The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-12-23
ALL GIVEN A VERBAL LASH.
ING BY SPEAKERS.
Or. Tomlinson of st. Peter Read a
Paper Before the Mems Club of
Episcopal Church Last Evening";
President Cooper, Superintend-
ent Sperry and Professor Nc
Conneli in Rebuttal.
From Fridays Daily.

| S0UuCIt NC0ukkds
From Fridays Daily.
i Criticism of the public schools, the
people and parents of pupils was
the basis of an interesting and in
structive discussion before the
Mems club of the Episcopal church.
last evening. The meeting was held
at the residence of Charles e. Wise
DR.. Tomlinson, superintendent OF
the insane hospital at st. Peter
read paper in which he offered a
number of suggestions. His criti
cism was not directed wholly against
the system which is in vogue in
the schools, but he maintained that
parents were in a measure respOn-
sible for some of the defects or the
failure of their children to make
satisfactory progress in their classes
The doctor contended that teachers
were not given to paying enough
attention to Northumberland they
fail to read Alright child nature
There are teachers who do not un.
derstand the rules of hygiene and
have no conception of the laws
which govern the body and mind
These teachers, the doctor said
could not comprehend why one pu.
pill could govern himself properly
while in the school room and an.
other pupil would become peevish
and irritable. Also their lack of un.
derstanding why certain pupils could
not keep the pace that had been SET
by others in the same class.
Their Physical WeIl.eeing.
The doctor insisted that the physi.
cal well-being of the child should re-
ceive rs much attention as his men.
tai development. OverwOrk i'm the
school room has ruined the health
of many children and caused their
breakdown at a time in life when
their bodies should develop and
strengthen. The environment of the
children should be Investigated. In
word, the individual must be
studied with view to correcting the
defects which may have come upon
him through lack Of proper disci
pine and instruction in the home
In this connection the doctor did not
excuse the parents for their dere
LECTION of duty along this line. The
| teachers should be trained with a
view of acquainting themselves with
child nature. On the other hand, the
child must be trained from it's birth
by the parents. With the right start
in home surroundings, it's entrance in
school would be under more favor
able auspices.
Word From President Cooper.
President Cooper of the normal
frankly admitted that some of the
criticism was we'll founded. But there
was hope for better things The
normal schools are doing much tc
instruct the teachers along the lines
suggested by DR.. Tomlinson. Presi
dent Cooper felt encouraged at the
prospect.
Superintendent Sperry had no apol
ogies to make for the public schools
The public can have just as good
schools as they want. He felt that
the public was not taking as much
interest in the schools as they
should. The parents do not visit the
schools as often as they should
they do not come in touch with the
teachers as much as tehy should
Parents depend too much on the
schools to do certain things for theil
children. Mr.. Sperry agreed that
i there might be little more of the
individual training after pupils had
left the fourth grade Educators al
ways welcomed criticism and sugges
tons and out of these they hoped tt
improve school conditions. But the
public must exhibit an interest il
the schools as well as the teachers
Former Superintendent Mcconnell
maintained that there must be uni
formity in the schools. There is {
dangerous tendency on the part O.
certain persons to work in the direc
ton of tearing down the presen
school structure and install in it.
place a system which he believed
would be a menace to the mental de
velopment of the young. Pupils mus
be on the level.
Rev. p. X. Edwards agreed will
Superintendent Sperry that more in
terest should be displayed by tn,
public in the schools. The school!
and churches are greatly in need o
stronger support. They work hand il
hand in developing the mind ant
morals of the young.
In closing the discussion Dr. Tom
linson stated that parents were I'm
mindful of the duty they owed tn,
schools. 1t is only matter of tim,
when the teachers must take up tn,
task of training the parents.
Following the discussion appetizini
, refreshments were served the com
pany by Mrs. Wise, after which thu
gentlemen enjoyed smoke socia
and an hour of social converse. TIL
meeting was indeed pleasant an,
profitable. The attendance was large
The Daily Free Press hopes Their
is nothing to the report that Cover
nor Eberhart is seeking the sea
, now occupied by Moses E. Clapp il
the United States senate. This news
| paper can hardly believe the stor
| sent out from Washington that tn