The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-07-12

| the history of the National Educational
| association came to a close last even
| ing. The attendance beat all previous
| records; it was far in excess of the
one held at Detroit last year, which
had been the largest ever held.
Not alone in point of numbers was
the convention success, but the work
that has been accomplished during the
past week has been of great benefit to
educators in all parts of the country,
The addresses that have been delivered
were among the ablest that have ever
been presented, and by some of the
most advanced thinkers in the coun-
try.
An Important Step.
One important feature of the con-
| vention and which no doubt will be OF
| lasting benefit was the organization OF
National Federation of Teachers. The
| constitution adopted limits the active
members to grade teachers in the ele-
| mentary schools, which defined means
the grade below the high schools. The
constitution adopted for the needs for
the first year was simple one, and
during the organization a short recess
was taken to allow any who were pres
ent to join the new organization, and
In a few minutes sixty teachers had
become charter members.
DR.. Eliot Accepts Presidency.
The election of DR.. Charles w. Eliot,
president of the Harvard university, as
president of the association, was con-
sldered another step in the right di-
recuon, as it places at the head of
the notable organization one of the
advanced educators of the country.
A telegram of congratulation was
sent him as son as he was chosen, and
yesterday the association received a
telegram from him in response, in
Which he accepted the position and ex-
tended his thanks for the honor that
had been conferred.
President Beardshear, who unfortu-
| nately was taken i'll upon his arrival in
the city, is still at the hospital and
While his condition is in no wise
alarming, it was reported yesterday
that he would not be able to leave the
hospital for several days ..oi-.
Minnesotans Honored. -
Minnesota was signally honored in
the selection of three members on the
board of directors of the national coun-
ell, Z. M. Jordan, Minneapolis; J. F.
Mlllspaugh, Winona, and r. E. DenfeH
OF Duluth, and also with the election
OF Wallace G. Nye, as one of the vice
presidents OF the association, a prece-
dent being established in the selection
OF Mr. Nye, as he is in nowise a
teacher.
Three Able Addresses.
The general session yesterday morn
ing at the exposition was largely at
tended, and interesting topics were dis
cuSSed by able opponents in their diff
| ferent lines of thought.
William T. Harris, commissioner of
euucatlon at Washington, took as his
subject, How School STRENGTHENS the
individuality of the Pupil" He. alluded
to the old saying, that the common
school system, ESPECIALLY as it existed
IN cities, was likely to result in devel-
oplng a common type in character, al
most reminding one of the common re-
suits OF machinery. While this saving
was plausible, yet the good school
would make it's children alike in the
power of developing and expressive
their individuality. Ten men are a
hundred times more powerful than one
Inc errors and defects of one person
save others from such defects. Ninety
nine out of 100 acts are governed fv
education.
Change System of SpeIing.>
Charles Payson Gurley Scott spoke
on Inc S1mplificatfon of English Smell
ling Present Duty" He said spelling
was important because of it's endless
iteration. He believed it the duty of
all to assist in the simplification of
speli!ng. English spelling is about as
irrational as anything can be- Reason
demands truth and simplification in the
teachlng or the young from you. Every
| possible objection has been raised and
| met and the arguments are overWhel-
ming.
Spelling was but a method, a tool
and it was the duty of the teachers RI
mend 1T. S1mplifled spelling was in the
direction of phonetics, but no philolo-
g1st advocated phonetic spelling. The
ordinary teaching of child in spelling
was simply paralyzing to reason. and
when the child tried to use reason and
analogy he was corrected and kept
in"
In America we are trying to adopt
the simpler spelling wherever possible
1t is SO with photographers, and I can
say, officially, that the publishers Of
Worcester's Unabridged Dictionary do
not intend to put forth another edition
win It's ponderous speInng."
Should Study EIocution.
Thomas Clark Treeblood. nrofasso,
| OF elocution of the University of Mich
| lgan, spoke on the Educational Value
| of the Training in Spoken English )
! HIS enunciation was clear and distinct
! and added much to the endowment M
his speech. The speaker treated his
SUBJECT from mental, physical and
moral standpoints. The voice must he
trained for purity, tone production . nd
| f1exibility and force. Wrong methods
of speaking were disastrous to health
| correct methods worked often a COM
plete revolution. Nerve force is an.
other necessary fact in good speaking
Most persuasive men are vigorous
vital men, with good digestion. They
need lungs TO beat the truth into men
The student of public speaking deals
with all literature. He studies the ma
| tions, and hence studies the thoupht
which produced them. If a man car
I grow eloquent with the words of an
other, he can grow eloquent himself
10 make oratory richer, nobler, finer
the character must be made finer and
petter. The gift of persuasion distin-
| cuisines man above his fellow man. II
calls him to the position of leadership
and 1t is our duty to do everything in
| our power for public speaking.
| Library Department Election.
The library department convened ir
its second session yesterday Afternoon
in the reading room of the university
| library. Miss Mary Eileen Ahern. al
| Chicago, took the chair.
j. M. Greenwood, superintendent Of
| schools of Kansas City. Mo-, spoke or
What May the School Properly De-
mand of the Library?" Mr. Green
wood emphasized the need of a bette,
understanding of the requirements and
| the tastes Of children in the librarians
or today He said that in this regard
women librarians were, as a rule, su
perlor 10 men. He said that the child
| should early be made to feel at home