Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-11-03

on porcupines.
JOINT RESOICT1ON.
Nv MIR Lewis Of Wells. that when To-.
two houses adjourn on Friday afternoo,
IL 10 TO meet on tuesday, morning NoY
f. at 10 o'clock. Adopted on the part -
the Iiousc.
On motion of MIR. Branch OF Gran q
Isle tho House adjourned.
The topic Of MIR. Schaeffer's discour.
was elias the School Heard the Voice .
Conservation?'
II was n splendid address. containing
| much OF interest, tersely told, and the
listeners thoroughly enjoyed it. The
speaker referred to the conference held
In Washington attended by captains Of
industry and distinguished men gathered
together to discuss the waste and the
conservation Of our national resources.
This conference. the speaker said. will ma =
teriRlly modify the point Of view from
which many things must hereafter be
| taught In the public schools especially
the high schools. The speaker said In
part:
Scientists at their associations have
| previously called attention to the sinful
waste Of our natural resources, but their
| voice was like the voice Of one crying in
the wilderness--no one paid any atten-
ton to the noise they were trying to
| make. But when Theodore Roosevelt
took UP the cry the voice Of conservation
became the voice OF the nation and was
even heard by governments like those of
Canada and Mexico.
HAS this voice been heard by the
schools? This is the question which I
would like to raise in the minds of the
thoughtful educators for It is at meetings
Of this sort that sentiment must be Gre
ated to sustain the educa tiOnal leaders In
their efforts TO adjust the school to the
new problems constantly arising among
a prosperous and progressive people.
The nations that have the coal and
iron rule the world. At that Washington
meeting Andrew Carnegie made the
prediction that by 1887 all the richer ores
Of iron in the United States will have
been exhausted. 1t was predicted that
by the end of the century the supplies
Of hard and soft coal will begin to fail
Every year we c>it three times much
timber as grows and in twenty years the
American people will begin to feel the
first pinches of a lumber famine. Many
exhausted. and yet we export oil to the
uttermost portions Of the earth.
The best asset OF a commonwealth is
not found In the soil. nor under the soil.
but In the school The greatest service
which the teacher can render to his age
and nation Is to discover talented boys
and girls. to inspire them with the sense
Of something to be achieved, to induce
| : hntp l.;
college and the university. there to
master the truths OF science by the ap-
plication Of which man will solve the
problems Of the future. when the sup
plies OF iron and fuel shall begin TO
fail
The conference of two years ago has
modified tho point of view from which
many things must hereafter he taught
, in the schools. Take the subject OF geo.
graphy The elementary school aims 20
!mpart the basal concepts which enable
the pupil to consult map. to grasp a
route Of travel. and to understand what
he reads in books. new spapers and maya
zines. Earl Ritter claims that the
schools should teach geogprahy from the
View point OF tn" earth as a place fit for
the abode of man. The tradesman should
know all about the countries from which
the raw materials OF his trade are OBJ
tanned. and he should he familiar with
the countries which offer market for
the finished product.
without doubt it is TOO much TO ask
every pupil to learn all the geography
which any one may reed to know for
business purposes. but it will undoubted-
y add new value and interest to the
study If the pupil is made to see how
the resources of a locality condition tn.
| possibility of earning "A livelihood for al!
who dwell there. In the high school the
! problem wilens and dcepens The ee-
mcntary school must often bo satisfied
! If the pupil learn. fact. ana processes
Without penetrating tcreath the sur
face !;ut al tire high school age the
mnd delights To penetrate heneaih tn"
surface 10 the cognition Of facts and
processes in their scientific relations.
/ What is science: science is the know
ledge of things IN their causes and
essential relations. Cause and effect,
reason ana consequence law and its
application--thcSe are tho cateGorieS
ulonS which the mind of the learner
, must be taught 30 move, II the high
! school Is TO fufi it, function n the
educational system. When geography ls
studied in This way, il becomes a very
valuable discipline
'iiavc high school teachers taken IN in
earnest these problems Of the waste and
conservation of our natural resources
which lie at the basis Of the future
welfare OF OUR country and the prrpetuty
o! its free institution? In round num-
| berS the United states give crnplOVrlent
TO half a million teachers. The civilized
world runs the number to three and a
half million teachers Commissioner
Draper has pointed out that II these
| workers IN the school should tcach his
tory from the viewpoint ~ arbitration as
the best method for the settlement Of
international disputes, war would become
impossible hecause no government can
HHord to begin an unpopular war
THE school stands Cor ideas. and IDEAS
are more powerful than money. The
pubic sentiment which the school. create
mas incalculable influence in shaping the
iestinies of our country.
bE way of conclusion, allow me to add
Il WORD about the greatest ~ all the
Propiems or conservation with which the
SCHOOL mas to deaf our national re-
sources include more than water and soil
~id Forests and fuel and iron The most
valuable asset Of a nation is childhood
me conservation OF the time. the energy ,
| nc opportunities. the talent of our chill
| lreh Is the greatest problem with which
ne 'eacher has to deal. The rising gen
| Grafton should he taught the truths OF
| science AS part of truth in all its hear
| nSs and relations.
|