The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-15
SUPER|NTENDENTS
OF STATE SCHOOLS
ARE MEETING HERE
Gather at Central High
School for Annual Con-
ference-Fullan
Speaks

The superintendents of schools in the
various counties of the state met here
yesterday and will conclude their ses-
sions today. The sessions yesterday began
at 2:90 O'Clock, p. M, at tho Central High
school, The headquarters of the school
superintendents' organization are at the
Hotel Hillman.
The first address of the afternoon ses-
sion was made by w. r. Harrison of
Florence, acting president of the depart
ment of town and city superintendents
of the Alabama Educational association.
He was followed by A. T. Harmon of
Selma, superintendent of public schools
of that city. DIR. J. II. Phillips. super
intendent of the schools of Birmingham,
made the next address, The other speak
ers on the programme were: w. F. Jones
of New Decatur and A. Nj. Spessard of
Uniontown. A general discussion and the
appointment of committees closed the aft
ernoon meeting.
Willingham Speaks
At 7:30 o'clock last night the superin-
tendents were called to order and former
State Superintendent w j. Willingham
of Montgomery delivered an address, in
Which he reviewed the work of the past
year. lie was followed by NJ. I. Fullan
of Auburn, who delivered an address on
Industrial Education in the Public
Schools" Mr.. Fullan said that industrial
education in public schools was important
for three reasons: AS an educational me
dum. as n vitalizing agent, as an eco
nomic factor. He told how best, in his
opinion, to introduce industrial educa-
ton. He said that it was no fad, as
many educators seemingly believed, for
I'VE know that education is any process
which improves the mind of the ipdi-
vidual and advances his state in life
Mr.. f'ullan said that the spread of edu-
cation was due mainly to the spread of
religion, and that IL was through re-
ligious orders that it moved westward
over the plains of Europe. 1--WE have been
looking upon industrial education as some
thing entirely new, recently discovered,
said the Auburn professor. I'VE see that
it is not new and we are going back and
taking valuable educational element, a
jewel. which the pioneers of our system
overlooked. A glance down the line of
the great educators win show US that
they felt the need for industrial educa-
tion in schools. John Locke opposed pub
lie instruction but strongly favored In
dustrial training as an element of gem
eral euuCdllOll. MT. ulidn gave otHcr
instances of great men who believed
strongly in the training of children along
industrial lines.
The professor said that aside from its
monetary value, industrial education was
a great vitalzing feature in the educa-
ton of boys. He said that if boy
were permitted to learn trade while
attending school 1t would make him Il
better student. He said that it was u
fact generally recognized that training
a boy in the crafts did not have a ten
dencv = -oake him dull but was just
the reverse.
We "a e ample PROOF that training in
the crafts briohtens the nunI FOR "'her
work." he declared. "Often an unlnterest-
ed and dull pupil will take on Il new
interest in all his studies because OF it, -
He called attention TO the fact that
Germany was recognized as a model along
educational lines. He said that the school
system In Germany was the best in the
world.
Professor F'ulan closed his address with
a quotation from Carlyle: Man Is tool
using animal He can use tools, can de-
wise tools; with these the granite noun
tains melt into light dust before him;
he kneads the glowing iron as ii IL were
soft paste; the seas are his smooth high
ways, and fire and winds his unvarying
steeds Nowhere do you find him without
TOOLS without tools he is nothing. With
tools he is ALL
DOster Addresses Body
A round table conference followed the
address of the Auburn teacher and J. j.
Doster of the university addressed the
hodV EuOpriutnOdant IT M Morrow NJ