The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1862-03-19
WHOLE NO. 2S3.
For the North Iowa Times
Clayton County Teachers Association.

For the North Iowa Times.
Clayton County Teachers Associat ton
FRIDAY, Feb. 2sth, 1862.
The Clayton County Teachers Associa
ton met pursuant to adjournment at th'
Windsor School House, Farmersburg, at
o'clock, P. NJ. The President, Rev. j. r
Upton being absent, II. Emery was appoint
ed President pro tenn.
Minutes Of the last meeting, were reat
and approved.
E. B. Wakeman, and j. Everal were ap
pointed to draw up programme Of exer
cises. The committee reported the follow
ing:
1st.-Praycr. 2d-Singing. 3d-Ad
dress by j. Everall. 4th- Singing. 9Th
Essay by R. Crawford. 6th-Singing.
Some very appropriate remarks were ther
made by II. Emery, County Superintendent
He said that he was very much opposed te
changing teachers so often. 1t was the Gus
tom in nearly all of eur schools, to get {
new teacher every time. A man woult
come along with patch on his back, and
hire to teach three months. 1t would take
him one month to get started, costing thu
District some twenty-five dollars. III
thought this very poor policy.
Mr.. Watkins made few remarks, after
which, we were favored with some very
fine singing led by Mr. Knight, Esq E
b. Wakcman was called for. He referred
to the resolution made by Commodore
Foote, when he took Fort Henry. In de-
liverng his sword to the Commodore, Gen
Tilghman said, 81 am glad am to surren
der to so brave a man." General" sale
the Commodore, 81 had made up my mind
to take your Fort or to 60 to the bottom.
lie said this was noble resolution, and he
believed we would hear great things from
such man. He applied this to teachers
He said we must enter the schoolroom with
firm determination to accomplish some
thing, whether difficulties may be encoun
tered. He said, if We wanted good schools
we must stay more than one term in Q
place. 1t was impossible for teacher tc
to bring school under good discipline ir
one or two months; it could only be &C
complished by gradual process A teach
er has someting more than to do, he must
study the character of scholars. Each one
has different disposition, and must receive
different treatment. The Association ad
journed to meet at 9 O'Clock in the morn
ing.
SATURDAY MORNING,
Met at the appointed hour. Meeting was
called to order by the President. E. B
Wakeman was called upon to report the
Constitution as revised. Report accepted
The Constitution was adopted. Recess O
ten rinutes.
E. P. Hall and H. G.. McMastcrs wer,
appointed to select speakers for the mex
meeting. j. Everall and r. Crawford wer,
appointed to draw up programme for tn,
next meeting, to be held at Elkader. The
following was reported
1st.-Prayer. 2d.-Singng. 3d.-Read
ing minutes of previous meeting. 4th-
Address, by E. B. Wakeman, McGregor
5th.-Singing. 6th-Essay, by Miss Nc
Aloin, Windsor. 7th.-Discussion. Sub
ject, School government.
Some remarks were then make by S
Wakeman. He spoke Of two prominen,
faults in the present system cf teaching
Fist. scholars are not taught to think -
Second, they do not form habits of atten
ton. Mr.. Hall related his experience in
teaching. Not one of his patrons had Wis
| tied his school this term. He said mer.
chant would not employ clerk without
| overseeing him, but teachers were hired
generally, with no one to look after them
About one million of dollars were paid an.
nually in Iowa for the support of schools
lie thought this money was not properly
expended.
AS the patrons of Windsor school were
present, an invitation was extended to them
to make some remarks. George Wakeman
said, that he rejoiced to see the change that
had taken place in our schools, since he
was schoolboy. He did not dare to as X
his teachers questions for fear of bcin 8
knocked down. He remembered reading
the sentence, ''the wicked flee when nc
man pursueth," and he wanted to know
what that wicked flea meant, said all the
answer he got was, "go to your seat or I'll
fog you." Mr.. Tuttle stated that the Di.
rector in his District said to teacher,
whom he lad hired, ''you furnish whips
and I'll furnish backs" implying that he
had hired him to whip, and not to teach.
Mr.. McMaster's was next called for. He
said he had suspended some scholars from
school, but did not believe in whipping
Mr.. Emery made some remarks to the
younger portion of the audience. He said,
boys what would you do if you should
lose one of your limbs, without having Sc
cured an education He advised them to
store their minds with useful knowledge,
they would have something better than a
fortune. Mr. Knight was then called upon
to speak, and in very happy manner, he
turned it into a musical stl ain, assisted by
the Misses Burnham, McMasters, Sitter,
and others, which called forth vote of
thanks. After having returned vote of
thanks to the people of Windsor for their
hospitality, the Association adjourned to
meet at Elkader on the institute week at
7 o'clock p IN. and after enjoying a socia-
BILE chat, we bid each other adieu, feeling
that We had received a new impulse and
were ready to 60 to our respective fields,
to labor on with renewed energy in the
great and noble work of training the rising
generation for usefulness.
f. B. WAKExAN, Sec'y.
Now AND TUEN-A friend has handed