THE TEACHER

Evening Star, Issue 12865, 14 July 1906, Page 2

THE TEACHER

AS A CREATIVE AGENT.

Under this heading Dr Truby King lectured to a gathering of school teachers in the Masonic Hall last night, as a wind-up to the session of the Otago Educational Institute. To say that Dr King is an enthusiast is like sayuig that water is wet— Dr King is enthusiasm. Last night, without the aid of so much as a pencil not© on his shirt-cuff, he spoke for, close on three hours on a subject so full of delicate subtleties and so vast in its 6cope that at the end one felt'that one had just begun to scratch at the edge of it. The lecture held the attention of the listener so that he forgot about time, but the quality of it was such that the effort of comprehension told 5 and so Dr King apologised for talking so long, and then, with characteristic whole-heartedness, added that he was not particular about time, and that if any were still anxious to hear more he would be delighted to go on talking to them when the tired ones had gone. The lecture was one of snch glowing interest and grave import that it would bo unfair both to public and lecturer to attempt to make a sketch of it in the short space and time available to-day; therefore we reserve our actual report of it. Meantime, by way of indicating the drift of the matter, we may say that Dr King showed by diagram and explanation the growth and functions of the human brain cells; indicated their susceptibility to all manner of influences, emphasised their transcendent dejicacy; pointed out some of the zoads that lead to. detraction, insanity, and death; and made a great appeal "to reason and common sense. In the heat of his enthusiasm Dr King says strong things that, looked at with the breadth of his own view, are just, though, considered in isolation, and out of relation to their proper context, may eerm 6trained and unreasonable. Therefore we shall say no more about him just now. > Dr King was heartily thanked for" his lecture, and it was also resolved—" fhat the Committee of Management of the Otago Educational Institute be asked to consider the advisability of setting up a joint committee consisting of three representatives of the Institute, three members of the Dunodin and Suburban Scuu~. Committees' Association, and three members of the Otago Education Board, such committee to meet at certain periods to discuss u» problems brought Dr King."