orge, the
mechanic at the bench, the brawny arms
behind the plow handles, the accountant
at the desk and the humble pedagogue
with his "birchen wand"
c. c. Hollen, president Of the North
western academy, at Carrier, who fol-
lowed with a paper on Sham In the Pro-
fession" showed a strongly humorous, and
at the same time thoroughly practical vein,
that interspersed the laughter with fire.
quent applause, and his line of thought
was ably followed up in the discussion by
Prof. Boyd and Prof. Stevens.
Prof. Hollen began by saying that the
paper dealt not with either the origin or
ultimate fate of sham, but its present pres
ence and effects. Then followed incidents,
vividly portrayed, of sham pretensions in
the profession of teaching.
The sham professional was then reviewed
in his pretensious conquests. The follow
ing very hitting mock eulogy was given
on the sham results: 1.-The end Is the
course to run for that year. and last
days exhibition of that which wasn't done
and then, Wei donR thou good and faith
full servant. Thou hast given thy pupils
most extensive learning. yea, even from
Poe's Raven TO the vertical system. Light
ming methods in arithmetic thou hast not
Stunned. Verify thy boys can cast out
mines and multiply by eleven at sight.
Thy monthly reports were regular and
high, yea, even astonishing the natures.
jennie is through Rays Third Part, and
Jane, she is beyond the Fifth and can
recitate and declamate in four-four time.
And what more could be said of thy deeds,
behold, is that not found recorded in that
which follows the glowing subjects OF thy
graduates"
The following are from the closing SEN
fences:
Il have seen that gravel banks make
fine road beds, but l never yet saw one
raise a crop of corn, even though cult
waited with a golden hoe and much scrip
ture be added thereto.
CHESTS fun Of tools never made a me-
chanic, neither did hats full Of book learn
ing ever make a scholar.
What in the name Of common sense
prodteth It a boy il he gain the whole
spelling book and lose the power 70 use a
single word OF It intelligenty?
IF our girls have their heads filed with
common sense. they viii at least know
how to hold their tongues in one language.
chew gum intelligentIy while ct church
and write a decent letter 70 their beau&.
Strive 10 make men Of your boys-not
lawyers. doctors and preachers. Our coun-
t-y's salvation needs not these nearly 50
much as men.
strive 20 make women OF your girls.