The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-10-20

The opening address was delivered by
Mary e. Woolley, president OF Mount Hol-
yoke college, who spoke on The Public
slider She said In part:
Some rave said it is too bad that the
progress in educational matters has kept
ahead OF our improvements. We must
learn to emphasize that which has a bear
ing on the progress OF our students. A
great deal OF benefit accrues from face
10 face talks as often as it Is practicable
TO hold them. There may be conscientious
individual practice and yet a lack OF en-
thusiasm in the class.
CHOICE OF SUBJECTS.
The choice OF subjects. ! think. has a
large bearing. The custom OF 'crrbbing.
which is largely prevalent in colleges. Is
fosterad I'm our schools by allowing the
student TO go TO n convenient cyclopedia
and copy almost verbatum what he finds
there and hand It in as an original essay.
Such an essay should not he accepted.
The teacher does not have cooperation
on the part OF the homes. many OF them
coming from homes where pure English is
never spoken. We are fast becoming n
newspaper reading people and our chill
dren are growing UP with no knowledge
Of the great writer's.
There are two positions every man and
woman should take: That no sensational
newspaper or cheap magazine. from the
sense OF its contents, should find n place
on his library table and that something
else besides the daily apers should be
read each day.
w are losing our moral stamina be-
cause we do not know the great writer's
sufficiently well. The children shape their
course according 10 the influence OF those
they hear and IL is important that at all
times correct English should be insisted
on. English in its correct form is de-
pendent more perhaps, than any other de
partment. History papers in which the
language Is not correct should never be
accepted.
1T is. perhaps, harder for those who
enter most deeply into the spirit Of the
winter than those who are less interested
in II. There must be a love and enthu-
siasm for the subject I'm order 20 be sue
cessful. Real enthusiasm. even IL there
be shortcomings, is essential to success.
Training is very necessary. The teacher
OF literature must have spiritual as we'll
as intellectual insight. But the fault is
not always with the teacher for lack OF
success. ] think no town or state can do
better than to employ good teachers
and enougn OF them. so no undue demands
will be made on any individual teacher.
1 lfIf - - IfSDoUNlDllIN on US all tnNf
an economy may not he misused and thus
our economy becomes an economy OF
learning and OF moral character.
The study OF English from language
from speech and literature IL Fundamental
In effect and in character"
The next speaker was A. y George OF
the English department OF the Newton
high school. Mr.. George spoke I'm part
as follows on Essentials In English"
~ w.gay - .,aA b. -
ciples. I am not here 10 consider the
fine points In teaching. / do not care a
fg how one teaches English. so long as
they get the members Of the class inter
ested. so they will be anxious for the
recitation hour. 1Ae question Of environ
ment In the school room IL the vital one
In the teaching OF English.
w have Just had an allusion 10 the
%corrupt.ng influence o. the newspaper.
We cannot denounce them. for every de-
nunciation OF a newspaper Increases its
circulation. The only way is to support
them.
How much comprehension OF English
literature Is linked with the study OF Il in
the class room. The matter OF class room
study merely as a preparation for exam
nations should not be encouraged. I
would protest against the spirit OF analy-
sis and criticisms. This seems. / know,
like heresy 10 most teachers. but I believe
in 70.
We must ewsre OF pedantry and drudg-
cry. In the rush OF our modern search
Tor material things We stop aud ask our
selves What IL lifeT We see too much
OF the age and not enough " the ages
The study OF literature will from the
boy sustain the youth and console the
man. Men every day come under such in-
they are nearly Frustrated. What
would thew do without literature 20 turn
The only source 81 art IL through the
~ mar.
In these times when vs confns our