The evening times., 1898-07-06
INSTRUCTION Of CHILDREN
First Meeting Of the National
Council Of Education.
TEACHE S EXCHANGE IDEAS
Charles Il. Gilbert Advocates Baths
for school Cbildren-Dr. Fitx Dep
rerates CramminE and Too Much
SchccIrocm DrIIl-Hc Snys II Re-
tards the Growth of Children.

whose object is the consideration of edu
| catiOnal subjects and interests of public
Importance, held its opening session in
the auditorium of Columbian University
at IL o'clock this morning. with the presi-
dent Dr. Charles D. 'arE:o, Professor
of Pedagogy at Caro- University, pre-
siding.
The National Council is composed OF
| twelve standing committees, five MEM
bers each. chosen from al..5ng the most
eminent scholars and progressive teach
ers in America. 1t is the rule for two or
three committees to repor: each year.
There have been comm;.ees on State
schools. city schools. normal schools, eie-
mentary. secondary and high schools.
technical schools. pedagogy, reporting
every year since the organization of the
council in 1885.
Today the committee on school SANTA
ton and hygiene. and the committee on
psychology report; tomorrow, the COM
mitttee on rural schools. whose report Is
of essential Importance: containing" :"
said DIR. Harris. United States Commits
sioner of Education. more matter for
the good of schools than any that has
heretofore been made
William F. King. president of State
Teachers Association of Iowa. and one
of the senior members of the council, is
its vice president.
Miss Bette A. Dutton. who has been
principal of the Kentucky Street School,
Cleveland, Ohio. since 1870. and who for
many years has prepared papers before
the association. is the secretary of the
council.
school Hygiene: What it is and Why
We Need it, by DIR. Edward NJ Hart
well. secretary of department of munic-
ipal statistics. Boston. was the first sub
ject discussed. He sought 10 develop
the doctrine OF the human body in its
relations to school hygiene. which he de-
fined as the art of securing smooth
working in all the parts of the body, and
in promoting growth of the child.
Prof. William II. Burnham. of Clark
University. Worcester. Mass. spoke on
literature photography. with eXplanato-
ry remarks on the contents of his book.
School Architecture-Heating ventila-
ton. lighting and sanitary arrangements
was next discussed by +. Louis Soldan
superintendent Of St. Louis schools. and
DIR. d. H Bergey, lecturer on sanitary
science 1T the University of Pennsyl-
vania. and first assistant in the labora-
tory of hygiene. DIR. Bergey was form
erly research udent. under the Hodg-
kins fund of the Smithsonian Institution.
School Furniture. Seats. Baths. Black
boards. Maps. etc.. was the last tocic
considered in the morning session.
The assistant superintendent Of the
New York city schools. Albert p. Marble.
suggested several important reforms.
Charles B. Gilbert, who has been prin-
cipal of high schools in Minnesota and
Wisconsin since 1876. and who IS now lee
turer on school supervision and manage
ment at Teachers College. Columbia Uni
versity. spoke briefly. He said that no
entirely satisfactory adjustable desk has
yet been invented the element almost
universally lacking being simplicity of
construction and ease Of adjustment. The
best form ever seen in these respects is
that of the ordinary piano stool H!;h
clamps to hold the desk and seat in
place.
Second, Blackboards-All schoolrooms
should be equipped with blackboards.
covering all the available space These
boards should be Of slate. and should be
placed at suitable heights for the chill
dren of the grades that are to occupy
the rooms.
Third. Maps-No generalization can be |
made in regard TO maps. except that all
schools engaged in the study of geogra- |
ply should have an abundance of maps |
of various sorts. such as the work re- |
quires. If but one kind of map can be |
it should be a physical map. |
II II wen ibi maps ~ iidllS open pSIoIE
even when not in direct use
He said there was no reason in the ma
ture Of things why schools should not |
furnish baths TO those children who are
not bathed elsewhere. The cost of two
Da thing tanks. one for boys and one for
girls. in each large school building
would be slight. The difficulties of ad-
are much less than they at
irst appear.
At $50 O'clock this afternoon the ses-
ion reopened by the president of the Ma |
ional Educational Association, James |
4. Greenwood. who lead the first discus
ion on School Anthropometry." in which
lie brought forth many points of inter
st.
A paper was then read by Prof Delas
Fall. on School Diseases and Medical
Prof. Fall. who is professor
# chemistry and director of the Nc
Milan Chemical Laboratory at Albion
'ollege, Mich, and a teacher well fitted |
o speak authoritauvely on the relat ation
f diseases and the public school. He has
'een prominent in sanitary movements
or many years. He has been a teacher |