Weekly journal-miner., 1911-07-19
NOTED EDUCATORS
 EXCHANGE IDEAS
Conduct of Schools Discussed at The Meeting of the National Education
 Association In San Francisco

It strikes at the very root of the physical problem, as in the very na- ture of the case, the public play ground and athletic field can alone adequately supply for the children and young people. at least. the three great needs for their proper growth and development, viz, air, sunshine and exereise'
 Moral Development.
 "The greatest problem before edu- catOrs today is the moral development of the boys and girls in our schools who will be our leading citizens of tomorrow" said Miss Evelyn Pluss, of the State Normal school, Los An geles, in an address on: "The Kinder garten as an Ethical Laboratory" !"
 gro develop the moral individual who wills to be, himself. a strong member of the social whole, to give his best, whether it be his mind or his physical strength-tO lead the in dividual to his greatest good to him. self and the nation.
 'The kindergarten stage is that of instincts. the formative period. in which is laid the foundation of his later lift of habit, of thought speech and actiOn,-the stage of activity of mind and body; the greatest period of struggle for freedom, to master his own body and to know the world about him. In so doing, he masters the social whole. as he sees fit and becomes one with it.
 ''The kindergarten takes the child in this awakening stage, guiding his love, his loyalty, his entire emotional nature in right els,-bOth the individual and social phase kept con- stantly in view, cultivating each with reference to the other.
 '''In training our children for this government of the people, by the people, for the peOple,-ereation of a desire for right, and habits of obed- fence are essential.
 ''The education of today, of which kindergarten was the beginning. tries to build up character rather than merely give information, to develop the receptive and expressive powers, fitting the child for life in the world, capable of happiness and fitted for usefulness, guiding him to this through his own self activity. wheth- CT it be the building of blocks, the construction of an article of furni- ture or his part in a game which awakens in him a consciousness of his power to do and to be what he wills-then will he be strong.'
 Feeble -Mindedness.
 Baekwardness and mental deficiency in children was discussed at today's meeting of the National Education
 
 of the school for feeble minded, Vineland, \. J., who declared that the birth of feeble minded children was ever increasing and that action was imperative.
 'The feeble-mindedness that is due to heredity' said the speaker "ean only be prevented by preventing the birth of such children. That is to say. by preventing the marriage of feeble-minded persons or by prevent ing the possibility of proereation through surgical interference. Both of these methods must be resorted to in order to stop this terrible evil which is ever increasing.
 Backwardness and mental defie- iency have become especially promin- ent of late years, because of the changes in our school conditions. The eurrieula are much more crowded and elaborate, can only be gone through by those of good ability. The social and industrial world has changed to only those who have passed through reasonable course of education can secure such positions as will enable them to earn a living. The backward child who is not feeble-minded can be discovered and conditions provided in the form of a special class by which he shall be brought up to normal and prepared to earn an hon. est living.
 "Those who are truly backward, are ineurable and they only train along certain lines so as to be happy and less of a burden on the com munity. The cause of mere backward ness is local and temporary and many in most cases be removed if discover ed
 'We must soon eme to the point in our public school administration where we have special classes for the preeOeious and for the backward ba ,1o