The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-19

plea for enthusiastic and unremittlns work fn behalf Of education. KnoWi- edge Is power. and if our beloved State and section are to prosper, if they are not lag in the rear, and our children be mere hewers of wood and drawers of water, the State must bend her best energies to educate them.
 The address of Professor Thach was followed by a paper on The First Formal Steps of instruction" by Prof H. c. Gilbert.
 "Phonics as an Aid to Reading was the subject of very able and helpful paper by Miss Jessie Reeter of Bir- mingham city schools. She claimed that correct phonic instruction should improve articulation, correct defective speech and aid in pronunciation. Her method of teaching the sound of letters by development stories was unique and instructive.
 A second paper discussing this same subject was read by Miss Mary Young of the City Schools of Uniontown.. She advocated the rational methods of read ing as taught by Mir. Ward of the Brooklyn Schools and her explanation of this method was clear and forceful.
 This subject was further discussed very interestingly by Professors Thach of Auburn. Starke of the University School. Montgomery. and Prof. McCor- kle of Troy.
 Elections in College Works.
 Prof. w. R. Harrison, Superintendent of Union Springs City Schools. pre- sented a strong paper on the subject of Election in College Studies" He opposed the elective system if applied to the high schools and thought that even in college the selection of studies should be we'll guarded. He claimed that if pupils were allowed to select their own course they would too often select history instead of Latin simply because to them 1t was easier; that they were after getting through with just as little work as possible.
 This subject was warmly, debated by Professor Starke, Montgomery; Profes- sor Seay, Sylacauga; Dr. Phillips, Bir- mingham: Professor Pace, Troy Nor nal College; Dr. Massey. Alabama Fe- male College. Tuskegee, and President Shackelford of the Troy Normal Col leeg.
 pr. Phillips favored elections in the high schools and all the others might be called restricted electionists since their preference was on the side Of the teachers authority rather than the child's privilege of choosing for him. self. pr. Phillips designated that as the '"Procrustean-b method of cut ting the child to suit the iron frame course of study" While he would not disparage the good results coming from a careful study of the classics, on the other hand he would not drive away the mechanics son because. for sooth. he could not stay in school more than one or two years and want ed only an English course.
 It was nip and tuck" for awhile. the audience applauding first one side and then the other.
 The last paper of the afternoon ses- sion was that of Prof. J. A. B. Lovett, President of the Agricultural School at Blountsville. He does not believe Tn corporal punishment except as a der nier resort. He has inaugurated in his school a system of government un" der the direction of captains who re- lieve him of much of the disciplinary work.
 The session then adjourned until o'clock this afternoon.
 At 4:30 o'clock this afternoon there will be a joint session of all sections of the Association to hear the discus sion on local taxation, at which time the members of the Educational and Tax Committees of the ConstitutionaE Convention are invited to be present.