The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1859-12-31

the District of Columbia
Meeting of the state Teachers' Associa-
ton.
Our city has been inundated with School
teachers during the week, and all the talk,
in public and private, has been Schools |
and education. Even the Christmas trees |
and Christmas enjoyments have nearly |
been forgotten, in the midst of the many |
new and pleasant faces, and their appar-
ent earnest engagedness in the one great
work,-the proper training of the rising
generation, and the diffusion of knowl-
edge among the people.
The time fixed for the meeting of the
Association was 10 o'clock Tuesday A. NJ.
At the hour, about $50 teachers assembled
at Light Guard Hall, which had been en-
gagged for the use of the association. The
proceedings We're opened by prayer, by the
Rev. Dir. Wallace, of Monmouth College,
The Secretary not having ct arrived, Prof
b. NJ REYNOLDS, of Rock Island, was cho-
sen secretary pro tenn The President, w.
Ii. HASKELL, Esq, together with the Vice
the association being thus organized and
ready to proceed to business, BRoNsoN MUIR
RAY, Esq, appeared, and on behalf of the
citizens of Ottawa, rendered the members
of the association, hearty welcome, in a
very handsome speech. The President
then delivered the opening address We
regret that our space permits us to say no
more of it than that it was solid, plain,
practical talk replete with good sense and
earnest thought, and was listened to with
profound interest. The association then
adjourned for dinner, the committee of
| our citizens having their hands full for
while IN assigning the members TO their
places of temporary abode.
. o'clock p NJ Association again met,
with a considerable accession to its num-
bers. After some unimportant prelimina-
ry business, B. G. Roots, of Tamaroa, as
member of the committee on the Bible in
schools, read a report (Which however had
! not been examined by the whole commit
tee,) on that subject He took the ground
that the teacher should follow no fixed
rule in the matter, but to adapt his course
to the circumstances of the neighborhood
where he taught. The report elected an
interesting discussion, which terminated
ding the realizing of the Bible in the
schools without note or comment"
faint vote-about ID ayes and or noes.
In the evening the Association, with as
many Of our citizens IS were able to get
into the hall, heard splendid lecture on
Mind, by the Rev. Edward Beecher, OF
Galesburgh.
| Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock the
association re-assembled-now about 4OC
teachers present, fine, intelligent, vigor-
Gus looking company of both ladies and
gentlemen, a majority of them apparently
under thirty. Opened by prayer, and then
another delightful feature There is a
piano in the room, and choir organized
led by Mr.. Cady of Chicago and the asso
citation is greeted with delightful music
Now comes mass of miscellaneous bust
ton, and we took no notes. A report by
Mr.. Fitch, of Peoria, on reform schools Is
now called up, and elicits an interesting
discussion. The Chicago reform school is
) pretty roughly handled, and enough is
said TO show that there is room fer i'm
provement in government, system, and or
der in that quarter The matter is dispos
ed of by continuing the committee with
ins tructions to look further into the bust
ness, and tie association adjourned fol
dinner.
2o'clocls I'm. Prayer and more music
The Association listened to an instructive
essay by Rev. c. Foote, Of Jerseyville, on
. DISCIPLINE Mr.. Cutcheon, the School
Superintendent Of the city of Springfield
read an able paper, School Martyrs" a
lecture on education was delivered by Rev
l.. F. Waldo, of La Sale. A debateon the
subject of securing higher standard Of
qualification in teachers took place, called
up by the report Of the committee to whom
had been referred the matter, The Teach
ers Profession" The same was finally re
committed to a new committee
In the evening the session was occupied
by an address by the Rev. b. A. Wallace
of Monmouth College. 1t was a brillian
, production, and was listened to by a close
" packed audience. The Association thel
proceeded to consider the subject of locat
, ! ing its next meeting, which, after SOM
e pretty sharp reflections on the want of Ii
berality in the Rock Island Railroad in re
fllsing to the delegates the usual courtes
of half fare tickets, was left to committe
t to settle where they found the railroad
) more liberal.
At the conclusion of the evening exel
cises. Mr. Haskell, the President of tn
Convention, in very happy speech, re
: turned the thanks of the body 20 the goo'
E people of Ottawa, which was admirabl
well responded to by Mayor Avery. TIL
, teachers then gathered at the Gcige
t House, filling its parlors and halls to ovel
flowing Some oysters were eaten, mucl
mirth prevailed, very many good thing
were said, and the affair was delightful
t and memorable one throughout. TIL
, treat, we understand, was given at the eos
l of sundry book firms in Chicago
Thursday morning the first importan
e business was the election of new set o
: officers The following were recommend
. ed by committee on nomination, ant
unanimously elected:
; Presidsnt-J V " Standish Of Galesbura
, Wee residents-G G. Lyon, Rockford
, Vim. s. Wood, Dickson; +. OConner, l.
a Sale; " c. Calkins, PEORIA VIM NJ
. Baker, Quincy; B. r. Hawley. Rosamond