Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-11-09
ANNUAL PASTlME OF CERTAIN
EDUCATORS IN FULL SWING
AT DIES MONIES.
STATE MEETING GOING
THRU SAME OLD GRIND
Educators Airing Their Views, Many
Changes Recommended, and Griev-
anees Being Aired - State Superin-
tendent Dsyoe to Recommend Com
mission.
Special to mes-Republican.
mission.

Special to Times Republican.
! Des Moines. Nov. 9.-The fad of
fighting the fads broke out early at the
| gathering of the educators for the
annual session of the Iowa State
Teachers Association This is always
popular fad. and of itself is regarded
as quite harmless and frequently
amusing.
The first snow was when the early
teachers arriving here to register for
the convention had slipped into their
pockets a little pamphlet purporting
to be a new course of study for the
Fadville public schools. 1t was a de-
lightful little take off on the way some
schools are running to fads, a course
of study so ridiculous and strained as
to make the reader wish for d return
to the days of old fogeyism. Just where
the pamphlet came from nobody
seemed to know. but it was in circu-
Eation last night. much to the amuse-
ment OF the fad fighters.
The ostensible excuse for the out
break was the discovery that num-
Der of the most pronounced of the
advocates Of new methods" and fancy
systems" had been given places on
the program The educators say that
the latest fads run toward the way
that reading IS taught. also as TO
geography and history and a few other
things, and they are becoming into!er-
able. The fads and anti-fads there
fore renewed the time-honored con-
fiict which has been raging ever since
Spencerian penmanship was intro,
duced as a fad.
Same Old Grind.
Before the week is over it is eX-
pected that at least a majority offs the
5000 or more educators who attend
will have expressed themselves on
every conceivable phase Of the great
topic Of education in general. The
educational council will report on the
latest and best things, the state super
intendent will have his say as to
what ought to be done, the president
of the association will make few
timely suggestions. heads of colleges
and training schools will tell about the
needs of the day and the every day
school patron will get a chance to air
his grievances
Preliminary meetings have already
been held and the state association
program starts this evening at a big
meeting in the Coliseum. The enroll
ment committee reports the receipts
as satisfactory and good attendance
is assured. The musical program as
arranged will be fine one.
Mahannah's Recommendations.
! In his annual address to be delivered
this evening. it is expected that Presi-
| dent Fred L. Mahannah. Of Mason City,
| will recommend that the state associa-
ton make practical use Of at least q
part of the Sc 600 which 1t now has in
it's treasury for having prepared a
practical course of the study for the
schools of the state. Nothing of the
sort has ever been attempted Courses
| of study for high schools have been
suggested and certain standards have
| been fixed here and there. But appar-
emily what Is needed. and this is pos
! sible without any radical change In the
work and without any new legislation
! is some definite plan for the correla-
ton of all the different branches of
i educational work. \ course Of study
worked out would close the chasmS
that are found along the way between
! the different parts Of the school sys
tenn. Professor Mahannah's idea all
along has been to get busy with the
! things that are practical and are pos
sible without any changes, and to fig
| ure out exactly what can be done at
/ present to improve the schools-all the
schools of the state. 1t Is easy enough
to go on criticising the rural schools.
but that does no good, and the thing
to do is to have commission or COM
n1ittee named to get busy planning for
the things that can easily be done I'M