The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-14
Music's Place in Education.

Music's Place in Education.
 Educators. and especially public school ! superintendents, will find much of in- terest in an Illuminating paper by John K. Kirk, president of Missourfs Normal school, which appears in the Musical ] Courier of August H." said a professional man.
 Ihere are many ways of advancing the 1 cause of good music. The constant listen i Ing to music of hign order well per formed Is one way. Lecture recitals have accomplished much good. And whatever tends to elevate the taste in music is contributing its share toward the crea- ton of musical atmosphere. But Amer ica will be slow in attaining any stand ing as musical nation until music is properly taught in the public schools and in the colleges and universities
 Progress has been made in music as a part of public school work in the larger cities, but this most humanizing and uplifting of all the arts is still neg lected in the colleges
 MT. Kirk in his discussion starts out with sound principles. vigorously set forth thus:
 The advancement of music education seems easy enough provided 1t be given rational treatment The doctrine of this paper is that music education In all grades of schools and colleges should be upon a common basis with other school and college studies. Music should be recognized as study, substantial study, not mere drill or easy subject to be mastered by repetition. Under proper treatment music should be accredited as major subject of equal value with other academic subjects, such as language, his tory, science, literature and mathematics.
 Music education should cost no more and no less than education in any other subject Those persons who are permit ted to teach music should have a sound general academic education, the same as people who teach other school ,and col lege subjects. It seems ridiculous that we furnish free, in the public schools. normal schools and universities, the best possible education in Latin. Greek, agri- culture, domestic science, etc., while re- quiring ambitious and talented young people to go aside and pay large fees in order to get, through special conservato- ries. the education in music which their natures call for. I use language advised ly. It Is ridiculous that music education should be made to cost more than other education. It Is unfair to music. It Is unfair to music teachers It Is unfair to thousands of good students of music. It is unfair to schools at large that we drive music into isolation. All the schools need %a1 leled stimulus, of music inteigently taught
 There has been marked advancement of school music In Missouri and MT. Kirk 1 is undoubtedly doing a beneficent work 1 in behalf of the people of his state and 1 in the cause of music. He concludes his | lecture as follows:
 i Slowly but unwaveringly we propose | to create and modify sentiment for music | in Missouri. We are producing more music supervisors than any other insti- l tuition in the state, and believe the field and the opportunities to be encouraging and practically illimitable.'
 "It is hoped that MT. Kirk's paper will l have a wide reading"
 The Stimulus of Expectancy. l High pressure prosperity which pre- | vailed in 1906 and in 1907 prior to the panic made us all buoyant and every business man of ordinary energy or application had the satisfaction of making money" re- ] marked a successful merchant "The industrial depression that followed the l panic made some persons pessimistic. but those who exercised a reasonable de- | gree of patience looked forward with real pleasure to revival of business, and now that new era of prosperity is fast com | ing on the feeling of expectancy is al- most as bracing as profit-taking itself.
 Everybody today recognizes the signs of good times and it no longer takes an optimist by temperament to join in the prediction that the fall of 1909 will see genuine thrift and that 1910 will Wit | ness new high records in all lines of business. If next year does not turn out to be banner year in the Birmingham district then all signs will have failed"
 Iron Market Conditions.
 From the present outlook in the iron market it is safe to say that every avail able furnace in Alabama will be in op- eration before the first of October. All the furnaces out of blast for repairs are to get got ready for the tourch with all possible dispatch. Matthew, Addy & Co.'S Cincinnati report for the current week I says in part:
 "The market continues to increase Tn strength and there is general 1eesine of satisfaction and optimism. Immense crops are about ready to be moved, rail' roads are hustling to get the proper equipment in shape and there Is greater activity among the mills and foundries than has been in evidence for long times Perhaps the greatest interest 1us' now is centered in steel making irons there have been some heavy purcnase' during the past week and large inquiries for Bessemer and basic are in evidence today.
 Furnace order books are filling up s' rapidly that another advance may p' looked for soon. Inquiries are connns' | ~.1.. ~k <>F ovf