The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-04-02
HOW TO CARE FOR
SCHOOL PROPERTY
Superintendent in Convention
Discuss Means of Inter-
esting JanitorS.
AID DEFICIENT PUPILS
.. n. CHRISTENSEN WANTS SEP
ARATE ROOMS ESTABLISHED.


absorbing topic before the superintend-
ents at their session last night, and the
matter was discussed quite generally, fol-
lowing talks by L. E. Eggertson of We
Der county and II. w. Valentine of Box
Elder county. And the general view of
the superintendent was that a close. re
lationship should be reached between the
superintendents, principals, teachers ana
the Janitors of the buildings.
1t was pointed odt that the janitor is
really the man who should have charge
nf the school building and property and
that if he can be interested in the work,
wonders will be worked in the general
conditions. and there will be much less
loss of school property during the year.
Superintendent EggertsOn declared that
there was a too general feeling that the
janitor is beneath the consideration or
the principal. and this same lire was fol-
lowed by Superintendent y. w. Ashton
of the Granite district. Superintendent
Valentine declared that in Box Elder
county il had beer found that better re-
suits were obtained in having the prln-
cipals be responsible for the school prop
erty, under the consolidation system. He
declared that under the present system
the children were not Dlade to feel their
responsibility.
Mr. Ashton took a decided stand in ia
vor of consolidation and declared that
excellent results had been shown under
this system, rather than under the old
regime, where trustees in the various
parts OF the counties took a personal IN
terest in the school buildings and prop
erty. He declared that much good could
be obtained in teaching the 1anltors
their duties and In getting the large boys
Of the schools interested in the work
Oppose Appropriation.
BY unanimous vote the superintend-
ents of Utah went on record against the
appropriation by Congress of any money
Cyaoreya WASHINGTON university. the
ground that it would be establishing d
dangerous precedent for the national gov
eminent TO set apart any money Tor the
advancement of private institution A
copy of the protest of the superintend-
ents will be forwarded to the Titan con-
gressional delegation.
Prof. William NJ. Stewart, principal OF
the Utah State Normal school, opened the
program last night with an interesting
talk on the Common School CurFlcu-
lum." in which he spoke in general of the
subjects treated in the schools.
j. II. Paul brought forward the proDo-
sition of printing a book on nature
study, containing color pictures OF Utah
birds, butterflies and some flowers 20
be used in the schools, but this matter
will be taken up more extensively at the
meeting this afternoon.
The programs arranged for the three
sessions yesterday were carried out as
scheduled, except that owing to the ao-
sence of Prof. ). A. Widtsoe in the east
D. H Christensen, city superintendent OF
schools, gave the paper Friday afternoon
intended for the Saturday morning meet
ing.
State SUPERINTENDENT A. C. Nelson called
the convention to order at 10 a. m, and
introduced the speaker of the mornins,
DR.. ]. 7. Kingsbury, president OF the
University of Utah. DR.. kingsbury de-
nvered an able address. He spoke on
1.-The Trend OF Modern Education, ana
said that the future OF education could be
judged from the progress made IN the
past. The educational pendulum that mas
at times oscillated to extremes, accord
ing TO DR.. Kingsbury, is TO be made 10
vibrate evenly, thus affOrding students
opportunity of acquiring Well balanced
minds. He spoke of the Introduction OF
pura science into the college curriculum
as well as the modern trend towards the
applied sciences. In closing Dr. Kings
hIiTv said: 1.-THE trend of modern educa-
ton is toward the Industrial, ana Whlle
this is a good thing, / think there is
likelihood of danger resulting from carry
ing the idea too far. 1t is not talr 10
the pupils to give them sclentltlc ram
ing without educating their hands ana
their bodies and the reverse is also true
Following this paper, c. r. MarcueSeh,
superintendent of the CARBON county
schools opened discussion on the pres
ent course of study for schools outside
nj cities of the first and second class.
While admitting that the present course
IS the best ever used. he recommended a
number of charges. There should be more
opportunity ICf altefhdtiNS anu OPefNii'~4
work. he said
A. Z. Miner superintendent of the San
nete county schools. continued the dis
cussion, agreeing with Mr.. Marcusse1.
To Help Backward Pupils.
Superintendent d. II. Christensen
gave the address of the afternoon, on
the subject, individual Instruction
Versus Mass Instruction in Schools.
About forty were present. including
nearly all of the superintendents of the
state and a few visitors. Mr.. Christen-
sen advocates the organization OF an
ungraded school, and said that the
schools should meet individual needs,
so far as IS possible. Children above
and below the normal standard and
the mentally deficient must receive spe-
cial attention. The interests OF the
child above or below the average have
not been sufficiently considered in pre-
paring courses of study for the graded
schools. He said they should not be in
the regular class room, as they are a
bindrance to the work Their number
in the city now is sufficient to justify
the Organizatio of two rooms for de-
fective children, and 1t Is hoped that
next year will see the plan in opera
ton. The course of study would in
cIude largely motor and sensory train
ing. the chief equipment being for
manual training. In closing Mr.. Chris
tensen said:
with some aid from the departments
Of physiology and medicine of our state
university, such cases may be erfec-
lively reached"
In the discussion which followed
Prof. William NJ. Stewart advocated a
state medical inspector, who would act
in connection with cit health boards
In the case of the mentally deficient.