Evening journal., 1922-12-02

tant task 10 make the elective SyS-
tenn function as an ideal system TO
meet the needs OF varied talented in
dividuals to choose wisely and ad-
vanta geously. II such a program is
capable OF being worked out. the
elective system is the system that
will best serve the greatest number
OF students In a secondary school"
Professor Felix +. Schilling. OF the
University OF Pennsylvania, deliver
ed the main address at the meeting
OF English teachers this morning.
Professor Schillings subjct was
why Teach Litsrature."
NO study OF literature is worth
while unless we begin in a eympa-
thetic recognition OF the truth that
literature Is an art, sometimes use
ful or applied and inferior because
OF is usefulness or application at
times a fine art existing as the high
est expression of human thought,
spirit and yesrning." said DR..
schilling. Now there are two
things which you can do with an
art. You can practice II or you can
appreciate II. emphatically deny
thai literature IN any true sense OF
the word can be taught? for all the
dates and names and titles and the
cries in the world constitute only
the approaches 20 literature.
The study of literature remains
tho last stronghold OF the humsni-
ties.
"A study which is pursued like a
bargain TO gct as much as you can
for as little rendered, once more,
be It's content what Is may. Is not
! a liberal study. The humanities
/ flourish only In an atmosphere Of
dislnterestednsss. IN the endeavor OF
the spirit, and the standard OF an
Interior utility destroys them root
and branch. 1 have long hitherto
affirmed aud I delight 20 reafirm,
that the value cuituraily OF any
study Is IN precisely the inverse
ratio 20 its practical utility"
Show Value OF Biology.
Dean winifred Robinson IN her
address on Biology In the Science
Curriculum" at this mornings ses
sion said in part;
However often we may speak OF
the high school as the poor mans
college. hovsvr frequently young
men may go directly from such
preparation as that OF the Hill
School into business, or young
women from such a school as Farm
ington into positions OF social re-
sponsibilify. the facts remain that
here Is close relation between the
secondary school curriculum and
that OF the college and that sacn
must influence the other.
Naturally the acceptance OF tho
biological sciences as elective rather
than as required subjects for college
entrance has affected very much this
scope and contnt OF these subjects In
the secondary school curriculum.
Questions such as these should be
asked OF educators: What is the
great purpose OF biology teaching? At
what stage OF mental development Is
It OF most worth?
Biology has the great advantage
OF being Immediately practical IN the
life OF the student. He learns OF
principles which underlis the pro-
cesses OF nutrition, OF interrelations /
which make up the community life OF
plants and animals. the wonders OF
animal and plant structure and adap- !
tation. and the bearing which these
and other topics have upon human
welfare.
Biology then should be intro /
duced IN the ninth grade, or first
year OF the four-year high echool: !
or ~ the junior-senior plan IL fol-
lowed. It should be scheduled in the
last year OF the junior high school.
The content OF the course should be
suited 20 the environment Biology
in the large city high school should
not have the same special topics or
Illustrations as biology in the small
town, but the general topics may be
the same. Thus the common topic
for both city and country might be
the interrelations between organisms |
but in the city be illustrated by dis |
ease-producing bacteria and in the |
country by nitrogen-producing BAG
terra.
zone caution that should always |
be exercised in the aim TO present in
teresting biological material for /
study is that It should not be isolated I
and therefore secure only the re-
Spouse of mere curiosity. The entire
course should have unity and coher-
ence. II should also have relation 20
other sciences"
Upholds Latin Course
Charles Huntington Smith Of the
School. Morristown, n.
J., does not believe that the time is
ripe 10 make any change in the en-
trance qualifications for Latin stu
dents. Professor Smith presented
the only paper offered In the sec
ton devoted to the consideration Of
problems by the classical association
OF the Atlantic States this morning.
Mr.. Smiths paper went into many
details OF his subject which was Elk
perlences with Latin classes" He
said in part:
MY experience with Latin classes
have led me 10 think that IF I was
free to do so without limitations I'M
posed by College Entrance Require
nents. College Entrance or Scholar
ship Examinations State Courses OF
Study" etc. would make no change
In the kind Of material read in my
present Latin Course.
MY experiences have led me to
believe that Latin as Il may be
aught under present limitations IS
lbout the most interesting and prac-
ical subject taught in he schools.
Long ago. I stopped trying TO be-
ieve that it pays to study Latin .
merely for the sake Of its literature.