The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-10-23

FIRST SPEAKER WAS NOT PREsEn
HuLLY, .. o., OF 5uckNELL uN
He spoke on Facts in Education" Hs
said: 1t ia better first TO try and define
what q fact is. 1t Is hard to define. The
dictionary does not aid us. shall not de-
nne the term but illustrate what Is
meant. Loisette, Frenchman, came
here TO revise memory. That was fad
It was simple but fad just the same
and many adopted IT. am not here to
give fads ''particular its" as some one
said.
OIL city school teachers got UP a plot
urs fad. by making beautiful rooms and
furnished nature study for the children,
decorating the walks with pictures
They thought this would make pass the
dull time OF the children and serve tc
make them love the school room. Another
fad was study OF birds.
There 10 come good TO come out of every
TAD. II is most settled that physiology IL
10 be taught by law in public schools OF
Pennsylvania. This leads TO another fad
physical culture. Some people know every
bone In the body and yet have indiges-
ton. Having that fad has some good ir
Il.
What 10 q school for? Here is a greas
big school Every person 3-storied house
with physical, mental and spiritual floors.
Some people 1--we almost entirely on the
ground floor and some in the subcellar.
why not study physical culture In school
90 as TO possess good body. Children need
stomachs all through life but not OF ne
censity the Binomial theorem. A child
must have good body as well as mind.
Athleticism is a long swing OF the pendu-
lum to the other side. A gymnasium was
needed years ago. when the ideal student
was a sad dyspeptic. but was not had II
would be a sad fad TO go back from ply
sical culture. A physician ought 10 20
with each superintendent and examiner
70 inspect children OF the schools.
Such was the case In Paris with good
results The same test was made In New
York city. am not arguing for that or
any other fad.
I am arguing for both things new and
u0d. Educational progress must come
Through cranks and ideaFsts.
In the teaching OF common branches.
there have been many changes. There
ls spelling for example though I am no
advocate I'm modern spelling. Why not
take the spelling OF words IN grade
Word lists ought TO be adopted SO much
has been done for reform spelling. Take
the words wrong. tough. though. cough,
hiocaugh. / went Ave years 10 school "a
learn 60 spell such words. AZ
5pon as changes are made others follow,
We have done much and can do more
o. bring about changes though they come
rs fadsl Changes in writing were from
Hais. That was true with the ppencerian
vertical and baclhand systems. The
5lrst never got a fair chance. but is now
coming back. Reading connected with
sfnI1 ~.
Ill came from faddists.
Grammar is a branch OF psychology
All names OF things called names. The
b'd fashion way OF teaching grammar
meant nothing. Fad came along and
modified the method 90 that study OF
grammar r. n pleasure CThese illustrated
with examples OF parts Of speech) Dia-
iect is another fad. Who shall say what
pronounciation one section OF country
shall have. Webster and Worcester are
no criterion. All languages is matter
Of dialect. The climate has an influence
pn dialect. That is true with the Ger
mans as well a. Americans Homer
wrote in dialect. lie was the ] Whit.
comb Riley OF antiquity. Fad made that
rough old dialect the classical Greek OF
today
I am friendly 10 all fads
Nature studies among flowers. hees
tincsliy studied for young children. how.
ever, but few minutes each morning Il
exoelient for training and perceptivs
power. Training of head. hand and hear
a. well as reading. 'ritlng and 'rithme.
tic Il essential. put fairy stories
etc. In schools for benehtinR children
Here is a wonderful laboratory that GOD
Gave-the sky. Why not study thal
beauty which ever changes through every
hour OF the day7
what ought a child TO know? Whar
that In settled the question: of education
will be settled. The necessity of modern
Dife demands changes. A great many
fnddists In education are crazy, but their
fsds are not
What r. educationf The true end Of
education n discipline. not 70 an IN,
orAnium with facts. and the leading oul
81 the powers OF the child.
m conclusion I will eive you Pafi
naosolng: May the devil miss you. IN,
onGo1s Kiss you and have their wing
y y0ur mouths and IN your dreams"
Mr. sHEARER ARRIVES.
The address was suddenly shortened
- me arrival Of Mr.. shearer. who wal
- have been the first speaker OF IN
korulng. but was delayed.
President Dennis then introduced su
= Dj(nfsndent william J. shcafer OF Eliza