The Republican journal., 1905-07-20
EDUCATIONAL IfDALS.
IA paper read by w. W. Stetson on the evening
of July 10, 1905, before the American Institute
of Instruction at Portland, Maine.l
INTRODUCTION.

This paper makes no pretentlons to
exhausting the subject. 1t is written
for the purpose of dropping hints and
noting the next things, as suggested by
present tendencies. The desire to help
in the correction of errors which,
Though they may make the unskilful
laugh, cannot but make the judicious
grieve."
When we become soured by sense
of our uSeleSSneSS i'll this world and
realize our untitness for the next, then
we write alleged witticisms on the un-
wisdom of being hospitable to ideals.
Ages before Emersons day men hitch
ed their wagons to the stars. Long
after the youngest critic has died. the
wise of earth will continue to use this
divine system OF transportation.
The historian has written a record of
the past, the annalist writes the hap
penings of the day, the prophet and the
poet write the thing that is to be. The
wisdom of the seer and the ideals OF
the singer are more accurate than the
statistics of their coadjutors.
We are persuaded that ideals keep
the heart pure, the thought sane and
the act righteous.
When the better day has dawned the
New Education will come into its own.
Then
THE COMMUNITY
will be scrupulous in paying dollar fol-
dollars worth OF service, to the end
that justice may be done and stealing
cease
The time server will find no oppor
tunlty to serve his time.
The doer will not toll in Arctic zones
of neglect or tiatten his sails in the
Gains of Indifference.
Service will not waste its energies
III seeking appreciation. 1t will be
known that the recognizerS of worth
makes exhibition of the supreme quail.
ity.
SCHOOL BOARDS.
The school board will consist of not
more than five members, each serving
for the number of years indicated by
the membership, one retiring and one
being elected each year.
To be eligible to these positions, can
didates must possess honesty, capacity,
have had experience in affairs, have a
dCSl1C w OC1NC.dlu uluoU NC SOuClOllCU
by an intelligence which will lead them
schools in the hands of the superintend
ent, except in the items of grounds,
buildings and supplies.
Common consent will exclude pre-
adamitic teachers and prehistoric
members of other callings, so that the
schools may not suffer from the mis-.
feaSance of persons compounded of in.
herited ignorance and acquired stupid
ity. 1t is not strange that such charac
tiers are suspicious of any improve
ment that spells change and they con
tinue in themselves the blunders of the
past.
THE SUPERINTENDENT.
The superintendent will be endowed
with those qualities which mark the
statesman, thus making it easy for him
to see his work in its proportions as
we'll as i'll its details.
He will welcome responsibility anG
will not finch when charged with fail
ures and, if credited with successes
will not permit praises to fill his hori
ION.
He will stand between injustice anG
its victim and will not fail to give
merit its earned reward.
He will be sane in counsel, righteou:
i'll Judgment, responsive in sympathy
and inspiring IN association.
His personality will pervade the sys
TEN under his care and he will be its
heaQ-ln two SenseS-or he will become
a cipher without being a circle.
THE TEACHER.
The teacher will know facts so wei
t,., q
stead of eXhausting burdens.
She will so etface herself that the
child will be left alone with his prob
lem and salvation.
By recognition or silence, by act OF
refraining she will help each pupil te
see himself and do his best.
She will be one of the community she
serves and will do her share in pro
noting its welfare
Her work will find and leave her toe
honest to receive dollar without Civ
ing its equivalent.
THE COURSE OF STUDY,
The common school course of study
has been the dumping ground of some
things that are wise and MANY Other
that are otherwise.
These infections have come from
people whose am bition plays havoc with
their judgment and who deceive them.
selves into thinking they think.
These errata cause much mischief by
being more anxious to be credited with
doing something than they are con-
cerned about having something done.
They bring many grists, but manifest
scant interest in the grinding.
The course will be so formulated and
taught that the pupil will be able to
read the forms used by the masters in
expressing their thought.
The instruction will help him to use
skilfully that form of expression in
which he can best make known his
thinking.
This work makes possible the
mastery of the foundation studies,
furnishes opportunity to give needed
introductions to cultural, forming and
refining branches and for imparting
stimulus to enter the next higher
school.
When needed changes are made, the
elementary school will once more have
a chance to be a common school and
will not assume or be burdened with
the work of more pretentious institu-
tiOns.
TIL E HIGH SCHOOL.
The high school will do the work of a
secondary school and will not connive
at overlooking or Understanding the