The record-union., 1899-07-15

''The Great Teacher did not despise
the arts that win bread for He worked
at the carpenters bench; but when
He told the tempter that men shall
not live by bread alone, He clearly
pointed to a higher life which rests
upon the other side as basis. ana
which alone can lift men and women
to their destined place as lords OF Gre
alton. s
BY increasing the earning power
Of the individual the school lays the
foundation upon which rests the higher
activities Of the soul, for it is mock
cry to speak of culture and edu-
cation to a people whose vital eper-
gies are exhausted in the struggle for
bI cad.
II know of no, language sufficiently
strong to condemn the spirit of the
professor who, when he had demon
strated a new theorem in higher math-
ematics, exclaimed: Now that is true.
and, thank God, nobody can use it.
knowledge does not gain in value as
it's usefulness diminishes. On the other
hand, education should aim at some
thing higher than utility. If it does
not aim at developing the ability to
enjoy the things of the higher life 1t
cannot be too severely condemned.
1.-The school takes the first step in
promoting this higher life when II
makes the pupil think Teach men TO
think, and you make them discomfort
ed,' says the opponent of universal
education. Who would not sooner pe
a SOCRATES dissatisfied than fool sat
isfied, an intelligent man discontented
and seeking to better his condition
than an ignoramus contented with lit
tie; because he knows nothing of the
joys of the higher life. 1t is the prov
ince of the school not merely to fit the
pupil better for breadwinning and to
increase his earning power, but to pre-
pare him to think the best thoughts OF
the best. men as enshrined in lltera-
ture, to see and think Gods thoughts
as they are embodied and expressed
in all creation, to enjoy the things or
the mind, to appreciate the true, the
beautiful and the good, to live the life
of thought and faith and hope and
love- In this direction lies the mission
of the school in it's relation to the
higher life"
Albert E. Winship of Boston made
a short address on "A Professional
Spirit as Influence" and then DIR.
Nicholas Murray Butler, as Chairman
of the Committee on Resolutions, made
the report.
After reaffirming belief that educa-
tional ideals are firmly established.
school and college education more wide
fha of
more intelligent and successful, the
report went on to say that 1.-The one
dark page in the history of the year Is
that which records interference with
the work of public education and at
tacks. successful and unsuccessful.
made upon it by political traitors and
spoil seekers. We appeal to the public
and to the press to resist, to resent and
to punish these attacks and we pledge
our best efforts to the absolutely nom
political and non-sectarian conduct of
the work intrusted to us
The generous gifts and endowments
to educational institutions during the
past year We're recognized, support as
sured to every effort to raise the stand
ards of teachings. while also accepting
the principle that incompetent teachers
must be >deposed; and all efforts to
protect such teachers in their posts by
influence. whether personal or politi-
cal, was deplored.
I'VE wish by every legitimate
means" continued the report. "to sup
port the work of the Bureau of Edu-
cation, and we ask that it be given
such support by Congress as will en-
able it to perform. with fullest eff
ciency the tasks intrusted to it. We
recognize, perhaps more fully than do
others the value of the statistics of
education collected in the census OF
$780, and we earnestly urge upon the
Director of the forthcoming census the
desirability Of carrying on anew the
lines of inquiry then pursued, together
with such additions and improvements
as experience has shown to be needed.
The report having been received and
the resolutions carried, President 0. I.
Corson of Columbus. Ohio, was pre-
sented to the immense gathering. and
after he had said a few words the
audience arose and Joined in singing
" America" and the convention was at
an end
The department of normal schools
had a very interesting closing session
this afternoon, when several papers
were read and discussed. Perhaps the
one most provocative of thought was
that read by Miss H. Scott of Detroit,
on THE Qualifications of Critic
Teacher" with special regard to the
conclusion reached in one of the thesis,
to the effect that next to a wholesome
the SDecial feature of a
critic teacher should be the ability to
show particularly the merits as well as
the defects of instruction. basing critic
isms plainly upon accepted principles
of teaching.
Miss M. Brown of New Orleans spoke
on Lesson Plans" and Miss G. Ed
mund, Phi. D.. of Lowell, Mass, and
Professor c. E. Van Liew of Los An
geles led in the discussion on the sub
ject of Observation as Factor In
Training School Work"
A paper that appealed strongly to
parents as we'll as to teachers was read
in the elementary department by Super
J. w. Dinsmore of Beatrice,
Nebraska, on the subject of Vices Of
Childhood and Youth Only those
that are criminal, or distinctly respon-
sibe for a large percentage of crime
were dealt with. and deceit was pointed
out as the first to appear, it being con-
sciously practiced at less than two
years. Illustrations were given of the
mother unknowingly instilling into the
childish mind a vicious habit by ef-
fusively greeting a caller whom the
child knows is unwelcome, or apologize
ing for a state of things which is quite