Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-05-05
HART TALKS TO TEACHERS
Harvard Professor Tells Educators
Their Calling Grsndest Of All.
TRIBUTE TO LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL
lnsfructors of Today Have in Their
sSSCharxe the Great Men and the
- Women Who Are TO Rule
- the World.

1T was q large and appreclatiye audience
that greeted Prof. Albert Bushnell Hart
Of Harvard university at the auditorium
n the Young women's Christian asso-
riation building. II was an audience
made up entirely Of Omaha school teach
FRS and there was not q vacant chair
IN the large room when Superintendent
Graft Of the Omaha schools introduce
me distinguished educator. who sp5ks
IN the "Praciieability Of Education"
-Prefacing his address BY detailing soma
observations made during his visit in
omaha, Prof Hart spoke enthusiastic
ally OF the schools Of the city and par
ucularly OF the high school, Referring
% the building. he said that II is second
o none in the United States and one Of
ne best he has ever seen.
The professor took the position that the
great object in teaching Is not so much
20 follow the old rules laid down in the
tsxt books. but to cause and instruct the
p1pns TO think for themselves and that
the teacher is an aid in drawing out the
soul OF the pupil and helping to raise
up men and women who will enrich the
nation.
Old Idea Has Passed Away.
The time has passed when years are
sp<nt compelling pupils TO commit to
memory long passages and lessons. the
sdea now being 10 teach the facts. this
being an age when everything except
Facts are ignored; II is an age OF great
things when the masters Of the world
are in the school rooms and when the
people are the worshippers OF success.
: Professor Hart told OF the time when
Re was a student In college and then It
was necessary that complete knowi-
edge OF Greek be acquired and only a
few years prior TO that It was Imperative
that a maj with Completed education
should have a thorough understanding
Of Hebrew, especially IL he expected to
engage In toe ministerial calling. Now
Hebrew has been relegated. Greek is
following and even Latin Is not consid-
cred absolutely necessary in many Of the
colleges.
Practicablllty Is one OF the things
sought In educational. and also, in busl-
ness matters. oontended the speaker. IL
Is an age Of Capitalization and the world
Is looking for men who do things. Even
the political parties. he added. want men
who will make the dirt fly. They want
men who can and will bring about prac-
teal results and as proof of this he
painted TO the political situation In New
York. where both OF the parties. have
the state oatalogued according to the
most approved card system. showing the
party affiliation Of every voter and how
they should vote In event they cling to
party lines.
In all lines of trade the business man
has learned the necessity Of securing
taisnt and Of gathering in men who eau
produce results. Even the business prin-
clpies have been carried into religion,
continued the speaker. and the work Of
locking after the secular affairs OF the
church is turned over to the laymen. men
who have, as a rule. been successful In
their own business matters. Then. too,
the universities that are most successful
have placed upon their stats a corps Of
business agents.
10 fill the many places OF Importance,
contsnded Prof Hart. the schools OF to-
the important places that will be open
in ihe future. and for these places prac-
ucal men will be needed. This idea Of
practical teaching is spreading and in.
stead OF instructing and compelling the
memorizing OF the multiplication table
and the catechism. the schools are broad.
ening and teaching practical things.
prnf Hart maintained that ranch wand
cSue from memorizing. but looked upon
tina school life OF child as being too
short to follow the old method of com.
hitting 10 memory all the tables In the
Arithmetic, the rules OF grammar and
everything found in the books. Ever
parzlng." he added. is lost art
However. he insisted that there should
be mental training. but insisted that Il
should not be pushed TO an unreasonabl,
extent But with good mental training
teachers might work out miracles. and Ia
tins connection he related an instane,
where a boy considered an idiot wal
taken In charge by professor and hS
constant work was not only taught 4
talk intelligently, but was enabled L
think.
The teachers were urged not 90 lool
upon their profession as one OF drudgery
but instead one Of the most uplifting
attractive and beneficial to the world
one that is constantly imparting knowl
edge and producing the future great mel
and women OF the country.
PR0F. HART TALKS TO TEACHER.