Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-11-21
E11e&1tt1g GI1at

people who have been attending the
various meetings of the State Educa-
tlonal Congress at the State Capitol
most of all has been the earnestness
with which the school men and
women here have been discussing
the problems. The general idea
that one gains is that the educators
realize that the war and its period
OF readJustment after girding for
the gigantic world struggle have ma
terially changed many matters per-
tanning to their profession and that
things which were held almost
sacrosahct some years ago are now
III the discard. Probably one of the
greatest jolts that some of the elder
teachers received was the sentiment
SO widely expressed that Americana
zatlon and kindred subjects must
nave more attention, even If some
OF the time devoted to algebra and
other time-honored forms of instruc-
tioh is TO be cut. Probably one of
the most interesting subjects dis
cussed was geography, which is COM
ing back to its old Importance he
cause of the tremendous changes
produced by war. From what teach
| ~AS AAuNO Stiiu tIleTe mas been In
cent years tendency to subordinate
geography, but it has come back
with a force that will make it a
top-notch study for a long time to
come. Returning to the opening
thought, DR.. w. d. Lewis the deputy
superintendent of Public Instruction.
in charge of the congress in the abb
sence of DR.. Finegan, whose tragic
illness is the cause of much sorrow.
said last night that he had been
moro than impressed by the earnest
manner in which every instructor
was taking hold of the work laid out.
we expect to obtain information of
great value in working out the fu-
ture educational policy of our State"
ers. to express themselves freely
and they have done it."
One of the themes of conversation
at the Capitol is the address given
by DR.. Albert Bushnell Hart, the
historian. Dr. Hart, who takes pride
IN the fact that he is a native of
pennsylvania, said that the teachers
ousht TO make a speciality of Penn
: sylVania history and Pennsylvania
scenery. He frankly told them to
prag of their State and to inculcate
In their pupils an abiding interest in
tnelr State and it's great place in
history. DIR. Hart also said that
} teachers should get their students in
terested in the constitution as some
thing other than long piece to COPY
. as a penalty What seems to make
the greatest hit was his suggestion
l tnat there be return to the old
time way of teaching the capitals by
, singing them, illustrating it by the
verse so familiar to the older folks,
Maine, Augusta, on the Kennebec
II L.. i 4 /
are quite few people in Harrisburg
who very well remember learning
the capitals that way. And, it may
r be added, they stuck"
l Holding of the education sessions
at the Capitol has made people on
3 the Hill go around a few parasangs
In the course of a day. Most every
one take short cuts through the hall
| of the House when it is possible but
yesterday and to-day folks ran up
| against meetings in the hall and in
the anterooms and had to walk
; around, which meant going to the
first floor.
Some of the educators here for
the congress have been taking an
opportunity of studying the munich
5 pal improvement of Harrisburg and
there have been a number of in
y quiries rs to the manner in which
the city financed it's river front and
[ park improvements and more in
terest has been shown in the details
of municipal affairs than has been
4 known in long time on the part of
educators. At the same time there
h has been more or less surprise eX-
pressed at the fact that Harrisburg
did not have a city hall or some
thing of a purely municipal char
|. acter in keeping with the State Capt.
> tol.
1t may be added that the teachers
g have been intensely interested in the
group plan for the new high schools
, and the utilization of Italian Park,
and many questions have been asked
q as to the comprehensive plans for
the development of an educational
center. The new Edison Junior High
School has been visited by several
of the educators from cities which
have the same problems as Harris
burg.
u Quite q few residents of Dauphin
y county are in a state of indignation
IL at the manner in which the wild
=: turkeys have been moving around.
u F'locks which for weeks have roasted
~ in certain localities have been going
y elsewhere and it would seem that
= some of the birds must have gotten
ie tips that the gunners were going to
IL ! start after them at the opening of
= = the season. Several men have COM
y planned to game wardens and have
II intimated that some one beat them
!. to it and shot the birds or scared
y them away One man got into touch
!. with State game official and eX-
ls pressed wrath and suspicion. He
u said he wanted to write to som o
= one about 1t. Go ahead and write"
,e was the advice, 'only send your let
> ter to old Mr.. T. Gobbler. He's the
Ie foxiest bird there is in Pennsylvania
II and he is the only man who can
successfully move and not pay rent"