The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-12-29
Urges Teachers to Make Insti-
tuition a Point of Interest
Instead of Exhibition Arena
For Champions.
GAIN IF INSTRUCTORS
REDUCED BY ONE-HALF
Head of EarIham College Says
Such a Change Would EIim-
mate the UnWhoIesome
Competitive Element.

crowds of teachers throng the city to
attend the fifty-fifth annual meeting
of the Indiana Teachers association
now in progress. The program was
and departments listened to addresses
by men and women especially adapted
to talk upon the subjects assigned. A
session of the executive committee was
held last night. Important matters
were considered. A long list of COM
mittee appointments is to be made.
The teachers will endeavor to induce
the legislators of the state at the com
ing session to do less to destroy the
good effect of the present laws than to
make new ones. Any attempt to re-
peal the compulsory education law
will be opposed just as strenuously as
the united effort of the teachers can.
keiIy's Address.
One of the principal addresses of to-
day was that of President Robert L.
Kelly of Earlham college, to the insti-
tute instructors section. President
Kelly said:
The question of the methods of in
struction in the institute should be
considered In the light of the purpose
of the institute. If the purpose is
chiefly inspirational, there are many
things to commend incur present pro
cedure. Onr institute Is modelled aft.
er the Lyceum Lecture course. With
the single exception of music the sub
Jects are presented by the lecture
method, many of the speakers are enl.
ployed through the bureaus and nearly
all of them deliver set lectures of a
more or less popular type. They must
keep awake, amuse. interest, inspire, a
heterogeneous company of teachers.
Institute Of Lyceum Type.
The rediness with which some insti-
tutes have been merged into chautau-
quas, illustrates how near the institute
is to the lyceum type. Now, the pur-
pose of this type of institution, broadly
speaking, is nspirational-at it's best
level, which is rarely maintained. even
educational. The atmosphere of such
an organization however, cannot be
called professional, much less scholar
ly. The tendency, moreover, is inev'
itably toward deterioration. To H.
lustrate: An instructor once told me OF
the opening session Of an institute at
which he and two other instructors
worked. One of the three, a woman
was an unknown quantity to the 9TH
er two who were we'll known men. The
woman spoke first. She proved to be
an attractive speaker with an interest
ing message. and she sat down amidst
a storm of applause. My informant
spoke next. A high standard had
been set. He was on his mettle. He
did his best and succeeded in captivat-
ing his audience and closed in a hale
of glory. AS he took his seat he whis-
pered to the third instructor, "You
can't possibly beat it, And the third
speaker of course accepted the chal-
lenge and probably beat it. The story
reminded me of Websters outburst in
reply to Hayne-"Matches and Over
matches! The gentlemen seems to for
get what and where we are. This is 9
senate-a senate of equals-I offer my
self, Sir, as a match for no man.
throw the challenge of debate at nc
mans feet. etc. or course Webster
proceeded to demonstrate that he was
more than a match for any man, but
he rightly deprecated the spirit Of per
sonal rivalry. This spirit pertains
properly, perhaps. to the lyceum. Il
it does not pertain to the atmosphere
of the senate. it certainly does not per
tain to the atmosphere of the school
It places the center of gravity in the
wrong place. The members Of the in
stitute constitute not a senate. but
they do constitute company of mer
and women who are aspiring to buile
up a learned profession which shall
command respect alongside with the
profession Of law and of medicine Lei
the institute be an inspiration point
but let it not be an arena for the dis.
play Of champions.
Instruction Not Sufficient.
But my topic compels me to speai
not on the side of inspiration. but or
the side of instruction. If the teach.
ears need instruction as is assumed in
the wording of this topic. and if ths
purpose of the institute is to impart in
struction economically and well. there
is much in our present method to con
denim Measured by such a STANDARD
the institute is very lame affair
There is better method in the collegs
or university for there the lecture
method is accompanied and supple
mented by the laboratory method OF