Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-19
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TO nave peen so actuated ana TO nave SO
DONE"
Frank F. Bunker, assistant superintend-
ent of city schools, spoke on the relation
ship of the teachers as individuals in the
school work. He said in part:
''In casting about for a theme of suffi-
cient worth and dignity to bear presenting
to you teachers, one thought has kept
continually forcing itself before my at
tention-a thought which indeed for
years has been gradually clearing itself
from out the chaos whence emerge all
our thoughts-a thought which has bone
far toward making clear to me, in rela-
tive degree at least, many of the perp,ex-.
tiles and mysteries which life holds in
store for every one of her children 1t is
the thought that the soul of one has pos
sibilities for growth, and that life, this
life, rich, abundant, complex, when seen
in proper perspective and in it's true sig
nificance, is but series of opportunities
making for soul growth.
Discusses Education
"In the light of this thought permit me
to discuss briefly the significance of the
great work of education in which we are
all engaged and our individual relation
ship to our work.
when viewed in the large education is
seen to be vastly greater process than
that comprehended in our institution of
the school, and yet, by reason of the
prominence of the school through the
splendid support accorded it by the state
and nation, and by reason of our own
close proximity to our own work as
teachers, n>any of us have cause to feel
that the school is the chief, and indeed
the sole instrument of education The
many phrases one hears in common par
lance-'My son will complete his educa-
ton at so and SOS institution this year.
Poor fellow, he had to drop out of col
lege before completing his education or
Yes, she's a good woman, but her edu-
cation is somewhat lacking.'-all these
phrases and many more betoken the same
conception on the part CT the general pub
lie; the conception that education can be
measured in terms of quantity of school
ing.
''To this notion some of our university
presidents have contributed, to degree
at least, for in some instances there are
those who have declared that no one shall
ever be eligible to appointment on their
faculties who does not possess Doctors
degree, which shows that the holder has
spent a definite and required number of
years in the technical work of the school.
False Conception
1.-The tendency too. in many quarters
to hold the schools responsible for the
class of educated criminals which infests
our cities grows out likewise from the
same false conception.
1.-THE fact that Abraham Ruef passed
through all the grades of our public
schools and graduated from the state uni
versity with honor while Francis J.
Heney was expelled from the same in
stitution on grounds of general cussed-
ness, has given point to many q criticism
upon the work of the schools. Yet long
before there were schools, in the sense
Of which We ordinarily use the term,
there were educated people, men and wo-
men of splendid ideals of character and
conduct. There are today in the ac-
quainanceship of each one of you many
men and women educated in the larger
sense and possessing fine ideals who have
had little or no work in the public schools
"In an absolute sense it is utterly i'm
possible ever to wholly neglect education
We are being educated in spite OF our
selves, for the world is penetrating
through our senses, and deep down In the
human soul there is a reaction contin-
ually in progress-a reaction set up by
the universe.
In very real sense, as someone has
said, The old world is the great school
MASTER and men and women and boys
and girls are being educated by 1t, cease
lessly and inevitably. 1 would be the last
one in the world to belittle the work of
our schools, for 1 have an abiding faith
and confidence in them neither would 1
lessen one whit the responsibility for the
shaping of character and conduct which
should in proper degree be placed on
the shoulders of the men and women who
are connected with the institution of the
school, yet / contend that any discussion
of the significance of the function of the
school falls very far wide of the mark
which fails to recognize that the school
process is a part of a very much larger
world process by which society is work.
ing out it's destiny.
This society of which 1 speak, and
by which 1 mean humanity in the ag-
gregate, may be likened to great or.
ganism-living, breathing, moving, chang
ing. Men are born into it, they live their
lives; they exert an influence, little or
great; they pass out of it; others take
their places and still society keeps on
living and breathing and moving and
changing.
'"rhus it has ever been down through
all the ages; thus it will ever be till the
end of time. Climbing up to some van
tage point whence one can look out and
down upon this great organism and one
sees much to perplex and confuse. There
is much of running to and fro; there
is much of tumult and confusion; there
Is much of a strange shouting. When
ons asks the reason why, no reason is
given.
Rugby Football
''The spectator on the bleachers at a
game of Rugby football one moment sees
whirling. swirling tangle of arms and
legs; the next moment the aggregation
rushes on in given direction as though
impelled by one mind, then they rush
back; then they all go over to the side
lines and lie down; then they get up,
come back to the starting place and the
strange performance is repeated 1t
would be bold fellow who, seated on
the bleachers and before the game had
closed. sought to plat the path by which
the goal is reached Just so witt the
observer of the perplexing and confusing