Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-03-07
EDUCATIONAL
Prof. Downs Talks Interest t
ing Concerning His Chicago
Visit and Work Of Schools
Visited.

Superintendent Downs has just re
.urned from Chicago, where he attend
ID he department of superintendence
If the National Educational associa-
ion. The department is mads up of
he active members of the N. e. A,
md is perhaps the most influential
nd august body, in an educational
ense, in the United States. At the
iummer meetings many are Influenced
o attend on account of the cheap
ates or for an outing. The men and
women to be found at the winter gath
rings attend strictly to business.
They represent school system, and
ire there for a purpose.
The various states, as well as the
ity systems, were represented in this
Chicago meeting. Colorado was well
o the front, with fifteen edurutors.
IS well as many other graduates now
serving the cause of education in 9TH
er states. 1t is gratifying to people
IF this state to know that Colorado
tands for progress in an educational
sense. Judging from evidences ex-
libited in the Chicago meeting, Supt.
Downs said: Colorado may be call
I'd the mother of educators, sending
>ut her graduates far and wide to fill
important positions in other states
| fact that reflects credit upon our
Institutions"
The sessions We're held on the last
.hree days of February in the Audi
orium hotel situated on the lake
ront. In general way, the topic
lnder discussion was the course of
study as understood by various edu-
ators in both primary and secondary
schools. Taken up especially, most
attention was given to elementary ed
ication.
One great advantage" supt Downs
vent on to say, lin these meetings is
he opportunities afforded for per-
ional intercourse and for exchange of
IDEAS along lines of mutual interest.
rhe papers presented are likewise val
liable, since they set forth the best
thought of the time and are usually
ruitful in suggestion"
While in Chicago Supt. Downs grasp
I'd the opportunity afforded of visit
ing the Chicago schools, spending two
lays in that manner. He said tire
Hyde Park school. with an enrolment
Of 1900 pupils. is organized just like
4 school city, Officers answering
20 those of city system are elected
from among the pupils. These con
.rol matters of discipline. The school
has been running on this sslf-goyern-
ment plan for the past six years.
Judging from results, Mr. Downs said
the idea has been most successfully
carried ont.
The Dewey school was Of course
iot sighted. Readers of The Herald
may remember that the plans of this
system were fully discussed in pa
per, School and Society," presented
by Supt. Downs before the Colorado
State Teachers association last De
cember.
In the idea that the school should
tit the pupil for society and the meth
I'D adopted to best reach this desir-
ed end Mr.. Dewey and Col. Parker
seem to think alike. Both believe
that literary training is not suiii.
NiCht III thio uBS. w iLi4
lespect to the teachers employed there
is a radical difference. Col. Parker
secures the most expert oi teachers
10 develop his ideas. Mr.. Dewey re-
uses to employ any experienced teach
er, stating that those who have never
taught will suit his purpose better.
This said Supt. Downs, seems to
be the element of weakness in the
whole system
Another building possessing inter-
estlng features was the Jones school,
situated in the heart of the city 1t
trades from first to eighth, inclusive.
At S;45 the children began to march
in. 1t required fifteen minutes steady
continuous marching till the building
was filed with pupils. The children
are Russian Jews and Italians. All
lay long policeman is kept on duty
within the building. Besides that,
here are two teachers in room, and
sometimes three. In the basement
there are bathtubs with certain Off
cials in charge. Here the efficacy of
soap and water as an educator is put
70 the test. At every hour In the day
this cleaning apparatus is in use. BY
his means the children Of the entire
building get bath once week.
THE system speaks for itself" Supt.
Downs said. when the eighth grade
s reached-where pupils have been in
attendance for some years, coming up
through the lower grades-there is a
decided difference in their appear
lnce."
That day the pupils recited Julius
Caesar without books, and gave the
play remarkably well. One boy, a
Russian Jew, who has been in the
| United States seven years, was pertic.