The Dickinson press., 1909-04-03

that would be accessible to everyone.
Hence the origin Of our common school
system.
1t wal very crude to begin with but
through the processes Of evolution it
has gained q proficiency that has raised
the literary standard of America to a
level with that Of any other country In
the world. aa
Reading and literature are the most
important topics in the curriculum. I
believe the manner Of presenting these
topics is generally defective and that the
time devoted to their study and reci-
tation Ia not in proportion to their
Importance. For comparison take the
science Of mathematics, the mysteries
Of losarythms, computations by means
of quadratic equations and the like,
over which we toiled with weary brains
and aching head. How much of all this
enters into the daily life of the mer-
chant, the mechanic, the machinist and
the farmer. consisting of nearly ninety
per cent of our male population? Would
It not have been ~inconceivably better
had we devoted that time in pursuing
a well directed course in literature and
becoming proficient in the use of our
mother tongue?
Reading is an accomplishment. 1t
requires infection. emphasis. enuncia-
ton. incubation and representation.
These can only be acquired by a contin-
uous round of drill extending through all
the grades. l do not know of anything
better calculated to portray the utter
neglect with which these topics have
been treated in all our schools than to
listen to some aspiring politician read
a Fourth of July grafton or to sit in
church for half an hour while some
miniter preach or even read their bible
lessons.
Literature is q more powerful means
of imparting instruction than all other
agencies combined. A proper course in
this study through the grades will tend
to Danish from the Libraries of the
pupils all trashy literature and will
have cultivated a taste for clean, whole
some reading that will reform them
when reformation is needed. Public
opinion is a creation of literature.
AS to the manner of teaching these
subjects. children are imitators and will
grasp the ideas you wish to convey on
these points al readily in the lower
grades as the higher. 1t is surprising
what command they will acquire over
their voices. Phonic drill is indispen-
sible. whereby the child is taught the
sounds of letters.
AS an effort is being made over the
country to protect bird life which is very
rapidly approaching extinction. it
would be well to read some articles on
that subject and if you can touch a cord
of sympathy in favor of the birds. it
might be the mean of gaining a victory
over some cruel nature, which if followed
through all the grades. would succeed in
changing it to a noble generous spirit,
a defender of the weak, a champion of
the oppressed.
1t is not necessary that all books Sc
lected for the literary course be read in
the class but the teacher should care
fully select such as would be appropriate
for each pupil and require that they be
not only thoroughly read but that he be
prepared to give a verbal synopsis of
them when called upon. Anything OF a
harmless nature that will, induce them
to cultivate a taste for reading and i'm
part some valuable information may be
read.
These points followed, there il no
fear for the future of the child. His
literature is fixed. his principles. are
strong. and his ambitions will be only
for those things which are best and
purest in life.
A brief business session was held.
The committee on constitution reported
and it was voted that they hold over
until the next meeting and report then.
The following resolution was adopted
unanimously on motion of Supt. Wig
ness, BE it resolved, by the Missouri
Slope Educational association, that a
vote of thanks be extended to Superin-
tendents RAIDER and Berg. to the teachers
in the Dickinson schools and to the citi-
zens of Dickinson for the cordial recep-
ton and royal entertainment accorded
all members of the association during
their sojourn in the city" The con-
vention then took final adjournment.
The following is a partial list of those
who attended the sessions from out of
town:
The county superintendent included
Joseph A. Kitchen, Billings county, C.
L. .Vigness. Burleigh county, w F.
Lorin, Morton county, Josephine X.
Steake. Hettinder county. Henry H.