The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-28
SECTIONS HOLD MEETINGS
| THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS
HOLD LAST SESSION.
L.. H. Jones, Former superintendent
of the City Schools, Talks
at Night Meeting.

AiAol ith5 CT ~ " AO1 III Az oNHeN
Der. About 500 teachers had registered by
this time, and the meeting started of under
most suspicious circumstances. The invo-
cation was offered by Rev. III. c. Meserve,
pastor of Plymouth Church. Miss Lille
Josephine Adams, of this city, pleased
greatly with her rendition of Luzzfs
Come, Holy Spirit and Rubenstein's
''Since First / Met Thee The first adj
dress of the day was delivered by DR..
Charles r. Henderson, Of the University OF
Chicago, on 1.-The Educational Significance
of Social Provision" DR.. Henderson said
in part:
Because provision Is possible, social reg
ulation in the common interest is also pos
sible. The merchant attracts customers by
appeal to known motives. The teacher
studies psychology to gain a lever of con-
troll over mind. The experts in health, en-
cheering, art, education, religion, hold the
worlds wisdom in trust for the COM
munity, and by their knowledge guide their
fellows. The people, not expert in special
ties, can judge policies and results and COM
mand experts to serve them for honor, love
and pay. The prophetic hope of moral
triumph is not the dream of a child or
mystic, not the exuberant optimism of i'm
pulsive youth. but it grows out of a calm
survey of the permanent forces of social
life. Those who struggle manfully with
evil are the least cynical, the most cheerful.
Pessimism is the luxury of ~misanthropic
shirks.
Here lies the significance of social pre-
vision. Al the roots of social movements
+ ~ -
and pressure, but the drawing of ideals is
the energy of progress. Progress is fur
thered chiefly by the conscious efforts of
educators. 1t is the sublime privilege of
teachers to present to the minds of the
growing community the most attractive ex-
pressions of the worlds best life. and pre-
occupy the mansions of the soul with
beauty. truth and goodness. Plato, Dante
and Tennyson, as individuals, have passed
from earth; as incorporated in their writ
ings, they work ever and powerfully upon
the social spirit through teachers.
can help organize the school as a
miniature model of what We wish society
TO become, and the tuition of the day be-
comes a schooling in civil virtue. The school
teachers, as they develop professional
learning and power, will become partners
in the councils of the community and fac
tors in social control Aldermen and legis-
IldtOlo WI iittt Eiit OOllCutN lit
school building represents the chief center
of civic life, the common ground for all who
cherish ethical and esthetic ideals. AS sec
tarianism is subdued and the sublimely
simple forms of religion stand forth I'M
clouded, religion, as universal brotherhood
in the common fatherhood, will reassert it,
self as the supreme manifestation of the
human spirit, and men Will not dread ii as
a derisive influence in civil affairs. Perhaps
the public school will be the chief agency
for clarifying the spiritual life, testing the
essentials and understanding the elementary
ideals of faith in organic connection with
the certaintieS OF science and the utilities
of industry"
PRESIDENT PARSONS PAPER.
The next paper was by President w. w.
Parsons, of the Indiana State Normal
School. His topic was Religion and the
School, At the outset of his scholarly ad-
dress Professor Parsons submitted the
questions: rs it the duty of the public
schools to give any kind of religious culture
and training?' What religious doctrines.
beliefs and sentiments. if any, shall the
school ~inculcate?' and by what means, if
at all. may the school seek to influence
the child's religious thought. emotion and
BEHAVIOR" The speaker said that the Con-
stitution of Indiana provides that the work
of the schools shall be carried on by Chris
tian people. The teaching or any doctrine,
belief o. sentiment is not possible. What
ever objections may be urged against the
direct teaching of religious dogmas or doc
trines in the schools and by whatever
means said Professor Parsons, surely
every taxpayer and citizen Of the State
would bc glad to know that in each of In
diana's more than is, 900 schools there is a
man or woman of upright, ethical. cx-
emplary spiritual life. When Indiana's
three-quarters of a million children are
taught by men and women of sound ethical
and spiritual life devoted in the most con-
scientious way to the work of building up
in these children the highest elements of
worthy manhood and noble. womanly
| character the problem will have solved
itself. Society will then realize the highest
justification or the great expense to which
1t subjects itself I'm maintaining and con-
The discussion was begun by President
Swain. of Indiana University, and con-
tinued by President w. p. Kane. of Wa
Royse, of the Ripley county schools. Some
| Of the speakers took issue with points made
by President Parsons. but President Ham
ilton would not allow the discussion to be
prolonged. The meeting adjourned short
| iy before noon TO allow the delegates an
opportunity TO listen to the singing of the
| chorus of four hundred voices, pupils OF
public school No. %. of this city. directed
by Miss Luella Parr. This event, which
was greatly enjoyed bv all who heard II.
took place in the south end of the State
\ house r0tunda
AFTERNOON SESSION.
lie dllt AltODtt NtAS AA1oA y ~ III,
largest attendance of the series Of meet.
| ings thus far held. Every available bit OF
seating space in the auditorium was filled
and several hundred stood in the spacious
lobby. The programme was of exceptiona'
interest and had an added flavor of tn,
entertaining in the music rendered bs
pupils from local schools and by the glet
club of the Indiana University. A choru:
of forty girls, pupils, of music in the In.
dianapolis public schools. under the eff.
fcient direction of Miss Leila Parr. rem
cered a number of songs with such spirit
and finish that the audience seemed willing
TO make the entire programme musical
president Hamilton then introduced Super.
irtendent Richard G.. Boone. of the Cincip-
nati schools. who delivered a profound al
dress on the subject of Type Facts II
Teaching" He said in part:
THAT a child has become interested IL
the doings and life history of any one 81
the Inclusive forms of animal or vege
table life, assures an interest I'm all Iif,
hayior and Their uses. Good teachins
means the use of typical facts. in tn.
group of kindred facts, inasmuch as they
best represent the group.
Just as reading a masterpiece in litera
ture makes unnecessary, Improbable
POSSIBLY distastefui. the reading of man,
commonplace pages and volumes; ana
lust as acquaintance with great painting.
and marbles that have endured makes {
single view suffice for minor pieces; ans
as q knowledge of the few vital factor.
i'm agriculture lays bare the essentials II
ali farming: so a frst-hand study of I
typical mammal may do more for one II