The Helper

What is the Helper? Teachers tell us that it is just what its name implies, The Helper. It is a beautifully illustrated series of articles, poems, programs for special days (Thanksgiving, Arbor Day, Lincoln Day. Washington's Birthday, Christmas, Memorial Day, etc.), drawings and aids, conveniently and appropriately grouped for use in the successive months of the school year beginning with September,

It has 136 pages 9x12 inches. more than 150 line drawings, most of them suitable for blackboard work, and the music and words of the national songs of many of the leading nations, as well as many easy school songs.

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The apparent lack of interest, however, which the small number of delegates indicated could not fail to create some doubt as to the permanency of the movement. And now the third test of longevity has been successfully passed. The delegates assembled in a somewhat doubtful frame of mind. St. Paul is a large city-even Minneapolis must admit that-and the educational association is an imposing body. Would not the convention of associated school boards lose its identity in the throng? Whatever the misgivings on that subject, it is perfectly safe to say that the associated boards have passed through the ordeal unimpaired. The organization has joined the great educational association of the state as an independent section, but so far from sapping its vitality, this action means, we believe, a permanency and stability which might be difficult to maintain otherwise.

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The associated school boards organized primarily for the purpose of considering questions of school polity and management. But not a single one of these but what it in some, although perhaps distant, manner, is related to and has a bearing upon education in general. Hence the desirability of intimate relations between school boards, as an organization, and the organized teachers of the state and nation. As a section of the Minnesota Educational Association the school boards will enter into a relationship which can be made mutually useful and productive of much good. There is a latent fear in the breasts of many school board members that the superintendents will get the best of them. But any disposition of the latter to encroach upon the preserves of the boards can easily be checked. On the other hand, both have much to learn from each other, and it is well that an opportunity is afforded them to exchange ideas and make a personal acquaintance.

The information conveyed by Dr. Allport and the suggestions based thereon were of a practical nature, treating subjects familiar to all who have anything to do with schools. It has of late dawned upon our educational world that children are not always physically perfect, that many come to school with imperfect eyesight and defective hearing, and that their proficiency as students is directly affected thereby. To discover these physical defects, and to see to it that proper remedies are applied, has become the imperative duty of every conscientious board of education, and in Dr. Allport's paper will be found a great deal of helpful information gathered on the subject.

But if the paper contained much interesting matter, the discussion to which it gave rise disclosed the gratifying fact that our boards of education are doing some effective work in that particular line, and are awake to the importance of the subject.

Similar revelations were made regarding the environments of school children, a subject treated very felicitously by Mrs. Stone and Mrs. Spooner, representing the Morris board. The beautifying, the home-making of the schoolroom, and the improvement of the school grounds and buildings are important accessories to good education, and it was very interesting to notice how thoroughly in accord everyone seemed to be with the advanced ideas of the papers on this matter. The lack of funds hampers progress in these and other directions, but where there is a will there is a way, and the outlook is promising.

Dr. W. A. Hunt, who has both fathered and mothered the associated boards, declining a re-election as president, no longer is an officer of the association. His place is occupied by Mr. Bernard Zimmerman, president of the St. Paul board. who with faith in the objects of the association will ably continue the good work so well inaugurated by his predecessor. The new vice-president is Mrs. E. F. Spooner of Morris, whom the delegates will bear in pleasant remembrance, and the treasurer-elect is T. A. Langum of Preston, well known as a rising public man in the southern part of the state. Luth Jaeger of Minneapolis was re-elected secretary.

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The roster of the convention shows the following delegates as having attended its sessions: L. F. Kelley, A. E. Hammang, W. A. Hunt, C. H. Cooper. W. F. Crary, Northfield: T. J. McElligott. Madison; C. W. Paige, Dawson: S. W. Ran som, Dodge Center: John P. Funk, Le Sueur; H. Bendixen. Springfield: W. R. Duxbury, Timothy Sheehan, Caledonia: William Willson, Shakopee: Mrs. Jennie C. Crays. Minneapolis: Mrs. Belle Le B. Rowland, Lake Crystal: T. W. Hugo. Duluth: R. E. Shepherd. Austin: E. J. Lewis. Sauk Center; Mrs. Ward Stone. Mrs. E. S. Spooner. Morris: N. J. Schafer. G. W. Peachey. Owatonna: John J. Fulkerson, Rochester; W. B. Douglas, Moorhead: S. A. Langum, A. D. Gray. Preston; J. M. Brown. Alexandria: C. C. Whitney. Marshall: B. Zimmerman, St. Paul: O. D. Sawin, Waseca: Mrs. M. S. Ehle, Grand Rapids: J. H. Williams, Charles S. Wheaton, Elk River: O. C. Tarbox. Princeton: E. S. Pettijohn, St. Peter: Mrs. E. L. Reed, Anoka; F. P. Thompson, Cloquet; D. J. Falvey, St. Louis Park.

President A. E. Engstrom is already maturing plans to secure a large membership at the next meeting. He has publicly approved the suggestion of School Education to exclude from summer school and institute work, in the state, all who are not members of the Minnesota Educational Association.

A strong incentive to harmony of effort is a clear understanding of what each is striving to accomplish. SCHOOL EDUCATION Drints what teachers think and what boards think. Read both.

Monday, December 27

CITY AND VILLAGE SUPERINTENDENTS The city superintendents convened in large numbers in parlor 2, Windsor Hotel, Monday at 4.30 p. m., and organized the "Minnesota Association of Superintendents of City and Village Schools." George A. Franklin of Faribault was president and Louis H. Ford of Owatonna secretary. Supt. Parr talked on "School Legislation" and recommended such legislation as would tend to relieve school boards from annual election of the superintendents. He made the point that legislation beneficial to a school is usually beneficial to the head of the school-the superintendent. Supt. V. G. Curtis spoke of the "Annual Election of Teachers and Officers," and maintained that the tenure of office should not be arbitrarily limited.

The sensation was a paper by Supt. L. H. Ford. We decide to read Supt. Ford's paper before we make any comments upon it. This privilege we have not yet had, and we were not present when it was read.

COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS

The county superintendents met and listened to President E. A. Nelson's very short, genteel address. Supt. Geo. W. Scherer read a paper on "Some Things That Are and Some Things That Ought to Be." In his most expressive manner and language he told what he thought and several discussed the paper. County superintendents who were not present should read his paper, especially his scheme for securing attendance to obtain apportionment. Supt. Pendergast commented upon the fifty dollar apportionment, stating that the "Records and How to Keep appropriation is inadequate.

Them," by Supt. C. A. Boston, offered valuable hints. Supt. Flora J. Frost scolded because School Education printed the wrong date for the presentation of her paper on "Compulsory Attendance," but offered her views in such convincing language and in such vigorous style that School Education gladly proposes Miss Frost as the chief truant officer when the legislature provides for such an official, at a good salary. Tuesday, December 28

GENERAL ASSOCIATION

The General Association convened in the audience room of the Central Presbyterian church at 9:30 and listened to the address of the president, Dr. D. L. Kiehle, who in his inimitable and agreeable manner and in choice language gave very timely hints, particularly along the line of necessity of moral instruction. We quote, "It is a question if the time has not come when the people are called upon to consider whether the fundamental principles of morality are not the very foundation of social order and have not so far entered into the common judgment and conviction of society, that, as an essential part of civilization, they are the common possession of the state as of the Christian church. Ought not the fundamental truth of Christianity, of an immutable moral law that makes for righteousness, and is as inviolable as the laws of nature, be more explicitly impressed on our youth? Dr. Kiehle's address should have wider distribution among citizens than publication in the proceedings or in School Education can give it.

"The School Library" was the subject handled by President Lord, and his ideal attracted attention, although several seemed to think that Principal Sawyer's more practical views of a school library would meet their case.

Prof. Chas. T. Koehler spoke of the value of a school library and his recommendations were quite generally approved

Secretary H. H. Hart, of the State Society of Corrections and Charities, left a very favorable impression by telling of the work and plans of this society, especially in its efforts to place weak and unfortunate children in homes rather than in asylums and hospitals.

Miss Hancke spoke of the influence of kindergartens. Supt. R. E. Denfeld compiled a very exhaustive paper on care of the unruly and incorrigible, which will prove most valuable as reference when published in the proceedings.

THE ELEMENTARY SECTION.

The papers in this section were peculiarly interesting, and will prove of great value to those who may read them but who were not present to get the best by hearing them read.

"Methods and Importance of the First Year's Work in Reading," by Miss Anna Carter; "Material for Reading Classes," by Sarah C. Brooks; "Lines of Reading," by Miss B. M. Phelan, and "Class Recitations," by Mrs. M. B. Schneck and Miss J. E. Farr, were all important and wisely prepared.

HIGH SCHOOL SECTION.

The introduction by the president was well received. Without doubt the credit and honor for the best paper read before the association goes to Prof. Lafayette Bliss, of Waseca, on "The Importance of Environment as a Factor in Education."

We quote only two of the many important paragraphs the paper contained. Prof. Bliss said, in effect:

"Thoughtful men are now waking up to the fact that the public schools, with the present lax methods of discipline and low standard of scholarship, while spending immense sums of money and inventing curious, not to say wonderful theories of education, are not stemming the flood of ignorance and giving the people instruction calculated to make them capable of intelligent self-government. The school certainly needs help from the outside. It is a fallacy to suppose that systems or schools or methods can educate. They can only give instruction. The education that molds the child for his duties as a citizen is largely that that he gains from the influences of the community and of his home. If these are of the proper kind the instruction given in the school will strengthen and confirm them, but if they are bad the school instruction can do little to counteract them."

"In the matter of female teachers, the tendency to employ so many women is dangerous. It is an irreparable wrong to the youth of our land, and its bad effects are already evidenced in our national life. The instruction in the high school is getting too utilitarian; there are so many short cuts used to avoid work that there is danger of superficiality."

In his paper on "Picture Projection in School Work," Judge Frank T. Wilson of Stillwater emphasized the value of the stereopticon in teaching all subjects. He had found that it gave a new life and interest to the work.

The other papers were by Jessie Spencer, of Mankato, and Katherine Gill of the Moorhead normal school. Miss Spencer's subject was "The Place of Art in Secondary Education," and Miss Gill spoke on "Literature and Character."

GRADED SCHOOL SECTION.

Only two papers were read. P. J. Butler, of Ada, discussed "Alteration of Subjects," and Florence Burlingame, of Perham, told of "The Needs and Possibilities of Reading, in the Higher Grades."

Mr. Butler thought alteration was expedient only in the seventh and eighth grades. He advocated small classes. B. N. Wheeler and O. S. Sullivan took part in the discussion.

Miss Burlingame advocated a change in reading, both materials and methods, in large part to obviate the tendency of the pupils to dislike and avoid school. The present reading material contains much that is trash. More good literature is needed in the schools. Others also held that the text books on reading could be improved greatly.

COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS.

The county superintendents opened their afternoon session with a series of papers and a discussion on the old, old subject of "The Necessity for Higher Qualifications of Rural School Teachers." Papers were read by Superintendents Kuster, Seal and Bertrand. Evidence was furnished that the new law giving $50 aid to rural school districts that come up to a certain standard of work was in the right direction. Mr. Bertrand declared that the trustees in his county were waking up and he had already received applications from one-third of the districts asking for first-grade teachers for next year. The result would be that the holders of second and thirdgrade certificates must either retire from business or get firstgrade certificates.

The state system of examinations came in for considerable criticism. The statement was made that the papers were too easy and that as a result more raw material than ever before was getting into the work. Superintendent Engstrom, of Goodhue county, put in a plea for better prepared teachers and more pay for them. It seemed to him an excellent plan to have a committee appointed whose duty it should be to confer with the state superintendent of education and volunteer aid and advice in making up the questions for examinations, and arranging a system of granting certificates. This was later put in the form of a motion and adopted.

D. Lange, of the St. Paul schools, made an eloquent plea for more instruction in the rural schools, along the line of nature study. The pupils should have at least two hours a week of instruction in the schools, supplemented by outside instruction.

Professor S. B. Green emphasized the necessity for instruc

tion in forestry, and his valuable plans will be offered to the readers of School Education. They may be of immeasurable assistance to grade and country school teachers.

Superintendent George D. Goodrich presented plans for country school houses. Write State Superintendent John R. Kirk, Jefferson City, Mo., for a valuable pamphlet on this question.

MUSIC SECTION.

Superintendent O. M. Haugan read an exhaustive paper on "Music in the Rural Schools." He made an earnest plea for music in the country schools because of its disciplinary, as well as its physical and spiritual value.

Attractive features were the sight singing by a class from the Sibley school, St. Paul, directed by Miss Gibbons, and the songs by the choruses from the South Side high school of Minneapolis, led by Miss Mamie Stevens, and by a chorus from the Cleveland school, St. Paul, led by Miss M. Fayerweather.

COLLEGE SECTION.

The section president, Professor L. H. Batchelder, opened the program with a vigorous plea that a larger place in the college curriculum be given to the science of legislation. He constitutional and statutory law, especially with the reference to the making of laws, would furnish a discipline ennobling the ideals of the student and would give him an equipment of eminent utility in his public capacity as a citizen. Under present conditions law-making as practiced by legislators was fraught with increasing danger to the republic. Many statutes were the result of mere attempts at legalizing mental vagaries uncalled for in their subject matter and incapable of rational interpretation or execution by the courts. "The Place and Value of Examinations in College Education" was very ably handled by Professor George Huntington, of Carleton college. The college examination was the most efficient means of appraising intellectual value. He called the examination the last of a series of interviews between the instructor and his class in which the functions of the instructor are reduced to their lowest terms. However,

the place of the examination should be determined by the special requirements of each case, as well as by the teacher's method of instruction. The examination's chief value is its aid to the teacher in helping him to estimate the attainments of his students, and to the student as a motive for study, a reason for review, an incentive to grasp his subject in a comprehensive way, a help in discriminating the essential from the incidental parts, an exercise in rapid thinking and a test of his power of recollection and of concise and accurate state

ment.

Dr. Folwell opened a discussion on the value of examinations, followed by Dr. Bridgman, who said that the examination looked to results rather than methods and that the teacher should put more value on the daily grind than upon the examination.

A resolution, drawn up by W. W. Folwell, was passed, expressing the hearty approval of the section of President Huntington's suggestion toward a larger place for the study of law and the science of government and similar subjects connected with citizenship.

Wednesday, December 29

GENERAL SESSION

"The Place and Importance of Social and Civil Ethics" was ably discussed according to the program by business men. Mayor Doran and Senator Wyman, by clergymen, Dr. Merrill and Dr. Smith. The opinion of all favored recognition of the pressing demand for moral instruction in the schools, such as is found in the language and spirit of the Bible, and which cannot be offensive to any true American citizen.

The Federation of Women's Clubs, by its president, Margaret J. Evans, supported by Mrs. W. E. Thompson and Mrs. William N. La Due, plead nobly for specific and improved methods in teaching morals in the public schools. All expressed appreciation of what is being done, and ail offered plans by which more may be accomplished. This club has undertaken a noble work and their efforts will be supported and advanced by nearly every true teacher.

CIVICS BRANCH.

The civics branch of the high school section met in room 26 at Central high school in the afternoon, and it was one of the snappiest sessions of the day. The topic was "The Place of the Historic Novel in the Teaching of History."

The paper by Miss Clara Allison, of St. Paul, took the view that the historical novel was doing a very useful work in teaching history by cultivating the habit and raising the standard of reading and giving a distaste for lighter literature. It added interest to the study of history, added to the stock of historical information and tended to remove vagueness.

Henry Johnson, of Moorhead, took quite the opposite stand. He thought that history was not taken seriously enough; there was too much of the mere entertainment idea in it; too little of the earnest drudgery of honest study, and too little open-minded search for naked truth. The inspiration side of history was not the only side.

"It is safe to assert," said he, "that the novel is yet to be written which is historical in the sense of calling dead ages back to a moving life, unconscious of the age in which the miracle was wrought. So far as my observation extends, the historical novel cultivates a taste for the historical novel. What the child needs to catch is some facts, bald facts, even if you will, on the subject matter of history. The protest against the old teacher who sat behind the text book and killed time has gone so far that the new teacher is now at work threatening to kill history. If history be our destination it is better to follow for a single mile in the slow footsteps of the historian than to travel around the world in eighty days with any historical novelist."

There was a lively discussion participated in, among others by Professor West, of the historical department of the university. He thought the contemporary novel certainly had a place in the study of history.

The session closed with an exceedingly bright paper by Miss Gowdy, of the Central high school in Minneapolis. She answered the question, "Why a Woman Cannot Teach Civics," by proving to the satisfaction of everybody present that there was at least one woman who could.

ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION.

There were two points discussed-the mechanical method of teaching vs. the dynamics of literature. Miss Newson, of the Central high school, St. Paul, held to the latter theory. The main point for the teacher to keep in sight was to inspire her pupils to the recognition of the beauties of literature and the world about them.

Miss Phelps, of Stillwater, spoke for the development of the imagination of the pupil. It was through the imagination that he became able to interpret the best literature.

Miss Booth, of Marshall, thought there was more value in a carefully selected course of reading than in all the rhetorics combined.

Miss Walker, of Little Falls, believed that the teacher should combine instruction in English with other subjects. The general opinion was that there was no advantage in requiring too much written work of the pupils; it was putting too much work on the teachers and doing the pupils but small good. Among the others that took part in the discussion were Professor Greer, of the Central high school, Minneapolis; Professor Reeder, of the Mankato normal school, and Principal Farnsworth, of the Cleveland school, St. Paul.

COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS.

The county superintendents discussed the problem of the rural school. Some scheme of centralization was the topic. Centralization was declared to have the merit of economy and efficiency. It meant better teachers, fewer and better schools, better equipment and a longer school season, together with larger numbers and the attendant stimulation of interest.

But while recognizing that centralization was the best thing, the superintendents could not agree that the time had come for a change to that system in this state. There were serious obstacles to any sudden change in this respect. It seemed to the majority that the best thing to do was to move gradually in the matter, beginning with a good teacher in the town hall of a township for pupils above the common grades. A law making it permissible for two or more districts to unite seemed to be sufficient at this time. The state as a whole was not ready now for anything more than this. A committee of seven members representing the different sections of the state was appointed to study during the next year the report of the committee of twelve with a view of submitting recommendations at the next meeting. The old time trouble because superintendents will say township system was the cause of much disagreement. (Continued opposite page 36.)