Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-05-23
PUBLIC SCHOOL INSTRUCTION.
Citysreachers Addressed by superintend
ent George w, Twitmycr.

CitysTencbers Addressed by superintend-
emit George w. Twitmyer.
George W. Twitmyer, superintendent
of public schools. addressed the teachers
OF this CITY Friday afternoon in the
High School Assembly Hall. His sub
iect was Widening Ideals in Public
School Instruction, Before the ad-
dress Miss Josephine Fletcher, super
visor of music, sang solo.
Mr.. Twitmyer said. "lf we propose
to keep up with the progress of educa-
ton we must connect the school world
with the great outside world. The
school is isolated from the social and
business worlds. | feel that we as
teachers have shrank from contact With
the great world. The world begins to
think that the school is'made for the
child. Hitherto this thought has been
thrust aside by the teaching fraternity,
When new and broader methods are
suggested, don't you sometimes wish
to be let alones The first work of the
school ia TO ciyilize the child, he must
be brought to such a frame Of mind
that he will harmonize with his sur
roundings. Then he must learn to par
ticipate in the social aud institutional
life in which he lives. The life that he
lives today should be- within the range
of his experience and capability and
should be a counterpart OF the life he
will live in maturity. Teach the boys
and girls that they are part and parcel
of the great moving word. The home
must co ordinate with the school in
the specialization Of the child.
GOOD teaching solves the problem
of keeping order in the school. The
modern outlook toward the oo.opera-
| tion Of the home and the school is
| the hope of education. When we know
the lie Of the home it is more easy to
help the boys and giils. If we can
have the atmosphere of the school high
and pure, it will help the child from
| the home that is not refined in its in
tiuence. Let the children know that
they have a place in this world, that
they are loved, and sympathize with
them ana be honest with them. Chill
dren are not sent TO school simply to
learn lessons, but for the culture OF
their hearts and hands as well as their
brains.
Another modern ideal Is that Of
| flexibility in courses of study and dis
oipline to make the school develop the
child's originality and its natural pos
sibilities. We must realize that God
did not make the human mind in one
common. mould. Nature study and
literature should be in every grade from
primary to high school, but they should
be taught with spontaneity and not as
a grind. The matter OF school super
vision ought to be a special profession,
Teachers, principals and superintend
ents should study the greatest needs Of
their work and all assist in bringing
about the best results. Not every body
can teach school. If we study the needI
of the work and vitalize our forces, oul
efforts will bring greater results. |!
the world is to be uplifted it is the
work of the school to do 1t. A great
bug bear in the problem of education
is percentage. A great part of th,
work is spiritual and spiritual effor
and effect can not be reokoned by PEI
cent. The educational world is offer
ing a premium to the growing teacher
the teacher who is free and strong ant
does not work in ruts. -