Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-02-24
DR.. JONES
ON EDUCATION.
PROF. DIGGs SCORES NOR
MAI. SCHOOL TEACHERS.
Mr.. Wright Takes Side Issue.
CAN'T STUDY MEN AND BOOKS
TOO.
A stomy Scene At Lyceum Meeting


The Citize1s' Lyeeum met Thursday
night. 18th inst, at the Leigh st. N.
Il. Church with Mr.. ]. Andrew Bowler
in the chair aud quite large audience
was present. The exercises which
were both interesting and instructive
grew very exciting at times. 10 fact,
so warm did things wax that one speak
er weRt so far as TO admit his exUecta
tion Of being held up" for what he
was about to say.
At this meeting, an incident, the
unfortunate students OF the gradual
ing class of the Normal School was
handled wi h gloves of.
The main topic of the meeting was u
paper read by Professor Joseph e.
Jones on "Eduestion." The paper
which was as much inspiring IS it was
instructive showed that the read er lad
given the subject deep thought and
undivided attention.
Prof. Jones in his writings, however,
paused for q remark or two in regards
20 the pupils OF the graduating class of
the Normal School who failed. The
class numbered thirty and only three
OF that number passed.
After Prof. Jones had concluded his
his paper, the president snnouueed
that the subject was open for discus
sion.
After few minutes silence. speak
ers rose thick and fast from all quar-
ters of the house. M. Jacob r.
Wright moved that seysral copies OF
the paper be printed IN pamphlet form
and distributed. This motion, how
ever, fell fat.
Prof. Diggs of the Union University
then arose and commented on the pa
per In glowing terms. While on his
feet, Prof, Diggs took occasion to say
that while he consid cred Prof. Jones
paper . treat, he regretted very much
that he was present and heard the bad
record OF the Normal School. Had
this occurred in my state" said he,
1.-The instructor or teacher of that class
wsuld have been dismissed at once"
Ir's THE sYsTRM," SAID MR. JOHNSON.
Mr. w. A. Johnson arose and stated
that he thought this unfortunate sffsir
was due largely to the system by
which the Normal teachers tsught. II
is q rule with them to perform @ GER
tain duty. They will give q scholar
perhaps ten examples without any ex-
PLANTATION as TO how they should be
worked. II the child's parents could
not help him to work them he had to
whatever from the teachers.
SOMETHING wRoNo," sAYs MRS. COLE
MAN,
''I know nothing of the Normal
School teachers. I've never seen one
of them nor do think have any spec
ial longing to see them, but in my
mind something is wrong somewhere,
therefore we should not look only on
one side of the question:" said Mrs.
II. Amanda Coleman, instructor OF En-
glish and Elocutioa at the II. NJ. Col
lege. Perhaps it is the pupil" con-
tinued Mrs. Coleman land even In
that case the teacher must be held part
ly responsible. 1t ia the teachers du-
ty to assist the scholars as much as
possible and force him or her to learn,
otherwise L should think her poor
teacher.
Do you suppose ! would have student
coming to me month after month, year
after year without making some pro-
gress or accomplishing something. 1t
would be my duty to see that that stu
dent studies aud learn"
She then related an in stance when she
took q very dull scholar and made her
one of the leading students in the col
lege.
CAN'T Study MEN AND BOOKS, TOO.
The next speaker was Mr.. Jacob F.
Wright who made quite q long speech h
during which he took occasion to scoId
the pupils of the graduating class in
strong terms.
Mr.. Wright said, while the teach
ers are to be blamed to aa extent for
this sffair, yet in his opinion they
should not catch the whole responsi-
bility AT may be held up for what
Ann going to say" said he. ''but be that
as it may. L know some of those girls
who were not grad this term.
I've seen some of these girls in the
evening after school instead Of study
ing their lessons strolling the streets.
They entertained company six nights
in week when they should be looking
over their lessons. see them often
books on one arm and boys on the 9th
er They court now from fifteen to
eighteen. They certsinly can't study
men and books too-one or the other
must GO"
All testimony regarding the "unior-
tunstes" is not ss yet in, therefore the
discussion is likely to be resumed at
the next meeting OF the lyceum when
argument on both sides will doubtless
be heard. Prof. Jones also states that
he intends to add more to his paper.
There are Several gune who were not
allowed . chance to get in action on
either subject therefore in view Of