The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-07-11
CLOSING SCENES AT
TEACHERS MEETING
Convention the Most Re-
markabIe Ever Held
by Association

Minneapolis, Minn., July 1.-THE
same ardor and enthusiasm tat was
manifested early in the week marked
the closing sessions today Of the Ma
tional Educational associations con-
vention. In many respects the con-
yention has been the most notoble ey-
er neld by the association. In the
various departments more than one
hundred sessions have been held dur
ing the week and IN all the discus
sions hav ebeen marked by iRtel!-
gence and animation and have drawn
forth a free interchange of views tend
ing tc the general enlightenment OF
the educators in their art.
Before the general session this
morning the principal speakers were
Hon. William T. Harris, United States
commissioner OF education. Charles
Payson Gurley Scott, editor of the
Century Dictionary; Professor Thom-
as Clarkson Trueblood, Of the Univers-
it yof Michigan; and Superintendent
Carroll Gardner Pearse, OF Omaha.
"The Use and Danger of Method"
was the subject of an interesting pa
paper read before the department OF
elementary education this afternoon
by Superintendent w. A. Mills, Of
Crawfordsville. Ind. In part Prof.
Mills said:
Education Is movement in the
life of the Individual or community.
Teaching is an art employed in facil-
itating and directing this movement
along the lines believed to be whole
some The educational process is ac-
cording to certain laws determined by
the nature and sequence of activities
through which the individual must
pass If he is TO grow. Teaching must
conform to these laws 10 be effective.
The teacher must understand the prin-
cinles Of education, not as something
out of which she may deduce rules Of
teaching. but as a criterion by which
she may test the worth of what she
is doing. Teaching is not applied
pedagogy. 1t is born OF the teachers
own instinct and inyentiveness. How
ever, II must not transgress the gen
eral principles else II will be futile.
Educational method is to the teacher
what chart and compass are TO the
sailor Art has to do with particular
situations. The particular child and
the particular teacher with her re-
sources and limitations are always
primary elements TO be Teckoncd
with. The actual problem OF the teach
er Is to move the child from where he
is found to where he is wanted. In
the movement the teacher must enjoy
entire liberty in the employmnt Of
ways and means, instrumentalities and
devices. keeping all the time within
the limits fixed by the principles OF
education.
'1'wo of the chief dangers in teach
ing are, restricting the teacher to the
practice which some particular teach
er or school has found successful, and
destroying the vital spark Of her work
by the slavish attempt to deduce the
practice OF the school room from laws
OF psychology. There is great danger
in the frequent demand for uniformity
OF textbooks, courses and methods.
Each school has the right TO do for its
pupils what they most need TO have
done, and in the way It can best do
them In the effort TO make teaching
scientific there is always danger Of
yelling the teachers personality, con
structing her recourse to common
sense and instinct, and OF getting in
the way OF the child's native develop
ment"