Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-07-04
TEACHERS At ASBURY PARK
Annual Convention sfNational Educational
Association Begins Work,
INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION IN RURAL SCHOOLS
Committee Reports in Favor of Civ
inE the Course of study
wider and More Prao-
teal Turn.

AsRURY PARK, n j., July S-Ths
forty-fourth convention Of the National
Educational association assembled here to-
day for a session extending over I'VE days.
Today was taken up largely with the pre-
liminaries to the formal opening,
The national council met In the First
Methodist church and Director Drew Of tho
experimental station Of the United States
Department of the Interior advocated the
topic of agriculture in the rural school.
Lorenz Harvey Of Menominee, Wis. pre-
sented a report OF committee on indus
trial education in schools for rural COM
munties The report says in part:
1t is time to change front in our plan
Of elementary and secondary school organi-
iSs rs Ie 10 So6s ho S I 1Sv1
Its course Of instruction with reference to
the needs OF the % per cent OF the pupils
who attend them and who attend no other
school rather than with reference to the
small remaining percentage who go on to
a more advanced school. II is time to
recognize that the present courses of study
open to children I'm the rural schools, of
fering books as the only sources OF knowl-
edge and words as the only stimulus TO
mental activity, completely ignoring en-
VirOnment as a source of knowledge,
stimulus to thought, and an inspiration to
action, are not the best for any who at
tend these schools, irrespective Of whether
they go from them to engage In their life's
work or continue their studies in other
schools.
This committee does not hesitate to say
that in its judgment the rural schools
which train nearly one-half the school
population Of this country, so far as school
training goes, should definitely recognize
the fact that the major portion of those
being trained will continue to live upon
the farm and that there should be specific,
definite, technical training fitting them for
the activities Of farm life. Such schools
will not make farmers nor hOusekeepers,
but they vii interest boys ana ana gl5.is IN
connected with these two important voca-
tiQns.
offered by the mastery of a course OF study
which includes the industrial phase OF edu-
| cation will broaden the outlook Of pupils.
and because OF this wider view will open
up and make attractive lines of work upon
| the farm which otherwise would not APP
dependence ept t,'' ana moral stamina, through
sustained effort for worthy ends, and that
for the boy or girl who does not remain
offered through the medium Of the present
| course of study in rural schools.
Miss Mary Campbell. of Baltimore, at
the session OF Indian educators, advocated
the social settlement and neighborhood
house plan in studying the Indian,
Education Among Indians.
j. j. Duncan. Indian school inspector Of
Pine Ridge agency South Dakota, asked
| for more schools and better equipments,
especially in the line OF bathing houses,
| school gardens, sewing and laundry rooms.
c. ]. Crandell Of the Santa Fe IN. M
| Indian schools and DR.. Charles NJ. Buch-
! anan, superintendent of the Tutalip. Wash,
! school, said that Indian schools should be
better equipped Henry ]. Phillips. super
| intendent at Lac Du Flameau, Wis, de-
clared that on most reservations govern
ment assistance TO Indian children should
end with the day school.
Miss Estell Reel, superintendent OF a
Washington Indian school, spoke on the
educational policy of the commissioner OF
| Indian affairs.
| Miss Mary J. c. Judds of Minneapolis
read a paper entitled Some Indian Charac-
teristics" and DR.. w. II. Harris read a
paper on THE Future Of Teachers sala-
| ries"