Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-25

tain terms IN q set OF reSOlullohS
adopted yesterday by the Southern
California Teachers association, the
institute which has just closed. Such
supplements are declared dangerous to
ing to nullify and counteract the ef-
forts of schools to develop the true
artistic taste, habits of truthfulness
and love of fair play of children.
Athletics should be under control of
the school authorities, declare the res
oiutions. The state board of educa-
tion is asked to make efforts to secure
such legislation as will permit of con-
troll of athletics in order to prevent
what seems to be a gradual deCadence
among amateur sports.
The San Diego's plans for an ex-
position in 1915 were heartily COM
mended and the cooperation of ali
Southern California teachers, is given
through the resolutions.
Trade schools, the extension of the
age of compulsory education, the es-
tablishment of Fairgrounds, higher
compensation and pensions for teach
ers, international arbitration, and the
teaching of agricultural pursuits in
farming districts, are some of the
other declarations and recOmenda-
tions made in the resolutions which
follow:
Text of Resolutions
I'VE consider it to be reason suf-
ficient for public congratulation that
interest in education never before has
been so deep and Widespread as, in
this present year of grace never be-
fore have all classes of society shown
like measure of faith in education,
both as a remedy for and prevention
of social ills. In this universal inter-
est and faith are written large for
every school official and teacher an
opportunity and a challenge. We hold
that the situation is such as should
give to everyone engaged in the work
of education a new and larger sense
of personal responsibility; demand
from him completest 'cOnsecration OF
his energies; and inspire him TO sucn
study and discipline as will keep him
abreast of educational progress and
fit representative of its aims.
TT cannot be too strongly insisted
that every pupil has the right to such
measure Of instruction as he is cap
able of acquiring, in such subjects as
will be of largest value to him as a
elf-supporting individual and citizen.
We condemn as unjust to the pupil
and harmful to society all forms or
graduation and promotion which upon
the plea of thoroughness of work or
the maintenance of high standards
condemn all but the brightest puplls
TO endless dreary repetition of studle5
for which they have little aptitude and
deny them all opportunity to grapple
with subjects of larger inherent inter
.st and greater utility for life's duties
Demands for High School
1--WE demand that the public high
school. while properly serving incident
ally to prepare candidates for admls-
sion to higher educational institutions
shall not, at any behest whatsoever
cease 10 be, I'm fact as well as in name
the people's college or cease to afford
to every youth qualified to receive II
that training that will best Ut nm
to live completely and to serve MS gem
Grafton honorably and efficiently.
"Evidence of a disregard of moral
standards is painfully abundant on
every hand. In one form or another
dishonest practices and unscrupulous
methods have found their way INTO
politics. business. and even into pro
fessional and social life. To check this
baneful disorder which seems to nave
fallen upon the age, thoughtful people
are looking 10 the school even more
than to the church. We therefore
most urgently enJoin upon school oih-
cials and teachers the duty OF uttllz-
ing every opportunity that the school
affords to inculcate sound ethical prln-
ciples and develop habits of honorable
conduct in all their pupils This is not
to be done only or chiefly by lecture
and appeal. but rather by the practical
exercise of honesty, truthfulness and
fairness in every class exercise, in
every game of the playground or con-
test on the athletic field. and in all
the social life of the school
Favor Changes in Study Course
1--WE favor a Encouragement Of the
standard tWelye-year course of study,
in general harmony with the recently
developed Berkeley plan, which groups
the first six grades together as the ele-
mentary school proper; the seventh,
eighth and ninth grades as the intro
ductory high school group; and the
tenth, eleventh and twelfth grades rs
the high school proper. In the first OF
these groups are emphasized the
things which every child should mas
ter before leaving school; the second is
the proper period for beginning for
eign language study, for taking up
manual training and for introducing
the pupil to the abstract work char
acteristic of the high school; the third
is the appropriate period for intensive
study, for insistenCe upon higher
standards of scholarship and for be-
ginning the lines Of study which will
be completed in the university or pro-
fessional school.
1--WE recommend the organization
wherever practicable, of continuation
OF trade schools and of agricultural
departments in all high schools whose
environment is distinctly agricultural
1--WE favor the extension of the age
limit in compulsory education with
the proYiso that from the fourteenth
to the sixteenth year attendance at
evening schools for ten hours per week
may satisfy the requirements.
Commend Physical Culture
1--WE most heartily commend the
movement, which under the name Of
health and development supervision.
stands for the physical, and hence the
intellectual and moral. betterment of
the children in our public schools We
feel a commendable degree of pride
also in the fact that Southern Cali
fornia is in the van of progress in this
most beneficent undertaking,
"We cordially approve of that ex-
preston of municipal intelligence and
sagacity seen in the establishment and
expert supervision Of public play
grounds in the larger cities; and we
hope that in the near future public
baths for the use Of children and youth
in the more crowded localities may
also be regarded as municipal neces-
stiles.
"This association unqualihedly urges
upon all teachers and principals the
duty of minimizing the importance of
championships of every kind and of