The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-12
TRAINING IN SPOKEN ENGLISH
SUBJECT OF A PRACTICAL ADDRESS
BY PROF. TRUEBLOOD.
Meetings of the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
tive Association Is Formed by
the Grade Teachers.

IDS NDillt - al tllu III nearly every way
it proved the most successful ever held.
Between 10000 and % 900 people have been
present. and the weather has been perfect.
Forty-fve meetings of the departments
and six general sessions contributed TO the
work. At all OF them some of the best
known speakers I'm the United States de-
livered addresses. Most of the delegates
will depart at once for their homes. but
small portion. a thousand or so, will stay
in Minnesota and vicinity for some time in
order 10 visit various places Of interest.
1t seems to be generally understood that
the meeting place for next year will be
/ Boston. the election OF President Eliot, of
Harvard University being taken by most
of those in attendance to mean that there
| will be no further competition by other
would-be aspirants for the honor
The morning was devoted TO a general
session in the Exposition Auditorium. The
! first speaker was William T. Harris
| United States commissioner of education,
! Washington, d. c., whose topic was How
the School Strengthens the Individuality of
| the Pulpit
! Charles P. G.. Scott. chronological editor
of the Century Dictionary. spoke on The
simplihcation OF English Spelling a Pres
ent Duty" He said in part:
The simplihca ton of English spelling is
duty to be done, no longer a proposal to
be discussed. English spelling is a poor
tool for teachers, and they can and ought
! to mend IT. If teachers know the true
history of the language and the facts of its
| present use they will see how to correct the
! evils OF spelling. AS rational beings they
| will wish to try to correct them. All philolo-
gists, etymologists and leXicogra piers
agree that nothing would more promote
the knowledge of English etymology than
! simplificatio OF English spelling. a mod
! erately phonetic standard to go by is nee
| esssry. Such smplification being a secular
! process, expedited by scientific interior
| ence, must go on. better spelling is in
! evitable. Teachers should not try TO avoid
| II or evade it. They must, as rational be-
| ings, rather favor il, promote it, use 1t. II
! is a fearful responsibility to be a rational
| being"
Thomas c. Trueblood. professor of ora
tory, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
| spoke on THE Educational Value of Train
| ing in Spoken English" He said in part
The practice of speaking strengthens
! lung power and vocal power and benefits
the whole system. Right speaking is
| benefit TO the health; wrong speaking is
often disastrous. The day before a speech
| ought TO be play day. The best condition
for eloquence is Astounding health, for fine
| speeches often accomplish nothing for lack
| of physical force Correct speaking is
| based certain principles and may be
| mastered like a science. Students thereof
| must deal with master orauOnS which, like
| our national songs, become the highest ex-
| preston of patriotism. That style OF deliv-
! cry is best which calls least attention TO it
! self and that literary style is best which
is least obtruSiVe and let's through the
| truth the best. The people must be reached
| in home-bred Anglo-SaXon. Don't whip
| with a switch that has the leaves on If you
| want to Jingle.
THE cultivation of the imagination is an
other of the values of training in spoken
| English ] would urge, first, the study of
! human nature, for he who would persuade
men must study their lives their needs.
their motives and their purposes and must
| gain their sympathy. Sympathy with the
| masses makes a man come before an audi
| ence with a message not performance.
! The last and most important point is the
development of character. The desire to be
| helpful and lead men makes speakers dis
| card habits Of thought and action that lose
respect and leadership. This Is character
| building, and character is the basis of ora
| tory"
The afternoon was again devoted to the
| meetings of the various departments of the
Met;nn5sI Ed,IcationaI Association most Of
! which wound up their sessions by electing
officers In the elementary education de-
| partment. w. a. Mills, superintendent at
| Charlottesville Ind. pointed out The Use
| and Danger OF Method" Educational
! method. he said. is TO the teacher what
| chart and compass are to the mariner
| The teacher must have entire liberty of
| ways and means. keeping all the time with
in the limits fixed by the principles of edu-
| cation.
| Pine Bluff. Ark, read a paper on Age as
| Related to Character-buiding," which was
| discussed by NJ. +. Miller, superintendent
| OF Denver. Col In the department of
| higher education, Pro. J. Irving Manatt
discussed the future of Greek in American
/ schools and William Bayard Craig. cham
cellor of Drake University. Des Moines, Ia.
read a paper on Education in the APP
I probation of Art"
| II. Meyer, professor of the Institute Of
! Commerce, University of Wisconsin, dis
cussed the preparation of commercial
| teachers for public school work. Require
ments Of Actual Business, was the topic
I discussed by George A. Booth, New Haven,
, Conn, and J. NJ. Anderson. Minneapolis.
| b. T. GAYLORD Beverly Mass outlined a
/ practical commercial course for high
school. Selby A. Moran, Ann Arbor, Mich.
and Mrs. Nj. J.. Veenflict. Alpena, Mich,
discussed the education of an amanuensis.
There were two papers in the library de,
| partment one on What May the School
Properly Demand of the Library" by ].
| NJ. Greenwood, superintendent at Kansas
! City and one on School Libraries in Rural
| Districts by Agnes Robertson, superin-
tendent at Cherokee la.
In the child study department, DR.. K. q.
Beard. Minneapolis. discussed the physi-
ology of the nervous system applied to
education. and the topic of Reuben +.
Halleck. principal at Louisville. KY. was
How Far Does the Modern High School
/ Fit the Nature and Needs of Adolescents?'
In the science instruction department
there were technical papers by Frank. NJ.
Gilley, Chelsea. Mass; j. A. Merrill. state
! Normal School. Superior Wis, and DR.. W.
/ j. MCGEE, ethnolOgist. Washington.
The department OF manual training had
round-table discussion OF the relation OF
| home economics TO science in the high
school The department Of school admins
tration listened TO the report of the COM
/ mittee on schOolhouse legislation and a
paper on the real function of the school
board. by Or. +. H. Little, president of the
/ school board at Muscatine Ia.
The department OF special education
listened 10 papers on the training OF de-
fectives by William r. Wait. superintend-
emit OF the New York Institution for the
! Blind: l.. f. Allen, superintendent OF the
| PENNSYLVANIA Institution for the Blind.
Overlook; J. j. Dow. superintendent Of
the Minnesota School for the Blind, Fart
bault: Dr. Alexander Graham Bell Wash
ington. and Helen Nj. Hefferan, president
OF the Illinois Mothers Congress.
While a great number of the delegates TO
the convention had left for their homes be-
fore the final meeting tonight. there were
still enough present to nearly fill the large
auditorium OF the Exposition building for
the last work of the convention. Eight or
nine thousand people attended this meet
Ing and listened TO two very instructive and
highly interesting addresses.
The first was made by DR.. G. NJ l.. Sites
! secretary OF the Educational Association of
| China. special delegate 20 the convention
lie outlined tbe work being done by the
/ educators IN china. Or. Sites was fol-
! lowed by DR.. John Finley, professor OF poll
tics at Princeton University, who took as
his subject THE Problem Of the Tropics -
/ Among other things ne said.