Evening Star Newspaper, July 1, 1924, Page 23

" EUCATORS EVOLVE NEW DEA I LSE Listeners More important in a Sense Than Performers, N. E. A. Speaker Says. HIS ADVICE TO TEACHERS Way Whereby Greatest Number in Social Group Is En- listed. “It is of greater importance make active, creative listeners soclal group is enlisted.” This was the keynote of an address today by Louis L. Mehler of Teachers College, Columbia Unijversity, before the department of music education of the National Education Association, at a meeting in the music room of Central High School. About this idea, he said, educators V- ha- size more the “appreciation” of good | music rather than the history, tech- were beginning to evolve a new tem of teaching music and to emp nique and performance. Gives Result of Survey. Charging that a late educational | survey shows that children are not u technique they have acquired, Mr. Mehler said the survey revealed that “the masses Prefer to hear music which is of a low interested in using the type.” Thus, he concludes, into the lives of adults. The two phases in m tion which have been * onstant, to to g00od music than performers of mu- sic, for it is as listeners that the in- terest of the greatest number in a “the present status of music in education indi- cates that the past teaching of music In the schoois has not carried over | sical educa- he Miss Olive M. Jones An impassioned appeal to - the teachers of the nation to launch a concerted movement to secure the passage of the education bill which would create a depariment of educa- tion in the federal government wus made by Miss Olive M. Jones, presi- dent of the National Education Asso- clation, in her keynote address a: tae formal opening session of the sixty- second annual convention of the or- ganization last night in the stalium of Central High School. Miss Jones scored the enemiss of the education bill, and admonished the teachers that “the time has come when educators of the country wmust stand solidly and united and resolved to obtain rightful recognition of edu- cation in our gov>rnment.” She aiso attacked the critics of the N. E. “propagandists who are attemptin to break down American democrac through certain movements in rela- tion to schodl activities, notably the courses of study in history and voca- tional work, and members of Con- gress, publicists and demagogues “who secure applause by empty talk on education as an abstraction while at the same time they regard ‘hc teacher, responsible for that educa- ition, as the most negligible clament in thefr constituency.” Outlines Confromnting Iasae, “The issue that lies before us—the nation’s teachers—today,” she _de clared, “is, shall we let the bolshev- ist, the apostle of chaos, take from us our glorious-opportunity to fulfill our mission in civilizatian and by a united stand preserve the democracy by our devotion to the cause of edu- cation? 1 make no apology for my appeal to the nation’s teachars to vote wisely and well for the cause of cdu- :laid. v:'trr “first, flclle teaching of chil- | cation.” ren to ‘note-read’ and ‘sight-sing' | ; P e teaching of a technique of playing-| Both have value, but comparatively small value. For the acquiring of the ability to do either or both gives a narrow out- These two phases are now under criticism by the edu- through them' the music teacher has exalted the subject matter at the ®xpense of upon an instrument. look upon the art. cator, for he claims that the child. “The phase of music teaching, continued the speaker, “that is dis- cussed by the educator today, more than any other phase, is that which The educator is interested in having children know music before they are asked to do is called ‘appreciation.’ music. Different Systems Expldined. “The present tendency and belief is to stress the The present belief includes the ideas that technique should not be taught un- less there is a desire for it on the children should be led to enjoy good music and to establish habits of enjoyment which will result in ever-increasing abilities to participate in music, as is of importance to make active, creative listeners to good music than performers of music, for it is as lis- teners that the interest of the great- est number in a social group is en- in teaching music synthetic before the analytic. part of the children; that they do greater in literature; that it listed. “When children have learned person who has not enjoyed mus So why should he care to make it? “The composer of music is not a but what he has cre- ated, and what his creation reveals, is an interpretation of the best, as Through his sugges- tion he disciplines the imagination He of- rs the means for an enjoyment that 1t is a type of enjoyment that lasts and Through music rather than alwyas stressing the teach- we create a continuing ability to par- ticipate in the best that has been direct teacher, life should be. and ennobles our sympathy. within the reach of every one. controls through this life. teaching an appreciation of ing of the technique of music, produced in the field of music.” DEMANDS STANDARD TEACHER TRAINING J. M. McConnell Would Base Com- pensation on Experience and Education. Teachers in all grades of school eught to have equivalent academic and professional training, according to James M. McConnell, commissioner of education of St. Paul, Minn., speak- ing this afternoon before the National Council of State Superintendents and Commissioners of Education at the n con- nection with the National Education New Willard Hotel, meeting’ Association convention. The same standard of certification adopted to the different classes of schools ought to prevail, the speaker Compensation ought to follow certification and successful ex- continued. perience. He continued: “If to do were as easy as to tell how to do, our problems would soon ‘We are still far from ac- cepting very widely such in inclusive policy and infinitely farther from its be solved. Hzation. equivalent plored to those who are in the urban schools, we a condition and not a theory. ercise the authority which of for grade, most would close an exasperated legislature in order to provide teachers. “To meet this situation we have trankly admitted that a two-year impossible at present for any large proportion of our rural schools, and we have set about to establish a one-year course, professional standard is especially adapted to their needs. “To this end, Minnesota has for sev- cral years maintained, at state ex- pense, under the direction of the state in certain lected by the state de- partment, one-year courses for the training ~of rural teachers. These high school teacher training depart- ments admit at present only high stand- ing, and only in such numbers as can be given adequate observation and in both town and country, without laying toe' great a burden on the schools in which they Those who complete these school After at least a year of ru- such students credit on a two- year course in any teachers’ college of the state which they may wish to department of education, high schools school graduates with good practice teaching practice. courses are certified as rural teachers. ral school teaching, may receive a yea: attend. “The teachers colleges also main- -diploma course which prepares for rural school work, and which may be followed at a later time by the completion of the second year, at which time the diploma for tain a one-year non the usual two-year course {s issued. “The difficuity which has so far defied the efforts of education sys- tems to put teachers of equivalent of the ‘While consolida- B i the cure wo! slowly and will not be com- 3 + Ineed of workers qualifications in all _schools state is isolation. tlon is a partial antidote, pleta”™ to know about music and to enjoy it they will want to acquire the tech- nique with which to produce it. The c is surely not interested in the history of it, nor in how it is constructed. In this matter of supplying the ru- ral schools with teachers of training em- in Minnesota find ourselves dealing with If the state board of education were to ex- it pos- sesses to set the two-year profes- sional standard for Minnesota's eight thousand rural schools that they have set for the urban schools of the same the rural schools lack of teachers. ‘Were the board itself to fail to recog- nize the atrocity of such a situation, would presently lower the standards by law, Jones reviewed the activities of the N. E. A. during the past vear, snd emphasized that after a year as presi- dent of the organization she felt “more strongly than ever before that +the nation's teachers must keep a path with a single goal in sight— equal opportunity to all children for an_education which fits them to be citizens of high character in a genuine democracy.” Navy Band Plays. A concert by the United States Navy Band, under the direction of Charles Benter, opened the meeting, which was attended by more than 8,000 of the delegates and teachers attending the convention. William B. Owen, past president of the N. E. A., presided, The address of welcome was delivered by John_ J. Tigert, federal commissioner of education. Dr. Frank W. Ballou, superintend- ent of the District public achools, followed with an address on “Educa- tion in the Nation’s Capital” during which he expressed grateful appre- ciation of the assistance which the N. E. A. has rendered to the cause of public_education here. Dr. Ballou declared that more than one-third of all municipal expendi- tures in the larger cities of the coun- try is devoted to public education, but in Washington the ratis is much less. The general situation with 1espect to public education in the Nation's Capital, .declared Dr. Ballou, does not differ ‘materially from the Dresent situation in other American clties, but in one important respect Wash- ington differs from every other Amer- ican eity. Washington Probiem Owtlined. “The people in every other city can determine how much money rhall be spent for education,” said Dr. Ballou. “In Washington this is not the case: ‘““The representatives and senators elected by voters in the several states of the mation are the repre- sentatives and senators who de- termine legislation and appropria- tions for the people of the Nation's Capital. No governing body in the District is elected by the people. The Commissioners are appointed by the President. The board of education is appointed by the Supreme Court of the District. “At no time during the preparation of the school estimates or their prog- ress to and through Congress are they dealt with by a single official who was selected by the people of the District or who can in any direct or usual way in a democracy be held accountable by the people of the Dis- trict for his official acts in determin- ing the amount or character of ap- propriations for public education in Washington. “The educational welfare of thé peo- ple residing in the Nation’s Capital depends on an intelligent understand- ing of this situation on the part cf the people of the country and sympa- thetic interest antl action on the part of the representatives and senators whom the people elect to Congress." Miss Jones, in her keynote address, said, in part: Seey Menace in History. “One of the most dangerous move- ments afoot for the breaking down of American democracy affects the teaching of American history. We have some people in our midst, with a publication to sell, who periodically shout scornfully about the time chil- dren must spend in learning of the past, and laud as new apostles of light the people who throw history into the waste basket and replace it with the teaching of current topics. What right have they, or you and L to shape the social, political or relig- fous life of children on the basis of a study of issues and occurrances, whose reporting is of doubtful ac curacy and even more doubtful im- partiality, when we ourselves change our point of view in regard to some of them with almost every issue of a newspaper? “I am no more afraid of being call- ed conservative than later you will know I am of the term political. There are times when both terms are honorable, and this is one of them. Wise judgment of present day issues depends upon experience as gained in our own lives and companionships or as obtained from the-lessons of history. Our business with -children is to teach facts as told by reliable historians of the past and leave the formation of positive conclusions on the issues of today to maturity and to what time may sift out as true and valid in today's theoriés and events. “Even if it were true that we had taught history by wrong methods and with insane prejudice in the past, why swing the pendulum clear across and discount all the experi- ences of the past? How can we pre- serve America as America unless we teach its ideals and traditions to the children of people who know more about Mussolinl and that disputed strip of land in the Adriatic, about the Talmud or the soviet than they do of our history or even our speech? Do not mistake me. I am not con- temptuous of the history or traditioni of other lands. But they are th problems of Russians, Italians and Swedish in Russie, Italy and Sweden. Once here to live on our soil and be- come voters in the American democ- racy they must become steeped in America’s "théotiés and history, the story of the Declarhtion of Inde- pendence and the Constitution, the services and ideals of Jefferson, Ham- ilton, Marshall, Adams, Washington, Lincoln, Wilsen, the story of Lewis and Clark, t?.lin:‘svn trail, cotton, -rail- roads, tel telephone and radio. "A.'long argu! recently advanced ing industrial and ‘education which must speedily. be made clear to parents or great harm is going to re- sult to the progress of vocational educa- tion. Teaching a child to make a liv- ing is one thing. Teaching him a trade or a job so that it perforce becomes his career and because the industry has 1s another- thing, Passage of Education Bill Urged by N. E. A. President Also Scpres “Propa- gandists,” Charging Attempt to-Break Down American Democracy. Teaching him- how to choose a career and then teaching him how to work in it ‘happily, industriously and worthily is different from either. “The three-ideas as aims of voca- tional and industrial education are hecoming confused in people's minds. They are confused in the mind of the speaker referred to. ‘There are in- dustrialists who would control voca- tional education with the second aim in view. There are even parents, as well as young people themselves, who see no higher than making a living. “Making a living and the needs of industry as final aims are low mo- tives, selfish and debasing to both the Individual character and the com- munity life. Either one {s destruc- tive to the progress of vocational education, is deeply and justly dis- trusted by labor organizations and will undermine American democracy. The third is sane and safe American- ism and what every teacher means by vocational education. Therefore, we must contend against the imposi- tion upon us in our teaching of any other aim. we must make parents understand the real values of voca- tional education, we must protect the child from any’ abridgement of his right to choose his own career and occupation according to his Intelli- gence and aptitudes. Teachers Realize Situation. “There are signs that teachers are becoming conacious of the basic rela- tionshp of thelr work of education to the type of citizenship and the future character of government it- self in ‘America. The growth of teachers’ associations all over the country and the phenomenal increase in the National Education Association membership in four years indicate the awakening of professionai spirit of the teachers and their growing class consciousness. “Another sign of the changing position of education is the renewal of attacks upon the American com- mon school idea. 1Tt is curlous to |note that certain forms of attacks are very old and that they have al- ways been coincident with some great advance made by the teaching staff toward professional recognition or with a new understanding by the public of the relation of education to social and economic problems. “I believe the time has come when the educators of the country must stand solidly united and resolved to obtain rightful recognition of educa- tion in our government. All of us are familiar with the political power wielded by well orgdnized elements in our American community life. The list is long and reaches back into the early days of our history. Organized effort was required to secure cabinet recognition of agriculture, commerce and labor. I am convinced that simi- lar organized effort must be put forth desired. usual Stromg, comfortable, good-looking and a real value at: $5.98 Quality Furniture for Summer and All the Year Right now comes the need for Summer and Out-of-Doors Furniture. We have assembled an exceptional display of Summer Furniture of the better kind at very attractive prices. . THIS LONG BED-DAVENPORT SUITE, like illustration; fin- sshed in mahogany, upholstered in vclour, con- sisting of Bed-Davenport, Armchair and Rocker. A very special value at the Special Price of . ... Porch Rocker Natural ish; a most un- this low price— arms; -com- and canopy. Spe- s | datwm Bewich | forite et pree Lawn Mower Four-foot sice; iron roomy— tion which is so evident today. In that year a returm_was made to-the original plan of the great French en- | Bineer, - L'Enfant, ‘begun _under the supervision of George Washington | ana Thomas Jetrerson. Cites Bullding Growth. “Since 1898 monuments and build- ings have been erected in such num- bers as would be tedious to mention them. They include the Union sta. tion, the 'Post Office, Continental Memorial Hall, the Red Cross Me- morial, the Pan American building, the National Academy of Sciences and National Research Council, the House and Senate- office buildings, the Interior Department - building. the Municipal building, the new Bureau of Printing and Engraving, the new National Museum, the Freer Art . Gallery, the Scottish. Rite Temple, many magnificent embaseies, numerous temples of religion, and, greatest of sll, the Lincoln Memorial, regarded by the Fine Arts Commis- sion as the noblest structure erected in the world in the last five hundred yea: Only a few great schools like Central High School have been built. Patriotism and proper respect for a great branch of the government for- bid my saying why there have not been more schools bullt. Fortunately one does not have to tell the history of Washington. as is usually done in addresses of welcome. = Every teacher in the United States knows the history of Washington, not only since 1898, but from the planting of the seat of the government here.” Several thousand of .the delegates to the convention as well as visiting teachers attended the reception given in honor of the present officers and past presidents of the N. E. A. at the Willard Hotel, following the meeting in the Central Stadium. The reception was given jointly by the teachers of Washington and Vir- ginia. PERIODICALS C ASKSTEACHERS PAY BEONFAR BASS Cora B. Morrison Tells Edu- cators Schedule Should Be Equitably Adjusted. “The right of every child to be in- structed by well trained and ad. - quately paid teachers should be pro- tected by putting into effect a salary schedule which recognizes the two- fold responsibility of the elementary teacher and rewards all teachers equitably,” declared Cora B. Mor- rison, elementary teacher of Denver. Colo,, in an address on “Single Salary Schedules” before the department of classroom teachers of the National Education Association at the Wash- ington Hotel today. Equal Ability Required. Continuing, Miss Morrison said part: “We take as a fundamental argu- ment that the teaching service ren- dered on each successive level of the school course of twelve years requires equal, though not necessarily th same, ability and knowledge; is equ: ly valuable to the community, and therefore should receive equal reward where teacher qualifications are th same. This is accomplished by t single salary schedule, which p equal salaries to all classroom tea ers having equal academic and p RITICIZED. STEer= T fessional preparation and equal « Little Attention Paid to Teachers’ | perience. “The twofold responsibility of the Magazines, Speaker Says. teacher—preparation for all higher = education and education of the “An examination of the magazines issued by the thirty-seven states baving a state teachers' organization with an official organ reveals no com- mon standard and very little attempt to develop seriously a new and high- ly specialized field,” E. G. Doudna, editor Wisconsin Journal of Educa- tion, declared in an address before the 'National Organization of Secre- taries of State Education Associa- tions at the Raleigh Hotel yesterday “The fleld of the State Teachers’ Organization Magazine is limited to a single state,” he continued. “The functions are not very clearly speci- fied. Even as disseminetors of news, there is great divergence. Some givey it much attention and some very little. Some emphasize persons, others places and others events. Some study teaching problems, others avoid the subject. Occasionally a masses of the people—is now general- Iy recognized. The increasing demand for greater efficiency in meeting these responsibilities of elementary teach- ers makes it the duty of all educators to discover and establish those condi- tions which will react in adequate service to the public. View of Classroom Teachers. “The classroom teachers claim th this type of schedule will accomp this purpose, because it recogniz: that the elementary teacher should b as well prepared as the high schol teacher, and it endeavors to provid: a salary which will not only en her to make that preparation. but which will hold her permanently in the service of the elementary school ‘This type of schedule has Been in op- eration for four years in Denver, Col, and it has resulted in a higher level of professional training and a distinctly higher morale of the teac! A Upper, left to right: Guillermo A. Sherwell, secretary of the Inter-American High Commisnion; Mrx. In: D. McLean, city supervisor of Americanization, Lynn, Masx.; Dr. Nils Jueil, member of Borrd of Educatio: apolix, Minn. Lower, left to right: J. M. Q: perintendent of schools, San Francisco, Calif.; J. T. sclence department, Latimer Junior High School, Plitxburgh, No. 10, Paterson, N. _—m Shriner, head of Pa.; Ide G. Sargeant, principal of public school, by us who are responsible for educa- tion, and that the time is at hand when it must be done or this funda- mental fattor of education will be- with London, Paris, Rome, of today Zeatured the address of Commissioner of Education Tigert. In twenty-six years, he said, enroll- Berlin, Vienna, and other capital cities, into the fairest seat of government in all ment in the schools has increased 50 """ | journal seems to be merely a propa- | ing body.” come the tool of the enemies of real [per cent, and the expenditures for | [N, S4rth, Lying in the atms of two |i3yda sheet. Some have a vigorous ST FPTIN American democracy, of whom the |cducation have grown approximately |hifls and - Besbon cimtiar %woded | cditorial poiicy, others are as calm 5 land is full today. These propa- [500 per cent. In 1898 there were en Platcau, Wash- |04 colorless as distilled water. ‘Would Supply Materials. gandists are awake and active while oington is like a cluster of diamonds 409,000 teachers in our schools, while teachers sleep and while the American 1922 : i Set in a sea of beayty. Its wooded g o From the Manchester Chropicle. ' Smug c« cency an al sec gy P 0! ‘e < V] mons ECommeny St = = SeMR L Commiiasimir “Tig eve: marble and stone. Since 1898 one of | From the London Mail B i avaus pares Systems. Twenty-six years have brought a[tho most attractive of these parks, “I can't think why society hasn't|guineas?’ he asked. A comparison of the public educa-|growth of nearly 200,000 people, and | situated along the banks of the Poto- |taken up Mrs. De Style.” “That is s0.” tional system in 1895, when the N. E.|have transformed our Capital, once|mac, has been reclaimed from a| “But, my dear. she hasn't a divorce| “Well, what reduction could I A. last met in Washington, with that spoken of siightingly in comparison swamp. In 1901 began the beautifica- 'to her name!" made if'T supplied the paint?” 2 Convenient Deferred Payments can be arranged when Steamer Chair Folding; handy for lawn or porch. Special at % THIS FOUR-PIECE WALNUT VENEER BEDROOM SUITE, consisting of Dresser, Chifforette, Sems-Vanity $ ] 3 9 50 and Bow-End Bed. Chasr, Rocker and Bench $109-7 cxtra. Very moderately priced for this weck at., 4-Passenger —as pictured, Four-passenger; fin- with ssde with irgn frome frame. Very special at 14-inch Blade. Very Special— . 3-Door Side-Icer Refrigerator Golden oak finish; 40 pounds icc capacity. A well constructed Re- frigerator and specially priced at $94.50 S Top-Icer Refrigerator Golden oak _finish. This Hammock " 'and Stand —is just what you need for porch or lawnm. Special— $16-75 7% 4 5 THIS THREE-PIECE REED FIBER SUITE is well -Stecial Sale Price— oy ctructed and attractive, com, 36 prising Settee; $11.75 : Armchair and Arm Rocker, removable Cush- THE JULIUS LANSBURGH, FURNITURE CO., Ninth and F Sts ions and Spring Seats, Cretonne covered. A 2 ) Special Value-at._the very moderate price-of .. %