DEXTER FUND Educational Foundations VOL. XIII. JANUARY, 1902. No. 5 S Editorial Notes. 66 CHOOL management, or discipline, as it is sometimes called, is one of the great problems of the serious teacher. In its narrowest sense, management" refers only to the externals of school work, and is limited to supplying the conditions necessary to the carrying on of education. That is why we hear it said that the disciplinary efforts of the teacher ought to be felt less and less as the education of a child proceeds. The confusion of terms that is responsible for statements of this kind is due largely to a lack of professional standards of preparation among teachers. The government of children is thus confounded with discipline. It is the governing interference of the teacher that ought to decline with the development of the moral nature of the child. School government is something less than school management, and is included in the latter term. The essentials of school management for which the teacher is responsible are very helpfully presented by Principal Calkin in these pages. There had to be limitation of some kind to bring the large subject within the scope of the course of study outlined for the present year. At some time in the future the subjects of school hygiene and educational organization, and other topics belonging under the head of school management will receive special attention. The reason for introducing the interesting historical article by Dr. Yocum on Andrew Bell and the Madras System of Education will be evident to the reader. It is in the main a description of a system of school management that at one time attracted world-wide attention, and thru Lancaster, and modified by his own views, exerted considerable influence in some sections of America before the popular recognition of the need of normal schools. A critical treatment of Bell's experiment gives additional support to the importance of never allowing anyone but trained teachers, or experts, in other words, to be entrusted with the responsibilities of school management. The department of "Studies of Great Pictures "has become very popular. The course as conducted by Mr. Coburn will give to readers a fair insight into the essentials of art study. Whenever possible, copies of the paintings receiving particular attention in a number, will be supplied to subscribers without extra cost. If the interest in this feature warrants it, the course will be so arranged as to cover all departments of the fine arts. The department of "History and Social Economics" continues to increase in scope, helpfulness, and interest as the months go on. Many delicate questions and points of fierce controversy have had to be handled, and new difficulties of this nature are constantly arising. But Superintendent Chancellor has had the courage of his views fortified by years of serious historical study. His answer to the friends who found fault with his attitude toward the causes of the Civil war is printed in this number. The editor invites readers of EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS to let him have the benefit of their suggestions regarding the improvement of this magazine in point of usefulness and serviceableness as a guide to students of education. |