The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-06-11


can be no question brought before our legislature
OF more Importance than the consideration of a
means whereby system of education may be es-
tablished upon truly scientific basis.
therefore had introduced at the last session of
the California state Legislature the following BILL
Which passed both houses and was signed by the
governor and will become law July 1st of the
present year.
instruction must be given in the following
branches IN the several grades in which they may
be required, viz: Reading, writing, orthography,
arithmetic, geography, natural study; language and
grammar with special reference to composition;
history of the United States and civil government;
elements of physiology and hygiene, with special
reference to the effect OF alcohol and narcotics on
the human SYSTEM music, drawing and elementary
bookkeeping humane educaton]; provided that
instruction IN elementary bookkeeping, Humane
educauon], elements of physiology aud hygiene
music, drawing and nature study may be oral no
textbooks on these subjects being required to be
purchased by the pupils provided further that
county boards of education may, in districts hav-
ing less than 100 children confine the pupils
to the studies of reading, writing, orthography.
arithmetic language aud grammar, geography his
tory OF the United States and civil government
elements OF physiology and hygiene, and elemen-
tarY bookkeeping until they have practical knowl-
edge Of these SUBJECTS and it is further provided.
that no more than twenty recitations per week shall
be required of pupils in the secondary schools and
no pupil under the age of fifteen years in any
grammar or primary school shall be required to do
any home study.
Sec. q Section 1866 of the Political Code is
hereby amended to read as follows:
l1ooo Other studies may be authorized by the
board OF education OF any county, city or city and
county, but such studies if SO authorized shall be
IN lieu OF a corresponding number of such enumer-
ated studies specified in the preceding section, and
not IN addition thereto.
Sec. 3. This act shall take effect and be in force
from and after the 1st day of July, 1901.
There are more studies outlined here than there
should be, bat the home study clause will cut the
quantity OF work required, every subject need
ing preparation has its study period under the sup
ervlson of the class teacher This has an influence
on the teacher, too, because she is assigned the
time that the child has get the lesson in; she is
there to for herself and is not very apt to give
more than the child can accomplish, as has been
done in the past when lessons were taken home.
1t has been found after trial of wear and half
in one city of this plan that the work is done as
we'll, if not better than under the old plan of filling
the school time with Rotations and requiring the
work to be done at home, usually under very un
favorable conditions
The remedy for the lack of thorcughness which
exists among pupils of today is the study of fewer
subjects The multiplication Of subjects is the dis
ease OF modern school training. We have been
temporarily carried away with the notion that it is
important to give pupils information on variety
OF interesting subjects The school exists for the
purpose OF giving training, not information. There
is no issue which be so beneficiay urged TODAY
as this.
1t child when he reaches the age of fifteen can
read aloud pleasantly and ntelligently, write egi-
bly, spell correctly, express himself clearly in let
ter, use his mind himself and his fingers 50 that
his hands will be help to him in earning his liv.
ing, that IS all that should be expected othe child
either boy or girl. That is enough for seven years
OF learning in the great formative period of life
The ann OF education is to render the individual
as much as possible instrument of happiness
f1rst to himself, and next to other beings or the
promotion of human happiness human virtue and
human protection All of these definitions imply
the ability on the part of the Individual to take care
OF himself and of other beings who may be depend
ent upon him. Therefore, system of education
which is advanced must be for the accomplish
ments OF these ends, and it must at the same time
conserve the health of the pupil or it is of no use
ne hght against the measure prosposed was Bit
tery fought IN the state legislature by the organ
zed educators of the state but by great effort on
the part OF the members who introduced the bill it
was hnally carried and the governor was induced
to sign the measure Educators objected because
they did not wish to have any one step in from the
outside and dictate to them how they should do
their work, but the arguments favor of the meas
ure were SO many that the fight was finally won
1t is my hope that such measure will be inst-
tied md ,lar,;c