Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-14
HOLD LAST SESSION
Educators Preparing to Leave
San Francisco.
DR.. F. E. PARLIN'S ADDRESS
Asserts That Present Type Of Kin
dergartens Is More Harmful
Than Beneficial.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
SAN FRANCISCO, Cal, July 14.-Dele-
gates to the annual convention of the Ma
tfonal Educational Association today held
their last regular meetings, and tomor-
row they will all be on their way to
their homes or summer resorts, where
they will spend the remainder Of their
vacations. The exodus Of the 1900 even
began in a mild way today. when men,
bers Of those special sections which had
| completed their work took their de-
parture
At the departmental meetings today
there were several addresses of interest
Some of the most interesting were
Growing Children" by Cyril A. Steb-
bins, instructor in agricultural education
at the University of California: art as
| a Cultivator of the Imagination" by May
Gerhart, supervisor of drawing in the
schools of Los Angeles. Cal; How to
Prevent Backwardness and Mental De-
| ficiency in Children" by Henry H. God
dard, director of the New Jersey School
for the Feeble minded; What Consti.
tutes a Subnormal Child" by Winnie c.
Hooks, special psychologist of the Oak
land, Cal, schools, and 1.-The Kinder
garten of the Future" by DR.. Frank e.
Parlin, superintendent Of schools of Cam
bridge, Mass.
Urges Out-of-Door Kindergartens.
DR.. Parlin's remarks drew forth great
approval in the discussion by the dele
gates Of the section on kindergarten edu-
cation He declared the present type OF
ktndergartens is more harmful than bene-
fetal to the child. when compared with
what should be done. DR.. Parlin advo.
Gated out-of-door kindergartens and a
larger policy in their administration, CIV
ing to the children greater opportunity
to exercise their individuality and inven-
tivenesS
Although a friend Of the kindergar-
ten." he said, II believe the orthodox
type is neither sacred nor perfect. that
the position of the conservative kinder
gardeners is unwise and untenable, that
they emphasize the most defective parts
Of FroebePs system and neglect his most
valuable principles.
1.-The brain Of the child at the kinder
garten age is ready for sensory, motor
and language training only.
The kintergarten OF the future will be
true to its name, garden OF children
will generally be out Of doors. in the
sunlight and open air, among the trees
and flowers, and assoc 4ated with birds
and animals, providing healthful condi-
lions for the body, appropriate food fol-
| the senses. abundant exercise for the
muscles, ample scope for the imagina-
ton and unfailing topics for converse
ton. The healthy growth of the child
will be the prime consideration-large
lungs, good digestion, a strong heart and
steady nerves - Outranking peg-stickine
and meager knowledge Of sphere, CYL
inder and cube.
Supreme Value Of Play.
ct will recognize the supreme value OF
all kinds Of real play, which call into
well timed and well measured action both
mind and body.
cit will give mitch attention to oral
language, each child having frequent op.
portunity to tell his stories and to ask
questions.
There will be wise supervision. but
little Of that direction which robs the
child Of original thought and Independent
action: more individual effort, less uni
formity and concert work; more appeal
to the sensibility. less training Of the in
tellect; more natural growth and develop
ment, less precocity and self-conscious-
ness It will be more Of a nursery, less
Of a school. 1t will stand for the rights
of the child-the right to be q child, to
think as child, to speak as child, to
understand as a child-in order that,
d
away childish things, and be as much Of
a man as possible
Insurgent Candidates Elected.
Carroll Gardner Pearse, superintendent
Of schools of Milwaukee. was elected
president of the National Education AS
ISOLATION yesterday, to succeed Mrs. Ella
Flagg Young of Chicago. With Pearse
were elected all candidates on the in
surgent slate. The insurgents succeeded
in tabling until 1912 amendments to the
bylaws submitted by a committee ap-
pointed two years ago. The new board
of trustees is as follows: J. Stanley
Brown, Joliet. ILL.,, chairman; James
Greenwood, Kansas City. Mo-, secretary
(hold over); President Robert ]. Alley Of
the University Of Maine; ]. Y. Joyner,
Raleigh, N. c., and Carroll G. Pearse,
Milwaukee. Wis. lex officio)
The directors recommended to the ex-
ecutive committe that st. Paul be the
next meeting place. 1t is customary to
follow this recommendation.
Mr.. Pearse. the new president. years
ago became an insurgent in the National
Education Association. This brought
him in conflict with Nicholas Murray
Butler of Columbia University. Butler,
as president, removed Pearse from the
board of trustees for non-attendance.
Two days ago Pearse and his associates
ousted DR.. Butler from the association