The Republican journal., 1914-02-12

Supt. Churchill said that low salary is
one of the defects of our educational
system. Good teachers are always called
away by higher salary elsewhere. He
discussed the industrial fair movement,
which is deserving of more attention.
DIR. Calvin S. White discusses the Sex
Hygiene question. He said that work.
ers in this field need more thorough
preparation than in any other;that owing
70 the inefficiency of the work absolutely
no progress has thus far been made
against the spread of venereal disease.
No suitable text book has thus far been
produced. People are so shocked at the
investigation of these subjects that they
prefer to remain in ignorance. He said
that it is criminal ignorance, and that
the temperance taught in our text books
is so exaggerated as to make it worthless.
Let us have the truth and nothing but
the truth. Sex Hygiene is the most inn
portant subject taught in theHigh school,
but the book taught should be as scien-
tifcally correct as the one taught in
medical college. Numerous vocations
are taught in school, but the one most
important, the one more nearly allied to
all people, that of parenthood, is neg
lected. The original plan of creation is
overlooked. Do not send out unframed
teachers to deal with this problem.
President Foster of Reed college said
that however anxious the home and
church had been to bring up the children
in blessed innocence there was evidence
that they got information from foul
sources. The agencies which should be
interested have been silent. Novels deal
ing with these subjects in an improper
manner have the largest sale. Plays and
moving pictures dealing with the white
slave traffic are the most popular. Ten
years ago it would have been impossible
to speak on these subjects, but today the
church, the school and the home must
accept the responsibility. We have at
present no suitable books on these sub
iects, but in the present emergency must
use such as are least bad.
President Kerr of the Oregon Agri-
cultural college told US that education
has in the past served the few rather
than the many. Nine tenths of our peo-
pie are pursuing industrial occupations.
Our school work was so thoroughly cult
ural that manual training was first de-
Tended on ground of cultural value. Now
it is becoming of practical value. Over
loaded teachers tend to be superficial.
We are slow to eliminate valueless ma
terial
In our efforts to build up industrial
education we must not lose sight Of the
fundamentals. The responsibilities of
citizenship demand culture as well as
ability to use the hands. Experts with
broad perspective must Gull out non
essentials to make room for the new
demands. Elementary school work may
be completed in six years instead OF
eight. Domestic science and agriculture
may be made as scientific. cultural and
pedagogical as any study. Teachers &C.
cupy their positions for too short peri
cd and are without suitable qualifications
or assistance. Expert supervision is es-
sential in rural schools. We have grown
away from the idea that school is only
for the children. 1t is for the commu-
nifty and should produce the highest type
of citizenship.
President Foster of Reed college told
us that social evolution is bringing the
teaching profession into greater promln-
ence than ever before. 1t is call to US
to look for a wider horizon. Girls in fac
tories are nothing but machines, but are
better paid than many teachers. Teach
ing as trade is dull and unimportant.
As profession, it seeks to serve. There
are few traders in the teaching profes-
sion. Our greatest reward comes from
a consciousness of performing service
TO humanity. Lie lCoeiiSi "t'o
bows not to go into teaching because OF
its scanty reward is not worthy the pro-
fession.
Scientific education is in It's infancy.
The teacher is not much better off than
the doctor was when anyone could prac-
tice medicine. The highest man in the
calling is the one who does not regard
money. Democracy is an experiment.
Its success depends upon how well we as
teachers do our work.
Whatever the cost of an undertaking.
the fond parent promptly says it is not
too much if it is for my boy. The teacher
must expand with the growing needs OF
the age rs we'll as dwell apart while
with some great mind Of the past. Our
happiness depends upon our attitude.
Enthusiasm is contagious. Ours is to
labor on with eyes fixed on our ideal.
NV. O'Shea from the University OF
Wisconsin told Us that an inevitable cru.
cial hour for teachers il approaching.
He compared the training OF children to