The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-01-30
Night, and Gray's Elegy are immortal
And there are others in the am class
Wrote for Their Own Time.

90 "@AN Cy . LJ1CSy dLS l1ltlIlOI q
And there are others in the same class.
Wrote for Their Own Time.
But most of the authors whom we
are studying in the schools wrote for
their own time. Their writings have
little application to life OF the present
day They are literary masterpieces,
but they do not supply the need.
Modern Books and Periodicals.
The speaker stated that he would
revise the English courses to include
the use of modern periodicals, Of which
ne mentioned a number of the best,
and Of modern books, books and peri
odicals which are not only fine in their
literary quality, but which mirror the
times n the study of which will be
OF practical value to the student.
Literature Most Vital Study.
Literature said the speaker, is the
most vital subject we have in our
schools. 1t shapes the life Of the stu
dent more than any other subject.
Literature, chosen for it's message, for
its message of today is the most effec-
tive remedy at Ii command for the
social ills with which civilization of
the present day must contend.
DR.. James Speaks.
DR.. Geo. F. James, dean Of the Col
1CSS VI "EuuCd LlOu aI minnesota UNI
versity, talked on the subject, Educa-
tional Unity. He seconded the ideas
advocated by MI. Alton regarding the
more practical teaching of English
courses.
Normals Effective.
The normal school, he said, is one
OF the most effective training schools
of any which are training the young
man and the young woman for the vo-
cations of life. The deep interest which
is show in teachers gatherings indi-
Gates the sincerity of the motives
which actuate the teaching fraternity.
Society Is Educational Unit.
The complaint is made that the fam
ily's prerogative in the education ofthe
child is being taken by the school. But
it is not the family primarily, said
thes peaker, hat is the educational
unit. The little social group is that
unit. 4 The real education comes
through the contract with other
human beings in the social relation.
The school however is primarily re-
sponsible and always has been, for
the shaping of the life of the child.
And the problem of the training of
the child is becoming more complex
all the time.
The Influence of Play.
w. A. Shoemaker, president Of the
st. Cloud normal school, spoke on the
subject, The So%cializing Influence of
Play. Play, he said, brings out the
best there is in children.
Tendency to Extremes.
Play is essential, but there is a
tendency to go to extremes and to
neglect the most serious business of
life. The socializing influence Of
work, as well as the socializing in
fuence of play. must not be forgotten.
Supervision of the playtime Of chill
dren in school is absolutely necessary
in order to prevent the creeping in of
many things which do more harm
than the play does good. "
School and Forward Movement.
The School as Related to the So
cial Forward Movement, was the topic
of Hon. c. G. Schulz. He talked par
ticularly of the problem of making the
school training a part Of the child's
after life. Usefulness and Joy are the
two fundamental purposes which the
school must stand for. 80
He spoke of the extension of the
school programmes and of the increase
Of the practical in the teaching of
pupils. He discussed the relationship
of the school, the church, and the
1Ac1ltCS W1IIlOut ally OIlS I'll WHICH clVli1-
cation could not stand.
Agriculture Rural Schools.
Agriculture in Rural Schools, was
the topic Of P. E. Clement, agricul-
tural agent of Clay county at the
talked Of the spread of the movement,
and discussed practical problems in
connection with it.
School Sanitation was discussed by
DR.. o. ]. Hagen Of Moorhead. Every
child, he said, has a right to be given
the best physical equipment which the
school can give him for the battle
Of life. He should be prepared to
live, not only Intellectually, but physi-
cally as we'll.
Attorney Perley Heard.
c. G. Dosland, county attorney Of
Clay county, who was to have spoken
on the topic of School Law, was un-
able to be present, and Atty. Geo. E.
Perley, of Moorhead, spoke in his
stead. He talked on the progress Of
the state of Minnesota in educational
work, and praised the work Of the
state and Of the legislature in adj
vancing this work.
The rural community is the back
bone of the state, said Mr.. Perley,
and education in the rural schools is
just as important, ii not more SO, han
that Of the cities. He recommended
the consolidated school, and spoke of
a number of other plans which he
thought would aid education in the
rural school. l4&&
superintendent Higbie Speaks.
supt, e. C. Higbie talked on the
Social Movement in Rural Life. The
present is a transition age, he said,
and the future looks bright. It is,
however, a age of desperation, and
the individual must learn to submerge
himself in the movements for the
general good.
These movements start with the in
dividual. and grow out of necessity,
and the natural process OF evolution.
They are inevitable. This tendency to
cooperation is spreading to the coun-
try, and is manifesting itself in move
ments for rural ~better,aent, which 1t
is the duty Of the school to aid and
promote.
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