The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-03-19
SUPT. ]. A. CARNAGEY MAKES REPORT
ON NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL ASSN

average raised in the nation by local
taxation for school purposes.
In the papers presented, | was par
ticularly struck by the number OF
men and women who discussed and
advocated manual training for the
schools. In fact, the whole of Tues
day afternoon was given to a sympo-
SUM on THE Place of Industries i'm
Public Education" The persons who
discussed and advocated-no manual
training simply, but vocational train,
ing, training in the elements of
trades-were James e. Russell dean
of Teachers college, Columbia Uni
versity. New York; Edward C. Elliott,
professor of education in the Univer-
sity of Wisconsin; James f. McElroy,
president of the Consolidated Car com.
pany, Albany, n. Y; Miss Langley
of the school of education in the Uni
versity of Chicago; Charles II. Morse,
secretary of the Massachusetts, COM
mission of industrial education, and
George II. Martin, the secretary OF
the Massachusetts board of education
These persons, without exception. ad-
yocated the training of children in the
elements of trades and vocation in
the upper grammar grades and tia
high schools. Or to sum ii up in the
words of President Roosevelt. in his
address TO the department, ITO edu-
cate boys and girls toward the work
shop and the farm, and not away
from them"
One could not help feeling that
there is strong tendency throughout
the nation to follow in the footsteps
of Germany. France and other CONT
mental countries in dividing the time
,of the school day between what we
ordinarily call book subjects and
some form Of handwork /. myself.
feel that we may swing too far in
that direction in our schools. Our
people in the United States are differ
ent from those of continental Europe
where the boy usually follows the
trade or business of the father and
the class distinction is so marked that
for generations the sons have followed
the same line of work as their fathers
But In free America II is more diff
cult TO decide upon the calling o,
vocation Of our boys. Because a
man is a carpenter there is no Ger.
tainty that the son will be a carpen-
Ter. Hence. IL would be difficult 20
give boys in our vocational schools
the training in the elements of the
trade or vocation he expects to fol-
low as a man.
! believe that SKIN IN manual work
should be emphasized so that the bow
or girl can easily adapt himself or
herself TO whatever form of labor he
or she decides upon at the time school
days are over, and the time for taking
place in the active life of the world
comes.
Another topic OF discussion. upon
which much stress was laid. by many
OF tho most prominent superintendents
was that of securing and holding
teachers who are willing to improve
themselves after they get into the
schools. In many places teachers Sc
cure and hold places through the most
Migrant avoritism-through pull,
either of political influence or of in
nuence of relatives. These teachers
having once secured place. attempt
TO hold it, whether they are worthy or
not. Various plans are adopted in
different cities TO improve the teaching
force II IS found that 1t is unfair to
grade teachers In salary simply upon
the length of service. As many of
them make no attempt to improve
themselves, while others getting no
better salaries. are constantly reading,
studying or going to summer schools
or colleges. thus the better fitting
themselves for their work.
The teacher is the important factor
in all school work. Good buildings
and good textbooks are important,
but above and beyond these things,
stands the well-prepared conscientious
teacher. who IS constantly striving TO
improve herself for her work. and
who has a higher motive than simply
to put in her time, draw her salary
and hold her place from year to year.
The consensus of opinion was that
the good teachers are worth much
more than the people are paying them,
and that the poor teacher is expens-
i've at the lowest salary paid. 1t was
felt that teachers who are growing
and trying to improve themselves by
taking work in corresponding schools,
by travel, by attending summer Nor
NAL schools or colleges, by systematic
reading and study, should be paid
better salaries than those teachers
who are content simply to hang on,
year after year. without taking any
interest in preparing themselves for
better work.
On Wednesday afternoon, February
26th, the superintendent met in the
east room of the White House. 1t
was the intention to pass In line before