The San Francisco call., 1899-07-15
CLOSING SESSION OF
THE CONVENTION
President Jordan Answers the At
tacks Upon So-Called cover
Education -

LOS ANGELES, July 1.-THE final gen
eral session of the National Educational
Association convention to-day was held
at Hazards Pavilion. Every delegate
that heretofore had been derelict in at
tending the meetings seemed determined
to make up for former shortcomings. At
the hour Of opening the lower floor of the
Pavilion was filed. At the close of the
first paper doors were thrown open and
teachers swarmed in until it was nee
essary for the ushers to close them be-
fore beginning of the next number. Then
many were obliged to wait on the out
side for the opportunity to enter.
The tendency of parents to shift the re-
sponsibility of the childs education en-
tirely upon the teacher has been depre-
Gated in many thoughtful papers that
have been read since the opening Of the
National Educational Association. Aaron
Cove, Superintendent of Schools at Den
yer, Colo, pointed out some Of the dangers
of this tendency in a forceful and epi-
grammatic manner. His delivery was very
effective.
The growth of paternalism, the speaker
urged, reached over to the schools, and
much of the training formerly LJne at
home was now relegated to the school.
The severe religious and effective discip-
line of the early American home was dis
appearing, and the remedy advocated was
more time with the teacher. Rather than
idleness at home, ten hours in school in
stead Of six he urged, and he argued that
the State must assume the new duties
being indicated for self-preservation-
George P. Brown, editor of School and
Home education, spoke on 1.-The Function
of the Educational Press" He said:
The educational press must be the standard
bearer rather than the camp follower OF the
educational host If 1t shall perform its func-
tion. It must gather and circulate the material
by which public opinion shall be nodded and
serve as the herald at least of the leaders OF
the educational army 1t seeks to publish the
observations, experiences and tentative con-
illusions of men and women who write with
varying degrees OF consciousness of the transi-
ton in educational philosophy and practice that
entering upon. The less conscious
one is of the philosophy Of the movement. the
more valuable, sometimes. is his contribution.
provided he Is sensitive to the new atmosphere.
Those who are not influenced by 1t may be good
priests and scribes for recording what is done
under the law, but they are not prophets OF
the coming time.
Are Educational Journals Education
al?" was answered by George William
Bruce, editor of the American School
Board Journal of Milwaukee, Wis. He
said:
Educational journals important fac
tor. as has been demonstrated here to-day.
They should be strong and fearless, combat
that which is superficial and misleading, cham
pion that which is worthy. noble true. In
order to make them SO they must have ade-
quate support. 1t lies in your power to create
strong educational press, by recognizing only
that which is worthy, and in permitting the
law of the survival Of the httest to take It's
natural course
At to-night's session President David
Starr Jordan of Leland Stanford Junior
University delivered an address entitled
"An Apology for the American Universi-
ties" He said in part:
Now and then in these days some successful
business man raises his eyes from his counter
70 question the American universty's right to
exist Does higher education pay? he asks.
and from his own experience Of tireless energy
and from his own contact with the thin-legged
white-faced collegians seeking job, he gives
TO this question a qualified negative. He fur
ther claims. shSpld he care to pursue the sub
iect at greater length, that opportunities for
higher education too widely diffused and
that the American masses are victims of over
education. . .
and take account of stock. We have invested
too much in universities, love and devotion as
well as bonds and gold. for US to be Indifferent
TO their usefulness.
n is certain that to speak OF ''over-educa-
tom is misuse of terms. If education ie
rational and effective there cannot be too much
of II It is not men trained and efficient who
enter into destructive competition. 1t is the
Ignorant and ineffective who make the struggle
for existence 50 dire a battle. Whatever Leaves