El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-02-28
PROFESSIONAL READING
paoer Read Institute In This city, BY
l. Stanton


ten from other sources; from actual
child study: from human companion
ships, rightly used; from Joys and sor-
rows. SO much OF "sweetness and
light" In all these, and in tie exquisite
book nature has SO graciously spread
before us. But that my subject, pro
fessional reading" has place In the
world, no one will deny: that it has an
important place in our profession, Is
evident. else 1t would not have been
presented for discussion today.
PEDAGOGY.
Ishall fret speak OF what is called
purelv professional reading-pedsgogy.
No one will question but that the
science of education should be widely
and profoundly studied; that the
principles of education, rs presented
by the best minds, the best authorities
in our profession, should be thoroughly
understood. School journals and the
many works ON pedagogy, as also the
articles on this line to be found, OF late,
in the first-class magazines and news
papers, may inoeed be source OF
power, of strength, OF excellence, OF
Inspiration, If you 90 not permit your
self to be taken of your feet by them
and left suspended in the air. You
remember the classic story OF the
giant who gained new strength every
.
You remember the story OF Icarus,
whose adventurous flight was fatal to
him, for, soaring too high, the sun
melted the wax that cemented his
wings, and he fell into the sea.
In your every day work there Will De
the same questions to meet and the
same difficulties to overcome as before.
Spelling must be taught and the d1i-
hcult words in the common place read
ing lesson must be fixed in the child's
hesitatiug mind. The thousand
significant. or Insignificant, prob
lens in discipline must
still be solved. And if your reading
helps you to solve these problems bet
ter and wiser and more patiently, as 1t
can and should, well and good. But if
it leads you to ignore or neglect the
common place, every day duties, there
ia grand mistase somewhere which
you need to correct with all prompt
ness. AIae, for one who never sosrs;
but still worse is his case who scars
out of sight of solid ground! BE prac-
ticsl.
Another point right here 1 would
emphasize. that, while teachers should
famiiisrIZe themselves with the
psychology of method, deduce educa-
tiOnal principles which stand firmly
upon psychic laws, they must have
their individual devices upon those
laws anu gain VIC ICouibo hiSh OhiJ
individuality in method can bring
about. Read pedagogy: acqusint thy
self with the laws of mind. OF growth
study devices, methods; be receptive, !
assimilate: adapt to your work what Is
for you; but in all this be regal In your
independence, in your individuality.
Imitation is suicide. 1.-THE power
which resides in you is new in nature,
and none but he knows what that Is
which he can do, nor does he know IN
til he has tried.''
Pedagogical reading cannot make
the teacher. Be lot craven. Do
not grovel in the dust before any
living soul. Be free! Never let the
picture lose the coloring of your own
excellent thought. Never forsake
the battlements, Or the small +,
est outpost, of your own soul! Be
true to myself and you will paint 1.-The
light thai never shone on sea or
land.'' The inferior artist may copy |
in sense, the work of a master; but
can he paint the glow of the artists
soul; can he catch the breath OF the |
infinite that breathes in the light and |
shadow and exquisite coloring? What |
Ia 1t that differentistes the works OF
art? It Is the artists individuality,
you say And If you would have your
work, in any line, fall not dead and
lifeless-fruitless you must put
yourselves lntO OedT GHS
stamp of your own individuality. You
may use the paints and brushes made
by other hands: you must be familiar
With the science of painting, but these,
you well know, do not make the artist.
1t is the ideal, the thought. that Is pic
tured forth; and woe to him whose
ideal is low, whose thought is poor and
mean.
This brings me to the other division
OF my subject:
GENERAL READING.
By this l mean whatever reading
that aids in the symmetry of your de-
velopment; that elevates or awakens
new ideals; aids the growth of the soul
and adds to the the richness OF life.
Build thee more stately mansions. o my
As the swift seasons roll,'
You may believe that the time will
come when che human race need not
read, when books need not be written;
when at some rare, distant time, you
universal truth as to register its heart
throbs at first hand. But at this stage
OF the worlds growth it seems neces-
sary for many, at least, to read books.
And all human life ia SO intertwined
and interdependent, that, If my BROTH
err sends forth some helpful thought, 1
am sure it Is for me, sent direct from
the aIl-mind.
We need, yet, through the medium
of books, the society of great men and
women who give us the best fruits of
their study and experience. We need
an increased knowledge of men and
places and a consequently broader out
look. We need an acquaintance with
the best usage of our language. We
need to have our power of observation ,
and our ability increased !
TO see things more clearly in their re- !.