THE SUKDAY 0REG0NIA2T, PORTLAND, MARCH 22, 1903.
29
DR; GEORGE F. SHR ADITS PLAN FOR COMBATTING
MAN'S GREAT ENEMY, TUBERCULOSIS
WANTS eiTIES TO OWJN TENMENTS
. R. GEORGE P. SHRADY believes
the future -will brim? advances In the
healing art as yet undreamed of by
humanity at large.
He bases his hope upon the -work of the
recent past, -which, he says, has been
chiefly along: preventive lines, and in help
ing: nature to increase the Individual's
power of resistance against disease.
He foresees the ultimate practical
stamping out of consumption, through the
adoption of nature's own remedies, which
are free to all, and proposes the muni
cipal ownership of tenements to hasten
this result.
"Great progress has been made with the
microscope and the test tube," said the
doctor to the writer, the other evening.
"In their discoveries concerning yellow
fever and its spread by mosquitoes, Drs.
Reed, Flnlay, Carroll and Argamonte did
the race an Incalculable service They
accomplished more for Cuba than all the
warships and all the soldiers, though the
gift of freedom from Spanish rule was a
priceless boon.
"The Island has been practically free of
the fever since the American occupancy,
for the first time in its history, and this
has brought immunity to our own Gulf
ports. Nothing more Important than the
work of these men. and Ross' similar
work in England, has been done In recent
years. This would be true If the preven
tion of yellow fever had been "alL
"These investigations have pointed a
way to the ultimate stamping out of
malaria as well, since the germ of that
disorder, also. Is conveyed by- the mos
quito, and the precise circumstances un
der which this is accomplished have been
determined.
"It is not enough for the mosquito to
absorb the organism that produces ma
laria or yellow fever from an infected
person, and then bite one who is welL
The germ must remain within the mos
quito long enough to develop properly be
fore its bite will convey the disease from
the sick to the sound.
The Doom of Tubcrcnlosls.
"The most gratifying progress has been
made In the treatment of tuberculosis.
"No one need ask now if consumption
can be cured. It can bo cured. It is
cured, practically, every day. But it ia
not, and cannot be cured by drugs alone.
Beyond stimulants and nourishing foods
which build up the vitality and add to the !
patient's resisting power, no remedies are I
specially needed, excepting those which '
nature furnishes. These are as free as '
DO OCm
part of the" child now that the essential
branches are not and cannot be well
learned. There are fads in the course of
study. There always will bo some fads.
It is one of the ways in which teachers,
patrons. Boards of Education and Legisla
tures show their familiarity with the
needs of childhood. No matter how much
the Board of Education may eliminate
from the course of study, the 'amount of
worthless matter in tho schools will de
pend on the good sense of teachers and
local boards. I have heard of one school
where two school years are largely spent
in straw weaving and playing with splints.
"Children do not make the progress lov
ing parents wish them to make. The
health of children frequently Is not what
it should be. If these matters are dispas
sionately investigated, It will be found
that In very many cases Improper nurture
and hours arc sufficient cause for loss of
health and poor work, without adding
blame to the work of the school.
"If there be any genuine desire to aid
childhood In its search for an education,
the Legislature might do much by pass
ing acts regulating the heating, lighting
and ventilating of school buildings, the
efficient training of teachers and the pro
tection of good teachers against quacks,
and seeing to the enforcements of such
acts. As long as the quack teacher is on
tho same level as the good teacher, and
as long as the schools are allowed to be
the prey for politicians seeking office or
would-be reformers trying to tinker at
the universe, there will be all sorts of
fads and foolishness In school work, and
regulations of the Board of Education
will only be so many idle words "as con
cerns putting an end to them."
A. F. BECHDOLT. Superintendent.
Wherein Time Is "Wasted.
THE DALLES, March IS. You ask me
to say a word on Senator Miller's-resolution,
recently adopted by both houses
of the Legislature. I noticed the resolu
tion at the time of publication, but have
not given it sufficient attention to ex
press an opinion further than to state tho
impressions that naturally come to ono
engaged in the work in aucstlon.
"With Senator "Miller I fully agrco in the
transcendent lmportanco of the public
school as tho one educational unit for tho
stato and nation at large. I believe with
him there is an undue proportion of the
public fund appropriated to tho malnte
ance of Normal schools, and that every
thing should bo done that can be done
for tho advancement of the common
school; though with some of the other
features of tho resolution I .cannot ex
press as full accord. "Without a more ma
ture deliberation I should not be ready to
affirm that the course of study for Ore
gon schools, when properly understood,
and carried out, needs much abridge
ment. To koep pace with and to render possi
ble the great material advancement of
recent times, education has mado rapid
strides in several Important particulars.
"What has been termed the "new educa
tion" arose, grew and became established.
The old rcimo with its "three R's" will
no more answer the requirements of to
day than the stage coach or the reap hook.
New methods and new matter were intro
duced, tho latter faster than it could be
properly assimilated by the former. The
best schools with skillful teaching could
fulfill the old requirements and have time
for additional studies. These new studies
were introduced; and chiefly In re
sponse to two demands: For a more prac
tical training, for a wider culture "While
the additional new work could be done
readily in th schools with favored con
ditions of skilled teachers and long term,
when attempted under less favorable con
ditions, crowding and overwork of pupils
resulted.
A comparison of the reading as done in
the schools five or six years ago with that
now done in the best schools In the state
will illustrate Under the old course, 50
pages of one reader with some work on
the chart constituted the first year's work.
Now, In many schooi?, not alone 50 pages,
but three or four books of more than 100
-pages each, are readily mastered. The
same Improvement has been made Jn the
work in arithmetic and some other sub
jects. The framers of the course recog
nized this and made It fuller. "Where con
ditions like the above prevail there ia
little difficulty encountered in completing
the essentials and doing much supple
mental work for broader development.
There Is yet too much waste In common
school education. About the same work
required in our course of study for eight
years is done la some schools in seven
years.
This waste of time and retardation is
due to a number of causes. One Is, the
principle of thoroughness aimed at by all
teachers is sometimes carried too far. It
is sometimes overlooked that the work
assigned for a grade Is usually repeated in
some other higher grade In a more com
plete form, serving to deepen the im
pression made by the earlier Instruction.
The absolute perfection demanded by
the sunlight and air of heaven. In fact,
they are light and air, and nothing else.
"Light and air can be bad in the most
crowded cities. The workingman can take
his fill of them when walking on the street
or even In the park. Tuberculosis cannot
get a hold on the man or woman whose
blood Is energized with plenty of oxygen,
whose skin Is browned by the winds, and
upon whom the light of the sun is allowed
to play a good part of every day.
"Under such conditions you may Inhale
tuberculosis bacteria, and yet be unaf
fected. It is a question of seed and soil.
The latter is always the essential clement
of propagation. There Is enough vital
force, enough power of resistance, in the
individual of perfect physical condition to
overcome any evil influences. To put it
another way, the phagocytes the white
corpuscles of the blood, which act as de
fenders of the health in the circulation of
the sound and normal person, are strong
enough and numerous enough to defeat
the bacterial hosts In the. battle royal sure
to follow the invasion.
"The old notion that consumption as
cuch is hereditary in some cases has been
found to be a mistake. Children of con
sumptives, however, often show a general
physical weakness and lack of resistance,
which is in effect predisposition to the dis
ease. But with these, as with others,
fresh air, light, proper nourishment and
cleanliness will increase the power of re
sistance so that the effect of the bacteria
may be overcome, even If taken into the
system.
How to Fifth i Tabercaiosls.
"This suggests the course which medi
cal science is pointing out today to the
men of capital and the municipalities of
the civilized world. Provision should be
made for the proper housing -of the work
ers. I am almost prepared to say that It
would be true'economy for the great cities
to build tenements properly located and
full of windows, through which light and
air can pass freely, and rent them to. their
wage-earning citizens.
"There may be some who would ob
ject to such an extension of the munici
pal ownership principle. But municipal'
ownership of water works is necessary,
as they have learned to their sorrow at
Ithaca. There foul water served through
company mains has' cost many lives and
much human suffering.
"Consumption costs enormously more in
life and suffering and money In every
American city than typhoid fever, and the
municipal ownership of tenements is as
logical as the municipal ownership of
water works. The workings of the Pea
body fund in London may serve to show
how such a plan would succeed; and per
haps It is along similar lines that the
movement should be conducted. But at
PUBLIC SCHOOLS TEACH TOO MUCH?
some teachers keeps the child drilling on
a subject when he should advance to the
next. A certain degree of thoroughness
Is certainly desirable, but not to the de
gree of arrested development of the child.
Lack of proper discernment as to the
relative value of the branches of a sub
ject sometimes causes waste; so with un
due attention to nonessentials of a sub
ject A certain number of facts or data
are necessary, but the principles under
which they are subsumed and which may
appeal to the judgment are more impor
tant than the exercise of mere mechani
cal memory A proper selection of the
subject-matter of any branch, then,
shortens tho time of mastery and leaves
time for other work. The results of com
mon school work should be expressed
rather in terms of power than In terms of
pages.
Then, there is a waste in methods of
presenting subjects. Under skilled In
structors pupils learn much more readily
and rapidly. The teachers are not wholly
to blame In this respect. "Whenever the
people demand and are willing to pay for
skilled teaching It will be readily obtain
able. The question too often asked now
Is not "How well can you teach?" but
"What can you teach for?"
It is often complained today that the
children have to work too hard in school;
they become nervous. In some cities this
is true: but children are not more fre
quently injured by overwork than adults.
It is as apt to be worry and not work that
causes nervousness. There are num
bers of children who would be nervous
without any work In school. The school
Is by no means the only factor contrib
uting to the general "nervous" conditions
of today.
Finally In the present demand for tho
practical we are prone to lose sight of the
real object of education. Is It only that
tho young people shall leave school in
possession of so many facts? Or, rather,
that each shall attain a complete devel
opment of all his powers, fitted to live
completely? There are five avenues lead
ing from the mind, opening out upon five
great divisions of the life of man. Two
of these relato to man's conquest of na
ture (arithmetic and science); the other
three pertain to human life Itself (history,
language, literature). All the activities of
man have a mental or physiological co
efficient. There Is some special activity
of mind employed in each operation. Ex
perience has discovered, one after the
other, the studies needed to furnish the
proper exercise for the development of
each mental power. The Oregon course of
study is based on such knowledge and ex
perience. "Which is better, to cut down the
course, probably removing some branch
necessary to complete development, or en
deavor to bring ourselves by Improved
conditions to the requirements of the age
and the demands of a perfected existence?
J. S. LANDERS,
Superintendent Citychools.
Points Out a. Few Reforms.
EUGENE, Or.. March 19. County Su
perintendent "W. M. Miller, being in
terviewed on the subject of the resolu
tion ofTered by Senator M. A. Miller and
passed by tho Legislature, in regard to
change of courses of study, said: '.The
course of study as Issued by the State
Board of Education consists of the fol
lowing subjects: Reading, language, arith
metic, 'geography, spelling. writing,
physiology. United States history, civil
government. Besides the above branches
the manual of the course of study men
tions nature study to be given by the
teacher, no text-book for the pupil; music
and drawing marked optional. I hardly
see how any branch can be cut from
tho mandatory part of the course unless
it be physiology. Personally I would like
to see this study dropped from the course
for grammar schools.
"The reasonable objections I have heard
are that the course is too heavy in the
lower grades, especially the fourth, where
many children S and 9 years of age are
carrying reading, writing, physiology,
geography, language, arithmetic and
mental arithmetic the texts used being
quite difficult and "utterly beyond the ca
pacity of pupils of such tender ages. The
number of subjects should here be cut
down. The matter in arithmetic and geog
raphy is too difficult. No text-book
in arithmetic need be used before the
middle of the fourth grade. If physiology
is given in the grammar school at all it
should not be earlier than In- the sixth
grade, and from one text-book instead of
two.
"A careful reading of the manual of the
course of study shows that it advises: One
text-book on geography, but allows two;
two text-books on language, but allows
three.
"The subject of arithmetic should be
presented In one recitation per day, as ad
vised by the manual, and without an addi
tional text-book on mental arithmetic By
following the suggestion of the manual
of the course of study and making .some
revision the expense of the following
books may well be saved: Text-book on
DR. GEORGE
r. -t..
all events the building of enough homes
of perfectly sanitary character to house
those who earn low wages, and at rents
which they can afford to pay. should be
one of the great coming reforms. The
plan offers an unexampled opportunity for
wealthy philanthropists If the cities will
not take It up."
To the suggestion that preventive meas
mental arithmetic: one book of geography,
one book on language, one or' two books
on physiology. Nature study, music, and
drawing being optional, there is no com
pulsion in taking the same, so they may be
eliminated from the discussion.
"The course of study as issued by the
State Board of Education has simplified
the school system In Oregon and has been
productive of much good and has cor
rected many abuses heretofore existing In
the public schools. It Is easy to find fault,
but many of the objections will disap
pear upon a careful reading of the man
ual, whllo good teachers will differ as to
the reasonableness of others."
Sacrifice Quantity to Quality.
GRANT'S PASS. On. March 19. It Is
difficult. If not impossible. In a brief
Interview to give a very intelligent ex
pression of opinion on so Important a
question as the one of cutting down the
course of study that is now taught In the
schools of our state, for it is one of the
most complex problems we are called upon
to solve.
Those who havo bad much experience
in the matter of education, as our State
Board of Education doubtlees has, are
very apt to have certain views of which
the public In general do not approve. A
superficial view of existing conditions may
lead to entirely different conclusions from
those derived from a careful dissection of
the case. The trouble Is that the public
In general has the superficial view, and
few, very few, do tho dissecting. I am
unalterably opposed to putting Into our
course of study those branches which are
only "sops" thrown to the demand of
a certain class whose circumstances are
such aa to enable them to give unlimited
time to those branches which are but mere
embellishments. In these days, and In
this land of haste and sham, of wretched
preparation, and foundations laid In sand.
In this country whose very watchword Is
Its system of education, there Is grave
danger of the system supplanting the edu
cation. No questic-a but that the tend
ency of the times has ben toward a
redundancy In our school and college
course?, and I am glad to note the refor
mation already set In in our higher insti
tutions of learning, such as Harvard, Co
lumbia and Chicago Universities, which
have recently cut their courses down to
three and two years. May we not hope
that in the near future our common school
courses will also be wisely revised?
In the face of the request made by our
legislators that the Board of Education
cut down the course, there is the clamor
that many other studies be introduced,
and all with some show of reason. If ad
mitted, one of two things must be done:
EJther for the pupil to select the studies
desired, or for every subject to be pur
sued but a very short time. The latter
method Is too much In evidence at present,
and it is this condition upon which the
complaint Is founded that It is a term of
this, two terms of that, and almost a
year of the other, a regular butterfly,
flitting from, one flower to the other,
everything in turn, nothing thorough.
In reviewing our state course, we are
impressed with its fullness, and yet com
paring it with the course of otherstates
we find it to be less redundant than that
of many, and after carefully considering
the matter it Is difficult to say what
should be stricken out.
I believe that, could the course as it now
stands be put into the bands of a
thoroughly competent teacher in every
school in the state, the work could all be
done In a satisfactory manner without
detriment to the pupils. But such a con
dition being Impossible at present. It is
far better to sacrifice -quantity to quality.
F. E. YOUNG.
Superintendent City Schools.
Point Oat the "Xonessentials."
ALBANY, March 19. In reply to your
query as to what I think of the ac
tion of the recent Legislature in recom
mending a simplification of the course of
study in the public schools of our state.
I must say that I can see nothing mate
rially wrong with the present course of
study. The State Legislature, In speaking
of "nonessentials" Is very Indefinite. If
It would point out anything that could be
eliminated from our course of study, with
out greatly weakening It. I should be glad
to favor such elimination. But to my
mind we "have a good course of study;
one which has been" carefully developed by
good educators. True, there are some
things, such-as writing and drawing, which
make the course look big, but these re
quire no study outside of class, and re
quire only a few minutes' dally' exercise,
which: I think is beneficial.
"Would you havo us return to the "three
Rs"? As County School Superintendent
I "have had an opportunity to witness
the results of this method. In some of
our rural districts, where the course of
study prescribed by tha Stat Board of
F. SHRADY
ures will not help those already afflicted
with tuberculosis, Dr. Shrady replied:
"For them, either the municipalities "or
the wealthy citizens must build special
hospitals and surround them with extens
ive" grounds. There patients may take
exercise in the osen air with the sun
shining upon them. There they may live
out of doors. There they may even sleep
Education Is disregarded, and only a few
favorite branches are taught, the young
people have gone to seed on seme branches
i to the total neglect of others. The stu
j dents are not evenly balanced, showing a
, deplorable Ignorance of some.matters that
' everyone should know. x
I would favor attaching a greater Im-
portanec to the study of grammar Ian-
guage, as It Is termed In the primary
the common school course is made mani
fest by the contrast between districts
where It Is given great Importance, and
those where it Is relegated to the back
ground. If you want to appreciate the
present course of study, just visit a school
In the rural districts where only the so
called "essentials" are taught.
In general. I think such matters as this
are better left In the hands of people who
make a life study of educating young peo
ple. That these educators are conservative
cannot be questioned. During 15 years'
experience in public school -work In Ore
gon, w I recall but two additions to the
course of study physiology and civil gov
ernmentsubjects that everyone should
know something about. I think we should
hesitate before changing our course M of
e,tudy Jn the common school.
"W. L. JACKSON,
Superintendent, County Schools.
Made a Wrong Diagnosis.
ALBANY, March 19. Under the caption
of "Cut Down TStudy Course," In The
Oregonian for March 12, I note you give
place to the discussion of Senator Miller's
resolution which you admit passed both
houses with "little consideration and dis
cussion." This question of simplifying
tho common-school course of study Is
about as old as this country, and finds
expression In the old, musty "three Rs"
which we had hoped was relegated to the
corner cupboard along with the old. blue
backed "Webster, rule of three and tare
and tret. But here It Is again, an .old
companion wearing the same old clothes.
Omitting the Senator's first two whereases,
trite but not wholly true, let us look the
third squarely In tho face.:
"Whereas. The course of study now employed
in the public schools of this state requires so
much work on the part of the child that the
essential branches are not, and can not, be
well learned.
It Is easy to set up an Imaginary target
and shiver Jt to pieces with logic The
children of Oregon are not "employed on
the course of study," but on the branches
of reading, writing, arithmetic. United
States history, geography and languaga
or English grammar. Senator Miller, by
quoting the. San Francisco Bulletin, gives
us to understand that the study of our
English language, oral and written. Is non
essential. Never In our experience, from
Massachusetts to Oregon, did we meet an
advocato nf snrh nurfnl hn.oin t-i-,...
I -J . SkJlM iUC
, study of oral and written English when
not one siuaent in five In any grade of
any of our schools can use it forcefully
and- correctly! Shades of Horace Mann,
no. put It In. In season and out of season
till some of pur ragged broken English
disappears from our conversation and let
ters. Drop It from our course of study
when our children can -use their native
or adopted tongue with a ready correct
ness so greatly needed from the town
meeting to the Legislative halls! "What a
travesty on education would a school be
with the study of good oral and written
expression left out. It would be like a
Cunarder with a broken rudder chain.
The second subject the Senator would
drop Is that of physiology and hygiene.
"We trust that he has observed that sta
tistics shows that the average length of
life is Increasing in this country, and not
a little of thi3 increase, we believe. Is due
to a growing knowledge of nature's laws.
Every state in the Union, now requires the
teaching of temperance hygiene, and let
Oregon not be the first to discard this
branch which is now pursued but a por
tion of each school year. Music drawing
and physical culture, are not taught, ex
cept In rare instances, in our state, and
these our state course labels optional.
Underlying this whole question is one
our hasty Legislators would do well to
investigate or take council of those who
have spent years of study in its inves
tigation, viz.. the laws of child growth.
The careful student of children discovers
that the child, older or younger, can hold
attention upon a given study, as arith
metic, only a brief time when the mental
processes become fatigued and real growth
stops. Those best qualified to speak on
this point declare that the child's .mind
cannot be kept up at high tension all
day. There must be diversion In variety of
subjects or he works for a time and then
beats time till rested. Schools where
the programme Is varied with short pe
riods of hand work, as drawing, are ac
complishing as much In the "essential
subjects" as those who grind away all day
on the three Rs alone. It Is nearly uni
versally admitted that those schools with
manual training departments are every
with no roof over them. The cure. thus
offered must be furnished free to 'those
who cannot afford to pay.
"There are a few such municipal and
state hospitals now, but more must be
established. "With the great preventive
measures that I suggest accomplished,
however, the need for hospitals and "the
withdrawal from productive activity of
the patients, and the attendants and
nurses who care for them, will." gradually
disappear."
In Dr. Shrady.'s judgment, the isolation
of tuberculosis patients Is not necessary
or desirable, providing ordinary care In
methods of life ia exercised, and the de
struction of the ssutum is attended -to.
"It is as easy for those of srn-U means
to care- for their consumptives as for
anyone else," said .Dr. Shrady, "unices
they are too crowded and are obliged to.
live in holes to which the light and air
cannot have free access. There are tene
ments, though. In every big city In this
country, and many smaller ones, too. I
am sorrv to say, over the doors of which
might well be inscribed: 'All ye who enter
here leave hope behind.' It Is the desire
of the medical profession to educate the
people, the city and tbevstate to do away
with these.
"Light Is one of the most remarkable
of all the remedial agents at hand for
the treatment of this clam of diseases.
PInsen. the Scandinavian, has shown this,
through the thlnrs he has accomplished
In the treatment of lupus with those in
visible rays which are termed ultra-violet.
"Lupus is not common In America,
though well known and dreaded on the
other side of the Atlantic It is a form
of tuberculosis, not of the lungs, but
of the surface, and Finsen destroys it
by subjecting his patients to the purely
chemical rays. His rays have not been
made to penetrate deeply enough as yet,
however, to be very efficacious In tuber
culosis of tho lungs.
"Just how much progress can be made
with similar treatments, no one knows as
yet. In London and Paris, in Berlin and
Vienna, In Copenhagen and New York. In
vestigators are studying the effect of the
blue light and the ultra-violet rays under
varying circumstances. They are also
experimenting with various lenses and
other media through which to pass the
llzht.
"There have been many experi
ments with the X-Rays in fighting
cancer, but these have not been successful
except in superficial cases. Even then the
rays have not been of much greater. If
any, more benefit than the plan of scrap
ing out the bed of the ulcer and using
caustics.
"The knife still remains the last resort
whit the equal In attainment of "essen
tials" of those who do not train the eye
to see and the hand to do while pursuing
them.
"We are urged to return to the simplicity
of our schools of 25 years ago. The boy
or girl educated In such a school today
would be left behind In today's race
physically and mentally. No. gentlemen,
our schools are at fault, but you have
not diagnosed the symptoms ot weakness
accurately. EDWARD G. ADAMS,
Superintendent City Schools.
"Wants to Take "Vo Backward Step.
ROSEBURG. March 19. The course of
study in use in our public schools Is
not too difficult for the average pupil to
master with reasonable effort In the al
lotted time. A small per cent perhaps
15 of the pupils are unable to do with
sufficient thoroughness the prescribed
work, while on the other hand there are
quite as many who aro able to do more
than lst required of them. For the great
majorfty-ftie 'cqurse is about as it should
be It Is by no means easy to say just
what studies, ".will be of most value to
the children" In pursuing the different avo
catlons.'of UK.'' (The Senator from Linn
probatjly. jpeant vocation; or, possibly,
"HeaTen Js his.. vocation, and, therefore,
he counts' earthly employments avoca
tions.") .
The .English subjects, reading, writing,
spelling and language, are, without doubt,
the m6st important. I am not sure which
subjects Senator Miller considers of most
value, but I infer that he would eliminate
physiology, civil government, nature study,
physical culture, music and drawing. But
who will say that a knowledge of the
structure of the human body, of the func
tions of its organs, and of the laws of
health are not of great Importance? "Who
will deny that the state which maintains
free schools, not primarily to make money
getters of the children, but to make good
citizens of them, has the right to demand
that some instruction be given in the
principles "and practical workings of our
Government? Nature study and physical
culture require but little time. The former
Is usually made a part of the reading,
language or geography work, and while
not taking time away from other work. Is
of great value in strengthening the chil
dren's habits of observation. Physical
culture usually consists of calisthenics,
requiring but a few minutes each day,
and is not only a valuable aid to discipline
but Is also effective in quickening the
circulation and brightening the minds of
the children, so that they can do better
work in the "essentials." Music and draw
ing are optional. Though they have ped
agogical value, they should not be allowed
to Interfere with effective' work in the
more important subjects.
It Is by no means certain that a child
will make any better progress with a
fewer number of subjects. Experience
teaches that the child carrying two or
three studies makes no better progress
In those studies than the child who car
ries four or five. The child mind "will di
gest only so much of a subject In one
lesson. The mind tires of too much arith
metic. Just as the stomach' tires of too
much potatoes.
The schools of Oregon are doing more
effective work and getting better results
than ever before. Let us take no back
ward step. A. M. SANDERS.
Principal Roseburg Schools.
"Let Us Have More of the Practical.
ASHLAXD. Or., March 19. Yes. I am
i somewhat Interested In this resolu
tion, and am heartily In sympathy with
that part which calls for "practical"
school work. I do not think that our
school children, as a whole, are so bur
dened with work that health Js endan
gered. It Is the kind rather than the
amount, It seems to me, that demands
attention. There are, of course, In every
community a few pupils who do. not seem
able to bring their work up to the stand
ard without suffering from the effort.
This, however. Is. to a great extent, the
fault of the parents. "When it Is discovered
that tho child is overworked the- amount
required should be lessened, and more
time given to that particular Individual In
which to do his work. Any school can
regulate this.
To come back to the practical Jn our
school work. I know that many school
men make much of so-called disciplinary
studies, but it may be possible that practi
cal branches well taught can be made
"disciplinary."-
Of course, it would be somewhat difficult
to say just now what branches should be
dropped. Music, as a study, seems to, be
wearing out. It Is quite generally con
ceded that as such it is a failure in our
common schools. Probably some of our
drawing will follow. Much of our physiol
ogy is so diluted that It could be excluded
with profit. A few Interesting oral les
sons or talks on hygiene would accom
plish more. "We bold the child tp a math
ematical grindstone from the day of his
for well developed cancer. Even-it fails
when the disease Is of such long standing ;
as to allow thorough distribution of the !
disease through the system.
Pro-salsing Bacteriological Re
searches. "There is promise In the immense activi
ty now being displayed in bacterologlcal
research. "While it has not led to the dis
cover! of remedies In a great number of
Instances, It has laid bare the causes of
several disorders to which the flesh is heir.
In .this way It has led the profession closer
and closer to the plan of assisting nature
in building up the power of resistance and
the adoption of the simplest treatment pos
sible. "It la true that certain poisons (anti
toxins) destructive of the disease-producing
bacteria have been discovered, but In
more than one Instance it has been found
that these poisons would also kill the
patient, or, at best, leave him much weak
ened. "It was so with formalin, in cases of
blood-poisoning. Formalin - will, Indeed,
destroy the microbe producing this dis
order, but formalin's effect upon the pa
tient is still very questionable.
Hope in Antitoxin.
"An Interesting thing which medical
science has discovered concerning bac
teria, but of which the general public,
probably. Is not aware, is the fact that
microbes do little or no harm to" the hu
man system directly. They come into be
ing live their little lives and die, nourished
by the vital forces of the greater life by
which they are surrounded, without de
stroying tissues or interfering with the
functions of that life.
"But in he course of their brief activity
it has been found that they distill deadly
poisons (toxins) and these poisons produce
the disease. From this discovery rose the
serum treatment the Invention of the va
rious antitoxins. An antitoxin, as its
name indicates, is simply an opposing
poison. The antitoxins that have been
found so useful in the treatment of such
diseases as diphtheria, for instance, do
their work by destroying the poisons which
produce them.
"Into the system of the patient the
proper antitoxin is introduced by lnocula-
t tlon. As the circulation of the blood car
ries It coursing through the veins and
arteries, It meets, opposes, and, If the dls-
easo has not progressed too far, over-
I comes the bacterial poison, and the pa-
I tient gets well.
1 "The scarlet fever antitoxin is the latest,
j It was developed in Germany by Aronson.
Baglnsky gave It the needful tests. It
LEGISLATIVE REQUEST THAT STUDIES BE CUT DOW IS DISCUSSED
BY EDUCATORS r CONTINUED FROM PAGE 28
entrance until he is ready to leave the
High School. Some of the present grade
work In arithmetic might be omitted and
sent on to the High School course. It Is
far beyond the mental grasp of the grade
pupil, and degenerates Into most super
ficial and mechanical work.
But I believe, that we are on the eve of
some quite radical changes along educa
tional lines, and I am glad to see that
Oregon Is doing some thinking in that
direction. I mean, more specifically,, that
the industrial side of education Is being
looked after. For several years manual
training has been a prominent feature of
school work in Eastern cities, and some
of our "Western and Southern states are
taking it up. Colorado and California are
successfully working out the problem. I
have just received from President "Work,
of the Industrial College of Texas, an
outline of the proposed work of that in
stitution. It is practical, interesting and
fits for life. The literary side is not neg
lected by any means, but with It is taught
by precept and by example that labor Is
honorable. Not all boys and girls can
become scholars.
I do not mean by "industrial education"
that trades should be taught in connection
with our public schools, but latent me
chanical tastes may be awakened or de
veloped, an Interest aroused In work, and
a useful citizen be the product of educa
tional effort when under present systems
such effort Is a failure.
Certainly, this should be carried up Into
the High School. A good four years'
course supplemented, In the manner briefly
indicated, without the waste of time nec
essary in unlearning some things learned
by some In some higher institutions,
would fit for life.
By all means let us have more of the
practical. Our pupils will need It. Not
every boy and girl can go to college. Not
every one should go. This Is, after all,
a good deal of a bread and butter world".'
with something of a struggle necessary
for existence, and we should have a course
of study that will train the masses for
that struggle "W. F. CAMERON,
Superintendent Public Schools.
What Study Can Be Dropped.
LA GRANDE, March 19. If I could see
how to do It I should gladly favor tho
reduction In the number of studies, but
after careful study of the matter I cannot
name a single study that could be dropped
from the course The studies required be
low the High School are: Reading, writing,
spelling, arithmetic, physiology, grammar.
United States history and civil govern
ment. The book used for civil government
is so simple that It could be used for a
reader In the eighth grade There is
scarcely a parent in Oregon that would be
willing to sec one of these studies dropped
from the course. If any of our pupils
went to 'other states they wodld be re
quired to know all these thlnga It Is
easy to criticise a course of study in gen
eral terms, but when it comes to getting
up another there is difflculty. "When teach
ers are competent some of the work In the
lower grades might be done without books,
but the average teacher does better work
with a textbook than without one
The course for High Schools might be
Improved by making more of the work
optional and allowing extended work in
the common branches to be substituted
for some of the work now laid down. I
am of the opinion that many of the so
called common branches are studied when
children's minds are very Immature, and
that more culture and better practical
results might be secured by reviewing
these things In the High School.
I went to a public school more than a
quarter of a century ago, and there 13
nothing taught now that was not taught
then, unless it be physiology, and there
would be opposition to dropping that
from the course of study.
H. J. HO CKENB ERRY,
City Superintendent of Schools.
Opposed to Any Changes.
UNION, Or.. March 19. E. E. Bragg.
School Superintendent of Union
County, said, today, in speaking of the
resolution passed by die last Legislature
objecting to the course of study now in
use by the public schools of the state,
that said resolution was undoubtedly
passed hurriedly and without serious con
sideration, as the objections are, in his
opinion, without foundation. So far as
be can learn the objections are made
by those who do not understand the
course of study, as It embraces no more
branches than did the course of study in
Oregon 15 years ago. The branches re
quired to be taught include spelling,
reading, writing, geography, arithmetic,
English grammar; United States history,
physiology and hygiene, and civil govern
ment, and no others. Superintendent
Bragg does not think that any of these
should be dspensed with. He says the
complaint seems to be in regard to tha
supplemental work outlined in the course,
seems probable that It may yet take Its
place alongside the diphtheria serunu Tha
latter Is regarded by a majority of the
profession as almost a specific
"The antitoxin, treatment for tetanus, or
lockjaw, is not so often successful, be
cause the disease Is usually well advanced, j
the central nervous system frequently be-1
Ing involved, by the time Its presence ls
snown through its characteristic symp
toms. "It Is so, too, with hydrophobia. As ltj
is wise to take treatment at once when!
bitten by a dog, whether or not he bo I
known to be rabid, so it; Is wise to takdl
remedial measures without delay after J
sucn an injury as a wound from a rusty
nail or toy pistoL I
YalTae of "Vivisection, j
"Much of the recent progress in med-
leal science has been the result of vivisec
tion, to which .so much objection is made!
in certain quarters. But even if vlvlsec-j
tion entailed all the suffering on the part
of the lesser animals which these gentl-
men attribute to It, It would still be right.!
Even then it would be only the sacrificing
of the lower to tho higher animals, .and
this is in accordance with the inexorable
law of nature that Insists on the compen
satory survival of tho fittest.
"But. 4n truth, vivisection does not en-
tall suffering. The life of the physician Is
given over to the alleviation of human I
suffering, and he would be the last per
son to Inflict pain needlessly upon any Hv-I
lng creature.
"As I havo already Indicated, tho foun
dation of the progress recently accom
plished, as well as thai greater progress
which is hoped for, lies in assisting natf ,ire
to effect her own cures by adding to the
patient's power of resistance. Drugs are
sometimes a help, but pure air. pure water,
light, more light these are the great
agents, the use of which, properly direct
ed, are now the physician's chief reliance.
"As we learn and practice, more along
these lines,, the number of diseased per
sons in proportion to the whole is sure to
diminish steadily and markedly. The race
of the future, with better education along
these lines, will be stronger, healthier and
therefore on a higher level mentally, mor
ally and physically than it now is or ever!
has been.
"The many medical congresses -now be-1
ing held and the discussions and the intern
change of views which these- give rise tq,
the eager study which the physicians are
giving to their profession, and the wide
general Interest taken in everything per
taining to health, are big factors' in the
progress of the present and the future
To these should be added the vast Infiu-j
ence of the modern press, which Is alwayiJ
ready to open Its columns for the spread
of such Information among the people.
of study; but this is optional and need
not be used at all If not desired. NeitheJ
is it Intended that this supplemental
work shall Increase the expense, as stu-
dents are not expected to purchase book.4
for supplemental reading, but secure!
them from the libraries.
In reference to the statement that thJ
course Is a "financial burden" upon the!
people of the state, he says It will nol
bear Investigation. The cost per studjl
each year is only about ?1.33, not includ
ing the supplemental' work, as that if
not required by the course The cost
is, therefore, no more than formerly. The
course includes only the commor
branches, and If some of the schools adri
more studies it is not on account of thtl
present course, but In spite of it. SuJ
perimenaent .Bragg says me scnoois o
Union County have been greatly imJ
proved under this course of study, anc
ho is strongly opposed to any serioutl
changes being made in it. as suggested
by the resolution passed by the Legislaj
ture. I
Would Be a Mistake to Change. I
T"k 9 MINNVILLE, Or., March 19. Mrj
1 I Miller's resolution seems to strike rl
popular strain. By all means cut out al
the nonessentials. But what are the non
essentials? Has any one found them? Th
list of studies required in the fourtl
grade is an Imposing one. Let us lool
at it Reading, writing, spelling, wrltter
arithmetic mental arithmetic language
physiology, nature study, drawing, phy
sical culture, and music.
Music is optional, and fortunate indee
Is the pupil who has a teacher that
te-ach him music, even though it crowtl
out a little arithmetic. Physical cultunj
as prescribed by the course of study iJ
simply a breathing and callsthenlc exerl
else which does not require more thatj
ten minutes a day. and promotes th-i
health of the pupils. Drawing Is optional!
l nave yet to nnd the teacher or parenj
who has enough hypnotic power to keeii
the small boy from drawing. If he will
draw, why should we not direct this natJ
ural tendency? All will agree that IanJ
guage Is one of the most essential studleJ
In the schools. Physiology In the fourt
grade Is very simple, but it teaches thi
eager pupil what he should not eat antl
drink, and some of the simple laws ol
health. This would seem to be the mosl
important study in the whole course, and
should be taught as soon as the pupil li
old enough to read and understand. 1
The rest of the studies, save naturd
study, Mr, Miller admits are essential!
Nature study is entirely oral. "Who wouI
keep the teacher from explaining nature';
works that are everywhere around thi
child? For my part I have found nothlnd
so delightful as the study of our nativ-J
birds. If the aim of the school is td
teach the child to think and to observe!
then nature study is Just as lmnortam
as mathematics. Surely things are iusl
a3 Important aa the relations betweeji
things.
The fact Is that we are not trying ti
teach more now with the course of stud
as it is than the well-informed teacher
taught without a course of study. Th4
course of study contains in more or lesi
detail what is required of the pupil. II
the reader of this article will write dot
In detail all the things that he Is golnd
to do tomorrow he will find that It Is ai
Imposing list and he will be apt to thinlj
he Is overworked. 1
I do not argue that the present coursl
of study Is perfect, but I do think It iJ
the best we have had. It Is making thi
schools of the state uniform, so that thi
family that moves from one district t
another Is not greatly inconvenienced. II
gives to every teacher and to every schoc
board a reasonable plan, for school wort
I am of the opinion, however, that a two!
book series in language and one book Is
geography would save expense and woulj
not decrease the efilclency o the wort
"Pupils have plenty of time for readlns
writing, arithmetic, spelling- and geos
raphy, and I am of the opinion that ouj
boys of today know more' about tbesl
subjects than their fathers did at thi
same age.
The health of the pupil Js the most lm
portant thing to be considered, and
know from observation that the averagl
pupil in grades below the seventh can dl
the work required by tho course of studj
and not study at all outside of school.
my opinion the Board of Education would
make a great mistake; If Jt should atl
tempt In any radical way to change, al
mis ume, me course or study.
L. R. ALDERMAN,
Principal Public Schools.
Ardnpp I wonder what my ancestor. Adar
said when he first met Eve? Dlsgby Are yoi
sure ne was an ancestor of yours? Ardupp
Certainly! Dlggby Then I guess about t!
first thing- he said to her was "Lend me "2."
uucago uaiiy j.ews.
Russian Jews to the number of 21,000 c&me t
js ew YorK aurttuc 1002.