The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-07-06
Supt. H. B. Wilson Of Topeka
Spoke Today. ct St.. Paul 8
POINTS DEFECTS IN SYSTEM
Things That Are Not Practical
Are Taught Children.
Superintendent Wilson Predicts
q Change Soon.

x1f 80. vseAcV.- -. !. CSAAC 70
. Change Soon.
81. Paul. MINI. July .e.-In speaking
before the National Council Of Educa-
ton this morning in connection with
the meeting Of the National Education
association, H. B. Wilson. superintend-,
emit OF city schools at Topeka, maintain
ed that either by doing moro work In
the time consumed or doing practically
the same work In less time much time
may be economical in public education.
His subject was THE Economy OF
Time. in Education, y, .'-s
Superintendent Wilson said in part:
It is. evident that the schols are
responsible for economizing time In all
respects in which waste now exists.
wish briefly to consider four sources OF
waste and therefore four possible ave.
nues of economy, as. follows, 80 = -
First. A large amount of waste re-
suits because of the fact that the course
of study contains much obsolete sub
ject matter. This subject matter
neither functions in interest on the
part of the children at the time OF
learning nor in service to society after,
they have left the schools. Yet chill
dren spend much time in attempting
to master this material and teachers
struggle strenuously in their efforts to
teach it, -
Recent Investigations have shown
that expert business men fall in prob
lens made up from arithmettcs in use
in the schools because in actual bust
ness they have no need to be able to
solve such problems. Likewise. in
geography the children are spending
their time in memorizing facts which
they have no need to. know to be able
81 Htara intalliRant1V
and which our international trade ex-
periences make no use of. Similarly.
in history and physiology, and espe-
cially in the subject Of technical gram
mar, are the children wasting much
time in a fruitless effort to master ma
need to think about after they have
left the public schools and passed be-
yond the possibility of being overtaken
by a final examination before gradual
ton.
Much Waste OF Time.
Second. Much waste results from
attempting to train and educate pro-
nounced deviating children in the
same classes with normal children.
The deviating children are at a dis
advantage in their efforts to keep
abreast with the normal children.
Finding themselves incapable OF doing
80, they become discouraged and make
her efforts to serve these children as
largely as possible. the teacher wastes
much time and energy which ought to
be expended in advancing the normal
children.
Poor Habits of Study.
Third. Children advance more slow
ly in their mastery of subject matter
and school tasks than they should be-
cause they are not trained in their
habits Of study. They do not acquire
from grade to grade and from year to
year effective methods Of working,
with the result that much time is lost.
Experimental data yet are lacking to
show the la. ger returns secured by
children who employ good methods of
study, but they must be great If we
may safely infer from the gains ex-
perienced in commercial life from
establishing modern methods and sys-
TENS of working.
Lack of Technique.
Fourth.-Large waste exists in all
grades of the public schools and in all
subjects that are taught. due to the
failure of teachers to employ a tech
ntque in teaching which is appropriate
to the subject matter under study and
TO the results desired. Those results
which are to be secured through drill,
As In spelling. the multiplication table,
the fixing of dates and other facts.
require a technique appropriate to the
drill lessons. In the discovery of prin-
ctples in geography, nature study. and
other science work, a tech
,aus appropriate to inductive
Is very different from that appropriate
to tho drill lesson. Further, in the
teaching Of certain phases of the SUBJ
5ect OF history or geography and in
the teaching OF much in music and lit
erature. the end sought is apprecia-
ton rather than thorough mastery.
Therefore a different technique is re-
Quired il the desired ends are to be
reached economically.
Effort to Gain Time.
In closing. Mr.. Wilson urged that if
all the gains which might be accom-
plished through the elimination of the
sources OF waste pointed out above
are secured. either less time will be
much significant material which is
now omitted from the course Of study
may be added. Large gains are ex-
pected within the next two years as a
result Of the work which the committee
from the department of superinten-
dence on economy Of time Is now do
ing with the assistance of a number
Of cooperating Investigators in a
number Of leading institutions of the
dictate definitely the minima in sub
5ect matter in the subjects of study in
the elementary schools and also to in
dictate the essentials in the best prac-
tice now in use in this country both
from the standpoint of organisation
ana teaching technique.
BOOST GOLDEN BELT.