The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-01
BRYAN ON COUNTY INSTITUTE
PRESIDENT OF STATE UNIVERSITY
TALKS OF "sHEEP" AND GOATS"
of Public Instruction
Elementary Education.

enl L. y. CrlOeT is the SeCTeldIy. IHc
morning session was opened with devo-
tional exercises by Rev. H. A. Brown, Of
the Friends Church.
The first address was by DR.. William l..
Bryan, president of the State University,
who discussed THE County Institute"
His talk was mainly of how new superin-
tendent should take hold of an institute and
control it. The programme should not be
burdened that it will overtax the mem
tai and physical endurance of the teacher.
He advised that general sessions be held in
the mornings and special sessions in the
afternoon. The most important feature of
the institute, DR.. Bryan thought, Is the
character of the instructors who do the
work. 1t is important that instructors
know something" and they must be able
to tell the teachers what they know. They
must be good speakers" and should not
talk over the heads of the teachers. How
ever, it is better to talk over their heads
than under. An important qualification of
an instructor Is that he should be one of
the 'sheep," DR.. Bryan said. He should
not be one of the goats" The speaker ex-
planned that ''sheep" is one who tries to
do his best for the teachers and goat
as an instructor is one who desires to make
himself popular by jokes and seeks to put
in the time some way and draw his money.
One of the main things that makes an in
structor valuable is for him to impress his
character on the teachers of the county.
IMPORTANT FACTOR.
DR.. Bryan's paper discussed by DIR.
w. T. Stott, president OF Franklin College,
who spoke along a similar line. He held
that these county Institutes are important
and that the State recognizes their value.
The main features, DR.. Stott thought,
the instructions and the entertainment that
are got up for the teachers. In this line he
would recommend art lectures, music, and
they might have an old-fashioned spelling
school
Francis NJ. Stalker, associate professor of
psychology and methods, State Normal
School. in speaking of the work of the
county institute, declared that instruction
should be broad and should be cultured and
dignifed. The instructor should know
something and be somebody
At the afternoon session A. L. Gary, of
this city, who is at the head of the Office
that supplies the teachers and Young Peo-
pies Reading Circle with literature, talked
along the line of reading circle work, call
ing attention to the books that can be had
for next year. He said that 1000 more
books were sold in this work last year than
evidence that it is taking a strong hold in
the schools.
One of the interesting papers of the after
noon was on THE New County Superin-
tendent'' and was contributed by Superin-
tendent j. w. Dunn, of Starke county. His
view was that the new superintendent
comes in contact with new conditions-con-
ditions as to teachers, as TO business, as to
experiences with men. These new. condi-
lions require individuality; they require
thought and serious consideration. The
new Superintendent must not be headstrong
shirt
of student-not necessarily a student of
textbooks but a student of conditions.
There is now more than national idea of
education" said the speaker. There is a
world idea. The great increase in educa-
tional matters is worldwide. The great
universities, with their millions back of
them, are creating a world idea of educa-
ton. Mr.. Dunn emphasized the point that
the influence of Cecil Rhodes scholarships
are worldwide. The new county superin-
tendent must not ignore these new condi-
tons and worldwide idea of education. The
speaker took the view that the county SUI
perintendent must feel the responsibility of
leading the educational forces toward high
err education and culture of the boys and
girls. He promised that with the aid of the
former superintendent the new ones will
help to hold up the high educational stand
ard of Indiana.
MR.. CoTToN's PAPER.
The last paper of the afternoon session
was by F. A Cotton, superintendent of
public instruction. His topic was 1.-THE End
of Elementary Characterization Attained -
At the outset he said: theoretically it
would seem that we ought to spend our
time in reflection, the contemplation of the
good, the beautiful, and so on, but prac-
tically we have to measure calico, wash
dishes, cut wood, hoe corn, run factories,
make rails and fences. Theoretically it
would seem that every one ought to have
re o{tv
ough university education; as a matter of
fact, only per cent. of our children get
beyond the elementary school. This fact
must have large influence in determining
the purpose of elementary education
Booker T. Washington wisely insists that
the crying need of his race is industrial
education. an education that will improve
| the material conditions of the negro. With
80 to 90 per cent. of our children leaving
| school at the end of the elementary course.
large majority of whom leave because
they must help to earn bread. Mr. Wash
| ington's theory is as applicable to our race
as to his"
Mr. Cotton held that the poorest people
are not poor because of a lack of knowl-
| edge of the three RS so much as a lack
| of self-respect, thrift, perseverance and re-
| liability. Their poverty is due TO moral
rather than to intellectual causes Ele-
mentary education must lay great emphasis
| on moral questions Children must be
taught that frugality. honesty. persever-
| ence, reliability, consideration for others,
! uprightness, are the qualities that count
for most in this life-will count for most in
| earning livelihood.
"A liberal education" Mr.. Cotton said
| sis one that keeps in constant view the
ends And purposes about which so much
has been said-thought. appreciation of
beauty, loyalty TO duty, affection. sympathy.
| etc And the elementary schools could
| and should have all these things in view"
Mr.. Cotton is a supporter of the theory
| that school corporations. in addition to the
| regular school levy paid into the state
| treasury. should fix a maximum tax of q
| to 80 cents on each 500 for the support of
| their schools. Then if this is found TO be
| inadequate TO keep the schools of town.
ships open a proper length of time the
| corporation should be allowed TO draw from
| the general fund. Mr.. Cotton would not
| advocate a tax of more than 30 cents and
| probably % cents would be sufficient.
The state superintendent talked at length
| on the duties of superintendent, and in a
measure outlined the policy his department
will pursue. Never before" said he has
| IL been more important to teach our chill
dren that the easy road 10 learning is just
wealth. Children should be taught that
/ all things well done are difficult TO perform
| And these tasks should point toward prep
| aration for the worlds work. making for
| efficiency in some one or more OF the So
/ called institutions of man."
After the adjournment yesterday the
| superintendents went out TO the arsenal
! grounds to inspect the arrangements for