Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1906-03-01

laws as without law anarchy exists
Mr.. Harmon concluded his remarks
with personal "reminiscences in which
he developed ajust comparison be-
tween the primative educational
institutions and the more advanced
methods of today.
Prof. Ki!gore indorsed Mr.. Han
nous ideas, placing stress upon the
cooperation of teachers and directors,
A motion song "What the Brass
Band Plays" by the pupils of the
Forksviile primary demonstrated
the efficiency ofpupils in that school.
Ulysses Bird Esq. discussed "The
School from the Parents Point ol
View" Mr.. Birds remarks were
of that logical order which marks
the practical school and were uttered
with the conviction which proves
the true man. His plea was for
thoroughness in practical studies
rather than Il smattering Of Algebra
geometry and latin; the Illonois
course of study may be conducive to
more thorough work in our schools
but eight months work cannot be
successfully covered in six months.
Fads and follies was then touched,
and the old fashi )ued spelling school
geography, singing schools, and con
tests in rapid calculation was con-
trasted With the more recent fads of
map drawing without proper at
tentiOn to scale and rule, and verti
cal writing which is destroying rap
idity and legibiity of penInauship.
In criticising the methods, Mr.. Bird
commended the endeavors of teach
ers and directors suggesting that the
trend of education should be towards
thoroughness and accuracy in class
work with due regard for politeness
and good manners at all times.
Supt. Kilgore commented favor
bly, on the remarks Of Mr.. Bird.
"Self Improvement of the Teach
err was the subject of a carefully
prepared paper read by Miss Smell Of
the Elkland Church school: the
teacher owes both to herselfand her
pupils an earnest and persistent eff
fort along the line Of self improve
ment. Means to this end are care
full reading of educational journals,
daily newspapers, magazines and
good literature of the past and pres
ent. The PRICELESS gems of thought
thus attained should find expression
in our every day life. Attendance
at lectures and concerts and proper
social functions serve to broaden and
elevate our intellectual natures and
contact with our fellowmen teach us
valuable lessons in sociology and
economics. Our self improvement
should develop ideas within our pu-
pills rather than dry facts and should
create within them desire for high
er and nobler living rather than the
requirement of paltry dollars. Self
improvement along physical lines
should not be neglected and the in
culcation within ourselves Of Il high
moral standard should be our great
est care.
A humorous recitation ga Boys
Poem on Washington" by Earle
More in which he compared the
ACHIEVEMENTS of the immortal George
with the success attained by the Es-
tella school ball team, was received
with merited applause.
The Crowded School Curriculum
was then discussed by Prof. Bird, of
Forest City. Mr.. Bird defended the
crowded methods of today as being
in sympathy with the automatic age
in which we live. Every Branch OF
the great tree of education is sup
port to the trunk aud IA fruit bearing
auxiliary. District schools are not
universities in which we may spec
ialize too much; attention to any
particular study with a correspond
ing disregard for other branch e.
results in a deformed mental growth.
The teacher stands in relation OF
parent to the child while under the
discipline of the school, and because
of his superior training in pedagogy
should be more competent Judge
of the branches to be taught than
the parent.