El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-13
Some Striking Addresses
Delivered At the
Educators
NATIONAL CONVENTION
One Speaker Seriously Pro-
poses A General Recast-
ing Ofthe System Of
School Grading.

Los ANGELES, CAL, July 13.-The
general sessions of the National Edu-
cational Association convention were
resumed this morning with r. s.
Bingham, of Tacoma, Wash, in the
chair. Mr.. Bingham introduced Rt.
Rev. George Montgomery, bishop OF
Los Angeles, who spoke in highly
interesting way of the religious ele-
ment in the formation of character.
Among other things Bishop Montgom-
cry said:
Teachers themselves concede that
the formation of character is the most
important feature of education. This
is essentially true where government
is brought close to the people.
"Washington declares that public
and private welfare depends not upon
the extent of territory, it's fertility or
its climate, upon trade, commerce,
large armies CT mighty navies, nor
but upon simple, silent principle Of
the soul, a religious conscience.
"To form this conscience in the indi-
vidual and through the individual to
build up public conscience. man must
be taught TO make conscience para
mount to every other characteristic.
The private school where these princi-
Piles are taught along with secular
knowledge is the nations strongest
ulwark.'
Bishop Montgomery was followed by
Professor George W. A. Luckey of the
University of Nebraska, who spoke on
the development of moral character,
Prof. Luckey said in part:
GAS to the time when we shall begin
to develop the character of our child
rem, I agree in part with Aristotle
when he says that the state should be-
gin the education of the children be-
fore the marriage of their parents.
Before birth and before prenatal life
the formation of the character of the
child rightly begins.
Common sense in selecting life
companions, proper cultivation of mind
and heart, congeniality OF home sur
roundings and careful observance of
the laws of health all tend to strength
en- the character of the offspring.
"Passing to the next important per-
iod of the child's life, the one extend
ing from birth to at least the fifth
year. we enter upon the fret period
that is usually taken into consideration
in the education of the child. During
these frat five years the individual has
lived faster, learned more and estab-
lished greater degree OF character
than will be possible again in any 9th
err five years of his life.
"The years of childhood come but
once, but the lessons they teach and
the experiences they give can never be
eradicated. Character like morality
and religion is not something that can
be assumed or rejected at will. 1t is
the very essence of the individuals
life.
"Would you establish noble characters
in your children, begin by laying the
foundation for strong and healthy
bodies. Not only the physical fea.
lures, but all the muscles of our bod les
come3to indicate the lives we have led.
L
full observer of the phenomena of ma
ture, to classify and remember the i'm
portant features. to dispresent relations
and invent new ones, to make accurate
and finally to express
his knowledge in clear, but terse Eng
lish, and you will have given the found
alton for strong character.
SIN all education the teacher must
be guided in her efforts by the inter
ests of the child. It must be growth
from within rather than a filing up
from without, an assimilation and an
rather than the mere &C
of knowledge.
"The factor that has most to do with
all voluntary action is imitation. We |
grow to think, to feel and to act like |
those with whom we have been closely |
associated. For this reason it is of