The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-03-06
ONLY -FOUR FROM WEST
virginia At THE MEETING

= sNfss'st ttstii ittet ttiiit< VI tut kttrfl- 7
ers OF Fairmont in the High school
building last evening Superintendent
Roster gave a talk on his recent trim
TO Chicago, where he attended the mia
winter meeting of the National Edu-
eational Association. or the Depart
ment OF Superintendent There were
about 1900 superintcndents. normal
school principals, and school book ana
supply men In attendance. This is
one of the most important and valua-
BILE educational meetings held in the
country. The President of the De.
partmsut of superintendence this
year was State Supt. w. w. stetson.
Of Maine. He Is well known in West
Virginia. having made tour Of tho
State in the educational campaign of
two years ago. The programme was
arranged to cover Wide range Of
subjects bearing upon school work In
all parts OF the country. The flrst
general topic was "The School and
the Public The speakers on this
subject were State supt. J. B, AsweiI,
of Louisiana; Miss Ada Stone Van
Harris, Of Rochester. New York. and
James n. Eclsels, president Of the
Commercial National Bank, Chicago.
Among other things brought out in
the discussion were the facts that the
State must educate It's children In It's
own way without federal supervision.
that the State must guard the child
in the period preceding its entrance
to the school even to the point OF
protecting mothers and prospective
mothers, and that the unhealthy en-
vironments of city tenements must
be removed More money must be
provided for education. better teach
ers must be secured. more comforta-
bic buildings, and Fairgrounds. one.
OF the sensations Of the meeting was
the discussion OF swollen fortunes
stared by Mr.. Gillian, OF Milwaukee.
who charged that the children were
suffering In the cities. because the
owners Of these large swollen or stol-
en- fortunes were not sufficiently taxed
to provide the money needed to prop
erfy maintain the schools. The issue
was taken up by Mr.. Eckels who was
formerly comptroller OF the currency
under President Cleveland. He bit
terly resented the sentiment that q.
nancial success IS a crime. and he
said IL It became generally known
that education was one of the chief
causes Of our growth In wealth the
schools will come under the condemn
alton. He urged that the teachers of
the country educate the children to
be discriminating and not to be sway.
ed by prejudice He said patriotism
knows no creed, no class and no poll.
tics.
The second general topic was. "The
Scope. Defects. and Product OF our
Schools The chief speakers on this
subject were supt I.awton u. Evans.
OF Auguata, Georgia; supt. Payson
Smith, OF Auburn. Maine, and County
supt. Samuel Hamilton, of ALLEGHENY
county. Pa.
The thought In these discussions
was that the school should embrace
the full life ofsthe child and be part
| of 1t.
! One ef the sentiments heartily an.
plauaed was. the one that education Is
too easy. The pupil is Interested and
amused into knowing something
through such educational vaudeville
as the teacher may offer Tho pupil
counts that day lost which sees no
new game. athletic event. dance. or
social function 10 interest him In his
work. The responsibility of home In
Haence Is fotsted on the school. 10y
atty. honor, courage. seif.reiiance,
obedience TO an authority. should be
taught at home. and not alone in the
schools. Pink teas and Browning
clubs are responsible Tor more neglect
of children than the teachers.
1t was further said that the most
serious defect Of the modern school il
the failure to give proper attention to
the needs of the Individual cih;d. We
have developed a course Of study
adapted to group work. The valae OF
the educational system depends up.
on whether the child can hni the
things needfui for It's own develop
ment in the multitude OF offerings.
The ultimate end Of all school wc.ls
is character. and we need more oak
and less straw In our hber.
1
The most notable address of the
weeks was made by DIR. Il. BENJAMIN
Andrews on the Problems of Greater
America He considered three oues-
tions that he regarded as vital TO oar
future. These were the proper pro-
lection and defense of our Pacific