Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-04-15
TEACHERS INCAPABLE,
SCHOOLMEN'S PLANT
Higher Standards A ske d
Memorizing the Constitution
Ridiculed.

The necessity Of higher education for
teachers was asserted in a resolution
adopted today at the morning session oil
the delegates to schoolmens Week at
the University of Pennsylvania. In the
resolution was an appeal urging upon the
Legislature the elevation OF the standard
of education for teachers and the fixing
OF a definite minimum standard of quail
nCations
This action Is IN conformity with adj
dresses made at preceding sessions. The
delegates were unanimous In the opinion
that teacher should have had at least
three years high school study, and at
least one year In a normal school or n
college. They contended that teachers
today, generally are not we'll enough
fltted for their work A resolution urE-
ing state and normal schools to offer ex-
tension work for the Improvement OF
teachers in service was adopted.
calvin y. Kendall, Commissioner OF
Education OF New Jersey, made the OPEN
ing address lie was welcomed with pro-
longed applause. the delegates evidently
remembering the protest that was raised
In New Jersey when President Wilson,
then Governor. brought Mr.. Kendall from
Indianapolis to take charge of New JeT-
sey's educational affairs The speaker
tOllSlueItu the uuIleS OF Guy SupfTllltllN-
ents of schools. He declared that the tax
payers have a right TO know in detail Just
how their money Ia being expended. II Is
for them TO say, he contended how the
school system shall be changed
Teaching of antiduated subjects In the
schools was criticised by II. w. Foght.
of the United states Bureau of Education.
The haoit Of making pupils mcmorl2e the
Constitution of the United states he said,
Is n farce. He said he knew OF several
school hoys who eNCeled in mcmorlzing
that part of the Constitution that declares
It Illegal to counterfeit money and that
these boys afterwards were arrested for
counterfelting
"Tho teacher was to blame in this
case" said Mr.. Foght. "If these boys
had been properly taught they would
havo never become counterfelters.
Memorzng Is old fashioned and ridicu-
lous. Farmers sons are compelled to
study a lot about stocks and honds and
also learn lot about obsolete weights
and measures. They should he learning
how to measure the hay crop"
History will he crowded out Of high
schools unless II is made practical, in the
opinion Of Miss Jessie G. Evans, OF the
William Penn High School History De-
partment who spoke at n meeting Of his
tory teachers in connection with tho after
noon session. "The public is opposed 10
to college, she said.
The teaching of history is justified on
the ground that II provides an eSplann
ton of modern life. But it does not do
this Students will not listen unless they
feel that there is n direct application to
the present in what Is taught. This new
kind of history will require better teach
ing and 1t will be opposed by old fashioned
history teachers"
Cvics, also must be developed i'm the
schoolroom from the standpoint of the
pupils live interest. said j. Il. Barnard,
of the Philadelphia School of Pedagogy
"Thc end i'm View" he explained. "is 10
develop men who will be good for some
thing ctizens-not merely to give in
formation"
German is the most representative of
modern languages said W. \, HausS-
mann. of the Central High School, wiz
declared that educators throughout the
world rank 1t with Greek and Latin. lie
described 1t as the language of soldiers.
scientists engineers, artisans, artistA
poets and thinkers" He pointed out thae
Governor Brumbaugh, when city supcrin-
tendent Of schools urged that German
teaching he begun in elementary grades
oliver r. Cornman. associate supcriu-
tendent of Philadelphia public schools.
spoke on "Standardizing Educational
Records"
The delegates and guests OF the Uni
will be addressed by Nicholas
Murray Butler. president of Columbia
University, tonight.