The San Francisco call., 1899-04-15
EDUCATORS CLOSE THEIR
INTERESTING INSTITUTE
ADDRESSES BY ABLE MEN FROM
THE UNIVERSITIES.
Committee on Resolutions Requests
the Supervisors to Set Aside a
Million and a Half for
School Improvement.

The teachers Institute, which has been
in progress during the past three days
in the auditorium of Mission High School,
was brought to a brilliant close yesterday
afternoon. The success of the institute
has been marked one. 1t has attracted
an immense attendance and those so for
tunate as to be present have heard the
best known educators in the State speak
on subjects with which they are familiar.
Both the University of California and
Leland Stanford Jr. University sent their
most learned men to address the teachers.
Among the speakers yesterday was David
Starr Jordan, who has something inter-
esting to say at all times. His theme was
value OF Higher Education"
AS has been the custom, proceedings
were opened with music, the contributors
representing the ninth grades of the
Crocker Grammar School, under the di-
rection of Miss Elizabeth Wade. Henry
Meade Bland was the first speaker of the
day, his subject being "a Few Thoughts
on the Making of School Law He said
that it has been claimed that teachers
are not agreed upon the essentials of
school law. He held to the contrary, say
ing If they could be heard it would be
found that where any differences have
developed they resulted from attempts to
legiSlate in such a manner as to affect
localities instead of for the entire State.
ers are agreed is that there should be
State Institutes, where all the teachers
could be brought together for instruction
and study.
There should be a raising of the stand
ard of entrance requirements to the Nor
NAL School. This will have the tendency
Of elevating the profession of teaching:
There must be a more secure tenure of
office, and lastly, the influence of politics
must be removed from the schools. The
speaker suggested that nominations for
oil ha nl1nn6 n hn h1n Dc
of conventions separated from all poll
teal parties and influences.
Professor Thomas p. Bailey of the Uni
versity of California spoke on Love and
Law" His contribution to the pro-
gramme was loudly applauded, and he
was compelled to bow his acknowIedg-
I'VE want the law that can be fulfilled
The law of habit which will go with the
child through life. The habit of rever-
ence. the habit of veneration of custom
This custom must then pass into law
We must have strong law in the school
room. 1 believe in the sovereignty of the
teacher. The teacher must feel that what
she does is done with the authority of
be taught to look upon the teacher as the
representative of sovereign power. When
an attempt is made to put the authority
back to some one above the teacher she at
once loses authority over the pupils
When too much of the responsibility is
taken away you get far away from the
true spirit OF tedcnlnS, Wn1Cn is the lnttu-
ence of one character over another When
a teacher is unable to govern by the laws
of courtesy it is not best to go to the
Superintendent, but to replace that
teacher by another. You may be sure the
secret of true discipline lies in a proper
appreciation of character, of respect for
that and for the law of love. Having
these we may be sure that the question
of school discipline will take care of IT.
SELF
Mrs. Blanchard sang, and Miss Eliza
beth Bartlett recited. Professor Elmer
E. Brown, head of the department of
pedagogy at the University of Califor-
MIA spoke on the Social Aspect of Edu-
cation
President Jordan was the principal
speaker of the closing session.
The committee on resolutions, consist
ing of c. H. Murphy, T. B. White. Miss A.
e Gavigan, Miss Jean Parker and w II.
Edwards submitted it's report. In TINS
they asked that when the Supervisors
submit to the qualified voters of San
Francisco the proposition of issuing
bonds for permanent improvements they
include in that issue 81 500 900 for perma-
nent improvements in the School Depart
ment They expressed pride and pleasure
in the fact that the next National FIdu-
cational Association meeting will be held
here They asked that entrance ad-
mission to the California State Normal
School be restricted to High School grad
yates or equivalent, and that the course
of study be limited to two years. Thanks
GERS of the School Department.