West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-03-04
NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL
ASSOCIATION MEETING
Important Gathering of the Lead
ing Educators of the Country at
Cincinnati Last Week-Excellent
Addresses and Much Good Ac-
complished
QBy Supt. l.. y. McDanieD

there were usually three, or four dif-
ferent meetings going on in different
parts OF tn city at the same time. one
had TO miss hearing many educators
OF high rank. While all the speeches
made and papers read will be pub
lished I'm the proceedings OF the n. f.
A. and so may be read by the public,
yet the being present at Cincinnati
brought one in touch with the per-
sonality OF the speakers. And such
personal contact is worth while. The
teacher whose association with his pu-
pills is not of greater value than the
facts he presents from text book has
missed his calling. So the earnestness
and refinement and scholarly presence
OF these leaders in the schools of the
nation. left its impression upon those
i'm attendance as the mere reading OF
the proceedings could not Inspiration
was in the air. New ideals were adopt
ed and old ones revived.
Probably the largest attendance at
any one meeting. except at the Thurs
day evening concert, was reached
when ex-President Taft spoke Thurs
day forenoon in the Cincinnati music
hall to four or five thousand people
Mr.. Taft. stopping at times I'm the
midst of a bit of humor to chuckle TO
himself. seemed much more at home
on the platform than many OF the
educators. But his speech was full of
sound sense. He lamented the grow
ing lack OF respect for authority
lack of self-discipline and of courtesy
and politeness among our children"
He inferred that these democratic
principles have not been taught and
exacted" by the teachers. But he
placed even larger blame upon the
parents-those who lay the founda-
ton upon which the teachers may
build. The keynote of Mr.. Taft's mes
sage was thoroughness. He said
there ought to be "a wisely severe
method of testing for the public
schools. such testing to be i'm charge Of
the bureau OF education, clothing this
bureau with the character of univer-
sity.
Mr.. Claxton. United States Commits
sioner Of Education, was much appre-
ciated by those who heard him. His
"Six-and-Six Plan" was widely ap-
proved. He said 1--WE are marking
time in the 7th and Sth grades when
we ought to be taking more advanced
subjects. A rich civilization is rich
in variety as well as quantity" Give
the 7th and Sth grade pupils a chance
iii that in which they have latent abil-
ity The reason we lose so many pu-
pills at this period of their life is that
they don't feel the need for what we
are giving them. They should be thor
oughly taught in the first six grades,
then given "try out" in some ad-
vanced work in the 7th and Sth grades.
There should be economy of time In
the public schools mot more time for
other education, but more education in
the time given" Teachers should
stick to the elements-the fundamen-
tails, of a subject, and do less hap
hazard teaching He should not give
the same amount of time and discus
sion to non-essentials as to essentials,
because of a lazy failure to weigh
values. The restlessness and lack of
interest out Of class I'm the 9Th, 9TH
and 8th grades indicates that the pu-
rfI tlot T..
wrong. though they do not analyze the
situation. THE most retarded chill
dren are not the too-large-for-their-
grade boys and girls, but those who
are learning to dawdle and be idle
because they are not given proper
material for study" The remedy sug-
gested is TO teach the essentials more
thoroughly in the first six grades and
begin to give vocational subjects
manual training. domestic science.
higher mathematics. science. history
and languages I'm the 9TH and Sth
grades to those who have the ability
to progress in them. The standard
aimed at is six years in the grades
and six years in the high school-"The
Six-and-Six Plan"
Mr.. Strayer. of the Columbia Uni
versity Teachers College-our best
teacher training school-made an ex-
cellent address. He objected to the
mechanical-the machine system-in
our schools, that which would have ev-
cry child cast In the same mold. and
required to take the same amount and
kind OF intellectual food He insisted
upon varying requirements Of accom-
plishments for varying boys and
girls" a bright student should be
given extra opportunity to become
proficient. and his less frotunate
brother should not be required to at
tain to pre-ordained standard. but
Just to do the best work OF which he
Is capable. This means that the basis
of promotion should be that the boy
or girl under consideration can find in
the next higher grade more favorable
opportunity for advancing himself
The application of this principle
means that a dull boy may 20 through
our school system and graduate. Al.