The Penn's Grove record., 1912-07-12
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF EDUCATION
Public School Problems Discussed

met in Chicago this week and discussed
the welfare Of the public school, the
children who attend and the course of
study.
More than 10000 educators had been
enrolled when Carroll G, Pearse, of
Milwaukee, called the convention to
order and in his annual address pointed
out the questions which are expected to
evoke spirited debates between the
progressively and their opponents be-
fore the sessions are ended Friday.
Nine departments of the association
met in various sections of the city be-
fore the convention opened.
CHANGE OF SYSTEM FORECAST
In his presidential address, Carol G.
PearSe, superintendent of schools of
Milwaukee, declared that: "Our pub
lie educational system stands in the
presence of great impending changes"
and said, in part:
Among the necessities pressing upon
us most heavily is that for finding some
opportunity for children to work. We
pass laws to keep them out OF mills and
factories and off from coal breakers:
we must assume the responsibility for
finding i'll connection with suitable
school privileges, a privilege equally
important, an opportunity for the chill
dren t. bear some responsibility for
helpful tasks and fruitful labor. Our
children must not be allowed to grow
up without the power to work with
their hands or TO apply themselves to
useful and lOmely duties duril g their
most impressionable, formative Years.
Reports submitted said that of the
~, 600 public school pupils in the
United Sta es II, 000, 900 were being
educated i'll rural schools and that only
one-third of the country boys and girls
were making a satisfactory showing.
Mary l.. Ely, head of children's work
in the public library al Dayton, o.,
spoke OF the teachers guidance in The
child's reading. 1t is necessary she
said shat every teacher should know
the best C lildren's books. To that end
a course in children's literature should
he given i'll every normal school.
Teachers are urged Il make use of the
library workers who make a specially
of Children's books and to cooperate
with them in the effort 10 give the
right book to the right child at the
right time"
Frank w. Miller, State Superinten-
dent Of Public Instruction, Columbus,
o., spoke on The bettermenL of The
rural schools Though agriculture.
Arnold l.. Gesell, Department of
Education, Yale University, spoke of
special province OF child hygiene in the
primary sc..oOl. "TAe business of the
child llygienist," he said, sis not to
inspect for defects but 10 ~consecutively
supervise the mental and physical de-
velopDlental needs of the growing
child. The Primary School is the Ellis
Island through which our future citi-
zens pas, The native as we'll lis alien,
the norlal, the physically defective,
the mentally unstable, The delinquent
and the feeble-minded. The school
cannot deport but must CARY and care
for all the types. The task of child
hygiene is to discover all The types as
early as possible and to trovIue the
best opportunities Tor their treatment
and Development"
Speaking before the department of
school administration, Edwin G. Cool.
Oy, folmer superintendent of Chicago
schools, analyz ed the conditions that
make 1t necessary for boys and girls to
leave school at all early age and insist
Ell that tile school must do its part as a
public institution i'll the elevation of
society. IA fundamental defect in
our present system results from our
cuslomot terminating compulsory school
education at fourteen years. Every
one will admit That this Is too early,'
SAID MI. Cooley. "At fourteen our
boys and girls must need guidance and
instruction. They leave The public
schools just at the time when character
building really begins and just when
they should be the objects OF special al
tentiOn."
The National Educational Associa-
ton, representing more than Is, 900
educators, went OH record as favuliuk /:
W0men's suffrage, ''because women
teachers realize Tie responsibility of
training youth for citizenship"
Omotion OF International peace.
An investigation of teachers salar
les throughout the country, with refer
ence to The high cost of living,
A uniform Federal law for marriage
and divorce.
The promotion of plans for a Ma.
tlonal University.
The texenalOn by Congress of plans
for training i'll agriculture, domestic
economy and o her industrial work III
various Institutions.
Greater attention i'll public schools to
the health of the pupils.
The extension by Congress of the
work OF the National Bureau of Educa-
tlon so DIS TO "emDOdy IA group OF COM
pelent mtn and women to study thor
oughly the problem of rural education,
city school administration, vocational
education, sanitation and hygiene and
higher education. including the train
ii & OF teachers"
More attention by teachers to the in
d!vldual necessities OF pupils for rain
ing that will tit them Tor "a detiLite oc.
cupaLOn i'll life.
That the school Fairgrounds provide
al least one square rod for each pupil,
IhatNa greater spirit of allluism he
inspired III school work.
The association condemned cOmpul-
sorry military training in schools not
T. peclally designated as military schools.
DIR. Joseph Swain, the president of
swarthmore College, reported OIL an in
vestigation conducted in Denver, Cincin-
natl, Atlanta and New Haven, of teach
ers' salaries in relation to the high cost
OF living, He said 1905 replies had been
to questions that lad been sent
out. The replies showed a need OF high
salaries commensurate with a higher
efficiency, he said.
The convention adopted a resolution
authorizing the committee Oh teachers
and the cost OF living to take
steps to bring its findings to the attention
of Congress and the President of the
United States.
The relation OF the schools to the move
ment for recreational, social and civic OPP
portunity was the general subject discuss
ed before the convention.