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THE

OHIO EDUCATIONAL MONTHLY.

PUBLISHED AT

COLUMBUS, OHIO.

O. T. CORSON, EDITOR. MARGARET W. SUTHERLAND, ASSOCIATE EDITOR.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES.

PER YEAR IN ADVANCE, $1.50. In clubs of four or more, $1.25 each. Single Number, except August, 15 cents. August Number, 25 cents. All club subscriptions not paid within three months, $1.50.

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THE MONTHLY is mailed the first week of each month. Any subscriber failing to receive a copy by the tenth should give notice promptly, and another will be sent. Any person wishing his address changed must send notice not later than the twenty-fifth of the month, and must give both the old and the new address. Notice will be given to each subscriber of the time his subscription expires.

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-The question of Athletics in one form or another is of interest to teachers of all grades of school work, and it is, therefore, believed that the timely and vigorous article of President Alston Ellis, found

in this issue, will be read with pleasure and profit by all. The facts stated can not be disputed, and the arguments advanced against brutal sports which can only demoralize, and in favor of some of the oldtime games which furnished recreation, amusement and exercise of a really beneficial character, can not be answered. We earnestly commend President Ellis's frank and fearless treatment of this question

to the careful consideration of both public school and college authorities.

-It is impossible to teach too much of true patriotism in our public schools. The more true love of our country, its institutions, its laws, and its flag we can instill into the minds and hearts of the children the better. To this end the proper celebration of the birthdays of great Americans who have stood out prominently as great leaders in founding and building this great Nation, is always an aid. In this issue will be found a program of exercises for the celebration of the birthdays of Lincoln and Washington which we hope will be helpful to our readers in schools of all grades.

The educational world has its share of so-called reformers whose anxiety to be considered the authors of something new or startling greatly exceeds their desire to do the greatest good to the greatest number of the children in the public schools, or their judgment in dealing in a rational manner with the many hard problems that arise. in school administration.

One of the most dangerous tendencies of the present time arises from the attempts of such reformers to overload the course of study in the primary and grammar grades to such an extent that thorough work is an absolute impossibility. A glance at some of these new

courses proposed for adoption in some of the schools of the present day is enough to produce tears of sympathy for the poor, helpless children, and contempt for school authorities who seem to be determined to do away with the high schools of the day by providing for a complete high school training before the high school is reached.

Judging from the discussion going on in recent issues of the Pittsburg papers, Supt. Luckey is kept busy trying to protect the public schools of that city from a large overdose of this character. The following words from him have the right ring, and outline in a very pointed, humorous way his objections to the new course of study which has been recommended by the committee:

"My first objection is that the course recommended by the committee requires so much of the pupil's time in other studies that reading and language are for the most. part relegated to the background; thus, the child of 6, 7 and 8 years of age is required to study migratory and non-migratory birds, hibernation, food of man, and its relation to life, prehension and digestion of food, analysis of garden soil, examination of sand, gravel, limestone, quartz and pebbles; collect eggs of frogs, study the dissemination of seeds, collect specimens of all things observed; study common insects and the covering and food of animals.

end of the eighth year and contin"If the child is still living at the

ues in school he must describe carnivorous and herbivorous animals,

and among the birds he must look after the perchers, climbers, waders and swimmers. The frog, the fish, the earthworm, the oyster must be studied with reference to the adap

tation of structure to environment. He must post himself on the structure, digestive organs and food of man and their relation to life, on respiration and circulation, the functions and structure of the human skin, relations of food and drink to muscle and bone, dissemination and germination of weeds. Of seeds and flowers he must talk of calyx, corolla, sepals, petals, stamens, pistils and pollen.

"Since he is now out of the primary school and in the grammar school, these things are not quite so difficult, but after taking a dash at the description of quartz, limestone, mica, gypsum, feldspar, granite he must give the story which fossils tell, note in excavations and railroad cuts the order of deposition and the striate on boulders, make special study of coal and give proof of its vegetable origin and tell of the different kinds, study peat bogs and coal digging, study the use of gold, silver, copper, sulphur, hematite, halite and gaienite.

"When he has completed this course he must wonder what on earth he will have to do when he reaches the high school."

STATE CONFERENCE OF PRESIDENTS
AND MEMBERS OF BOARDS
OF EDUCATION.

[Summary made up from the minutes of the Secretary, Mrs. Cotton Mather, Hillsboro, O.]

The first Conference of Presidents and Members of Boards of Education was held in Columbus, January 11 and 12, 1898. The meeting was called to order by

President Frank Rathmell of the Columbus Board of Education who introduced Mayor Black of Columbus, who extended a cordial welcome to the visiting delegates. He was followed by State School Commissioner O. T. Corson, who spoke at some length regarding the magnitude and importance of public education and the necessity of a strong educational sentiment in order that good schools may be secured.

The temporary organization consisted of J. M. Weaver of Dayton, President and Mrs. Cotton Mather of Hillsboro, Secretary. After this organization was effected, Supt. W. H. Cole of Marysville read a very interesting and helpful paper on "The School Library, Its Scope and Value."

"Should the Length of Terms of Members of Boards of Education be Extended: Say to Four and Eight Years?" was the subject of an address by S. F. Secrest of Chillicothe in which he favored such

extension.

The permanent organization was then effected by electing Capt. E. R. Montfort of Cincinnati, President, and Mrs. Cotton Mather of Hillsboro, Secretary.

J. M. Weaver of Dayton followed in an address on "What is the Best Method of Electing Members of Boards of Education?" in which he urged that such election should be at large instead of by wards. A general discussion followed this in

dicating quite a difference of sentiment.

At the evening session President James H. Canfield of the Ohio State University delivered an address on “What Shall be the Extent and Organization of State Education?"

The morning session of the second day onened with an exhaustive pader by Martin A. Gemuender of Columbus on "Shall the State Levy te Superseded by an Increased Local Levy?" in which he recommended that such change should be made.

This paper was followed by an eloquent and helpful address by Dr. E. E. White on "School Administration." He made an earnest appeal for the children of the State to the end that the best educational advantages should be guaranteed to

all.

The afternoon session opened session opened with a general discussion of the law granting the right of suffrage to women at school elections, and a resolution opposing any attempt to repeal such law was unanimously adopted.

The next paper was read by W. J. Whitworth of Youngstown on "Are Forty Weeks of School Desirable?" The paper did not favor a lengthened school year.

"Should Manual Training (for Boys), and Domestic Science (for Girls) be Introduced into the High Schools?" was discussed by A. F. Munson of Zanesville who favored such introduction.

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ever, to state in this connection that the first suggestion of the Conference was made by Supt. John A. Long of Chillicothe.

William George Bruce of the Milwaukee School Board Journal was present at all the sessions and the full proceedings of the Conference will appear in the next issue of his Journal.

THE CHATTANOOGA MEETING.
[Department Headquarters at the New
Southern Hotel.]

President N. C. Schaeffer, of the Department of Superintendence of the N. E. A.. writes that the arrangements for the Chattanooga meeting, to be held February 22, 23 and 24, are about completed. The Southeastern Passenger Association has granted a rate of one fare for the round trip; tickets good for the going trip February 20, 21 and 22, and for return until February 28.

The Central Passenger Association has granted the same rate; tickets good for the going trip February 20 and 21, and for return until February 25.

All tickets must be stamped and counter-signed at Chattanooga before return. Special attention is called to the advertisements of the Big Four and Queen and Crescent Routes found in this issue of the MONTHLY. Direct connections can be made in Cincinnati for either of the through trains leaving there for Chattanooga. The schedule is as follows:

Leave Cincinnati 8:30 a. m. and arrive at Chattanooga 5:55 p. m. of the same day; or leave Cincinnati 8:00 p. m. and arrive at Chattanooga 7:45 a. m. the next day.

Persons who can find it convenient to reach Cincinnati in time to take the morning train February 21 will have the great pleasure of passing through the the beautiful scenery on the Q. & C. Route by daylight, reaching Chattanooga in the evening of the same day. Those who can not start early enough to make this connection, can go through on the night train, reaching Chattanooga in plenty of time for the opening session at 9:30 a. m., February 22. The railroad rates are low, the hotel accommodations are ample, the season of the year for the trip is desirable, and the meeting is important. All of these inducements should guarantee a large attendance. In addition to the above, Ohio has a special reason for sending a large delegation in the fact that it is the intention to bring the next meeting to our own capital city of Columbus, if possible. If Ohio does her duty there can be no doubt as to the result. Make your arrangements to go in order that you may enjoy the pleasure and profit of the meeting, and also that you may aid in securing it for Ohio next year.

In the following pages will be found full and complete information regarding program, hotel rates,

etc.:

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