El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-02-06
APPARENT PA1ROF PLANETS AND MOoNNNOaNeSMfoRF5B

gives so much satisfaction and pleas
ure- The study Of no other subject
is so uplifting to the soul as that
which causes US to contemplate the
works Of God in the universe Of stars.
In view OF the truths just recited,
why, among people Of repute, education
and culture do we find such prevailing
ignorance Of the principles and funda-
mental facts Of this oldest and most
beautiful Of all sciences, and at the
same time. in various aspects, the
newest and most practical2
Astronomy In Schools.
Why is not time and effort common
surate with its beauty and value given
to the subject in our schOOlS2 Why
has the study of the insect and the
worm and the terminating seed IN
nature study" supplanted or over
Swallowed observation and contempla-
tion OF the greater, grander and more
sublime works of God so WOndrOuSly
exhibited in the over-spreading heav-
ems both night and day? For what
reason exists the ignorance and lndlI-
ference among educators relative 10
the universal truths of astronomical
science2 The greater, broader concep-
ton of creation and creations God can
not be obtained in the chemical or bio
logical laboratory Of some school, but
out under the broad .eXpanse Of heaven,
looking up into Gods face, as it were,
till the soul responds at the sight and,
hushed with awe and reverence, bows
to Him. the creator Of all.
The writer finds in our schools that
if any attempt at all is being made
to instruct the pupils IN elementary
facts Of astronomical knowledge and to
encourage observation of astronomical
phenomena, it is at best a very feeble
and ineffective effort. Yet all progress
sive teachers admit that no class Of
facts, as knowledge, is more valuable
or desirable, and no kind of observa-
ton can be more interesting, instruc-
tive and inspiring Why then the al
most total absence in our schools CT
this most desirable kind Of instruc-
ton instruction that is admittedly
practical. aesthetic and cultural, while
other subjects much less so, are an es-
tablished part Of the curriculum?
Teachers Do Not Know.
A partial answer to this question,
at least. is found in the frank admis-
sion or confession os the part Of teach
ers generally that they don't know
enough about the subject to risk any
attempt to teach ii. This difficulty
can be remedied. Teachers. if proper
" directed and encouraged, can. in a
short time themselves acquire the
knowledge necessary to begin Work
along this line and such interest and
enthusiasm will be awakened in them
and their pupils as to insure success
The minimum Of knowledge for g. cry
boy and girl to acquire upon this
subject before leaving school, ought to
be:
l. A clear conception of the mechani-
cal relations of the planets to each
other and to the sun in the solar sys-
TEN
?. A clear conception Of the relation
of the solar system, q 8 a whole, to the
sidereal universe
g. A knowledge by observation, of
the apparent mOFements of the sun,
moon and planets among the stars.
T. A knowledge by observation. Of
aHr# % Ia
celestial sphere,
5. The ability to interpret these ap-
pearances intol the realities that cause
them
6. A knowledge Of the names and
positions Of the principal consultations
OF stars, and Individual stars.
Z A knowledge of the principal i'm
aginary hnfes and points upon the eel
estial sphet-e.
s. Some knowledge Of the physica
( condition nd relative sizes and masses
Of the sun, moon and planets.
3. Famlll iarity with the principa