The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-12-30
Ten Towns in State
Have Already Adopt
ed New Plan Speak
/. er Tells Teachers
EX CARNATIONS
ARE ATTACKED
Departments of Educational Associa-
tion in Closing Meetings This Morn
ing Elect oficers-Convention Ad-
journs Tomorrow

The last meetings of the separate de-
partments of the State Educational AS
sociation were this morning held in
rooms on all floors of the Technical
High school and officers for the ensu-
ing year were elected following the
reading of papers and the holding of
round table conferences.
In the high school department ami.
mated debates on various questions took
place. During discussion on the ad-
Vantages of dividing school course
into six years of elementary and six
years of high school work the fact was
brought out that there are already
about ten high schools in small towns
of this State which have adopted the
new gradation.
Those who spoke on the matter of
setting up a high standard for the
preparation of high school teachers
seemed to be of the opinion that strict
requirements ought not be laid down
for teachers, since instructors who are
anxious to do better work will volun-
tarily take up summer studies at uni.
versities.
4 In this connection the matter of
teachers pay was brought up, the as
sertion being made that teachers could
not afford to take university work in
pany cases.
Title of Prof. an Honor
''The public schools. " said the chair
man. Prof. C. o. Althouse, of Philadel-
phia, care competing with business.
When a good teacher gets q big offer
L., nA
profession. The schools say that for
the privilege of being called Prof. you
should accept position with them for
$500. If only the salary were made
commensurate with the task, we could
keep our teachers.
That a High school teacher should
have some pedagogical training over
and above his college course was the
contention of one speaker, who told how
a young man fresh from college had
tried to begin teaching ninth grade
children where he had left off in col
lege. how he had scorned Grammar, and
had been soaring above the heads of
his pupils in endeavors to conduct
revival in poetry. The speaker de-
clared that a years training in def
mite methods of teaching would have
saved that young man considerable
trouble.
Abolition of Examinations Urged
Many High school students had they
been present would have loudly APP
plauded the statement of another
speaker advocating the gradual aboli-
tion of examinations in High schools.
80 A set of examination questions
l,l
a High school. said this speaker, land
the standard by which pupils should be
judged ought TO be the word of their
teachers. Marks and grades are the
bug bears in our High schools. Tests
al intervals are we'll and good but set
examinations accomplish nothing.'
In answer to this declaration. Miss
Katharine McNiff of the faculty of
Central High school, this city. told how
for ten years final examinations had
been dispensed with at the local High
school, and how during that time nor
NAL schools had complained that Har-
risburg graduates were much slower in
their work than formerly.
That "teachers should never under
any circumstances yield to parents in
the matter of promoting children. -
was perhaps the most emphatic and
most generally accepted statement
made during the session.
Model School Exhibited
At the session Cf the department of
graded schools, attended principally by
women, model school was conducted
by Miss Patterson. in first grade read.
ing. Fifteen little boys and girls from
one of the local primary schools, ex.
hibited their skill before the teachers.
Officers elected by various depart.
ments follow: Colleges and Normal
schools, President, Frank E. Baker
Edinboro Normal; vice president, s.
b. Mccormick, chancellor University of
Pennsylvania; secretary, O. H. Backe
las. Bloomsbury Normal. and treasurer.
Harvey Brumbsugh. Juniata College.
County superintendence president, C.
- Knapp, Warren county; vice presi
dent. Frank Koehler. Monroe countv:
secretary. l.. R. Crumrine, Washington
county, and treasurer, j. F. Hoffman,
Bucks county.
City and borough superintendence.
president, J. T. Allison. Wilkinsburp:
vice president, F. G. Steltz, Braddock:
secretary, T. B. Shank, jeanette, and
treasurer, l. C. ElIcnberger, Sunbury.
Graded schools, president, Joseph A.
Shovelin, Columbia county; vice presi-
dent. J. HolIinger, Pittsburgh, and
secretary, Miss Eta NJ. Work. Char
leroi.
Speakers on To-Nights Program
Tonight, in Technical High school
auditorium, DR.. Griggs, of New York.
will speak on "Education for the Art
OF Life. and DR.. Corson, of Columbus.
Ohio, will speak on 'The Three C's in
Education. " The last general session
will be held tomorrow morning. when
officers of the association will be
elected.
Dr. Davidson. of Pittsburgh. spoke
this afternoon on the subject. ''The
Old Order Changeth, 4" DR.. Griggs. of
New York, on "'Seff Culture Through
the Vocation and DR.. Halbrook on
The Life of Drudgery of Our Country
Mothers.