The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1916-03-07
BY n. 3. Wilson, Superintendent oil
Schools, Topeka, Kansas


willing to wear myself out going fish.
ing and swimming and hunting or
playing ball | remember also that as
boy on that same farm | used to
find considerable interest in helping
to milk the cows and care for the
milk and make butter and gather the
eggs and market them, because after
/ attained a certain age ! was given
some Of the profit that came from tho
sale of that butter and those eggs.
remember also with some pangs that
there were other types of activity
which I at that time, and on that
same farm, found 1t necessary to in
dulge in. My father was an inters-
i've type OF farmer, and at times when
1t was too wet to pillow corn we had
to go out and hoe corn or pull weeds
or fill in blind ditch. None OF those
activities ever appealed to me. I
never was known to awaken early
anxious to get at any Of those tasks.
Those activities which l have just
mentioned are typical OF the three
types OF daily activity. Even as
grownups we play little bit; We
work good deal, and we indulge in
more drudgery than we enjoy. Both
as children or as grownups we like
to play. The tickle that wells up on
the inside is a sufficient reward for
all Of the energies we expend, and
for all Of the tired feelings that TO-
low from the activity. Every teacher
in the public schools has recognized
that child's beginning education is
in a large measure determined by the
opportunities he has had for educat-
ing, stimulating play.
Every day we spend time in that
second type Of activity, that we call
work; and we are perfectly willing
to indulge in it, because We see be.
yond the work certain things which
we want. Every normal individual
at some time in life finds work IL
just as much fun as play. The man
who has truly found his work is truly
happy. Your summer vacation has a
little contribution to make, little
side trip brings some pleasure and
enjoyment, but these are cheap and
Of little account when compared with
the soul filling inspiration that comes
following every day successfully ones
chosen work. Fortunately this type
of activity in the schools is increas
ing from year to year.
We are learning how to devote tc
the ends Of education the values that
come from educative play: to bring
the children into contact with theil
task and SO bring their task to them
A large number Of the things tina
they do from day to day are reall!
joyous work; but unfortunately ye
in good school systems the amoan
Of the third type Of activity, which
we must call drudgery is greatest
1t is depressing and the results tina
come from that type Of activity ar
small in comparison.
Most OF the results which we wan
from education in schools must cons
from INDUCING in real work. NJ
teacher finds 1t any task to get tina
work when the task assigned, IN
swers real questions. Wheneve
those are the conditions of work o
: Of study or Of lesson mastery til,
work does itself, Just as 1t does fl
: the lives OF those of us who ar
: grown up, and who hold ourselye
with "a conscious purpose daily t,
the performance OF tasks requiring
all Of our effort, and all Of our abil
ity and all Of our energy, and we
we do them willingly and gladly he
cause Of the response that they brin
in directions that move toward tn
: realization Of our large life purpose
: Whenever we shall succeed in shat
ing the work from the point of vieN
OF the children themselves, the wcr
in language, arithmetic, geograph!
history and spelling and all of tn
other subjects will be motivate
: work. and in no sense drudgery. ]
other words, whenever the will an
, interest OF the children fuse, "
5 have motivated situation.
remember President Stott
Franklin College used to say thu
there are two kinds of enthusiasm
One kind is superficial. much like IL
. heat we get from little sheet ire
} stove. The stove is soon red ho
but Just as soon is black and Co
again; the heat doesn't reach Vel
far; 1t loes not penetrate, 1t doe
not endure and 1t does not war
anybody either. The other kind
enthusiasm is the fundamental, o.
during type of enthusiasm that co
| resDonds In the heat that we get frol