New-York tribune., 1903-07-10
ELEMENTARY EDUCATION.
CHILD STUDY METHODS.
PaIuc Of Manual Training g-Boston
Contention Elects Officers.

Boston. July e.-The fourth day OF the convention
of the National Teachers Association was given
largely to excursions. While many of the trips
were for pleasure, number for geological
and other educational purposes one Of them was
the canoe excursion up the Charles River of the
department Of physical training There were ex-
hibiuons lectures and receptions The registration
shows an attendance of than 1900
Three Of the departments have practically finish
ed their work-the elementary. the higher educa-
ton and the normal. The department Of secondary
education and OF scientific instruction held the first
sessions to-day. The manual training music kin
cergarten. child study. administration and Indian
departments continued their deliberations The
business. physical training and library departments
viii resume tomorrow.
The national council held a memorial session
this forenoon at which tributes paid to ]. J..
~. Curry. President ". NJ. Bradshear and DR.. T.
F. White.
The National Educational Association to-day
elected J. W. Cook. OF Illinois. president NJ c.
Henry Rhoades. OF Kentucky. treasurer. and twelve
vice-presidents, Of whom President Charles W.
Eliot OF Harvard University is the first.
The department Of secondary education was
opened with address by the president, Charles
p Wheelock head inspector OF the University oS
the State Of New-York. Several papers were pre-
sented. followed by a general discussion and con-
ferences.
The Indian department met in joint session with
the manual training department. and a number Of
both and teachers spoke In the
music department Eugene D. Russell. principal
OF the classical high school, of Lynn. Mass. and
Frank Damrosch. q New-York City, were
speakers.
CasweH Ellis. associate professor Of education.
University Of Texas, at Austin. representing child
study, spoke on The Percentage of Boys who
Leave the High Schools and the Reasons There
for" He said that only per cent of the pupils
entering the elementary schools graduate. The
schools and the homes" he said, must cooperate
better. Teachers and superintendents must learn
more psychology and put their courses and dis
cipne in line with adolescent needs
President G. Stanley Hall, OF Clark University
who spoke on Psychic Arrest in Adolescence
said:
The period Of adolescence Is very critical M and
many who have in childhood been fnIl 0I pi25Ie s
times enthusiasm is lost youth becomes indifferent
there '' are often morbid sympg ans Three recon-;
mendations are made: Avoid strain ana make scI5o
lards or slow children, both for their own sake ana
70 GeeVe ne senoo I'd F0Te Frb specal institution
for eraver cases of this kind.
A paper on New Departure in School Admins
iration'' was read by Charles Holden. member of
the Board Of Education, Grand Rapids, Mich. who
said in part:
school administration which might he more uni
Among them are: The school should be the centre
Of neghboThood life the ever DAY sG301 dbIc6 pei @
which we hear playgrounds and yacaJlon, rs, scn00Is %
worthy Of general introduction municipal beauty
IS the demand of the times. and then make the
city more beautiful beginning with school grounds
and parks school savings banks, designed 10 cult
vate thrift and economy. are worthy Of encourage
rnent al the hands Of boards OF equcauoni aeDsI0P
of antiquities but illustrative Of the developnent OF
I la, @ cLiid life through a know-
edge Of the laws of psychology is worthy OF care
See S nes IN the he pGbc Schools Of Grand Rapids
have been most gratifying
" K Fowler State Superintendent Of Public
instruction OF Nebraska in paper on Inc
Consolidation Of Rural Schools taking the State
Of Nebraska example. said:
To overcome the many Disadvantages in the
present rural school system, and for the purpose
Of giving every farmers girl and boy opportunities
equal those Of the girl and boy OF the village
Ircts into q common central school. conveying the
pupils from every part of the district to and from
the central school by means OF covered vans or
stated as follows It permits better grading Of
opportunity for thorough Work IN sPFecIat d
schooling and 10 schools Of a higher grade. II
teachers 1t makes the work Of the specialist ana
supervisor Tar more effective II qulckenS puolic
oe'6erc I'D lai ~ the deal place in which to Bring
rp Children enabling them to secure the advantages
OF centres of population and spend their evening
Of 50 work. o2ufa instead l Of Idly oang about town
The Hiee-presdents chosen are are: ChaTles , w; EoT
II Searson Nebraska: William /. Prather, Texas;
York George 81 Smith South Dakota: H. Brewster
Willis NeW-Jersey: James A. Foshay. California
r. = Dyer, Ohio; Delos Hall, Michigan, and Ellor
T. Carlyle. Massachusetts Directors, one from
each State. chosen
President Charles w. Eliot presided at the bust
meeting Treasurer William NJ DAVIDSON re-
ported total receipts of o46 and disbursements OF
5000 The report Of the trustees showed the per
nanent fund to be $lOs,O0O -
IN the evening there was a spirited difference Of
opinion between President Eliot of Harvard and
President Butter of Columbia, on the one side, and
Miss Margaret A. Haley Of Chicago; on the other
over a proposed amendment 10 the bylaws, giving
the selection OF the nominating committee. now
lodged with the State delegates. TO the president
Miss Haley opposed the proposed change. and was
Notorious after lively battle with the TWO college
1,~sidenrs in which several delegates joined. Miss
Haley contended that the proposed amendment was
a movement toward investing the power OF govern
uent in the men members of the associat ion.
President Eliot and President Butler insisted that
under present conditions the States are not getting
he proper representation on the conlnllttee on
nominations. The choice OF members or the COM
uittee will remain with the State delegates
The convention viii practically close tomorrow