The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-02-15
Meeting of Teachers and School Officers
of CaSs County.

vention of Teachers and School Officers
of Cass County, was held at Cassapolis,
February 4th, 1862. The Convention
was called to order by Mr.. Trip, and
Mr.. Blackman chosen Chairman. On
taking the chair, Mr.. Blackman stated
the object of the Convention to be, to
gather some facts concerning the con-
dition of our public schools, to listen
to our State Superintendent of Public
Instruction, concerning some improved
methods of teaching in our primary
schools, to enlist more interest in the
cause of popular education, and lastly,
to see if there is sufficient interest in
this county in this enterprise, to warrant
our Superintendent in appointing one
of the Spring Institutes in our vicinity.
j. A. Banfeld was then chsen Secretary.
A few minutes were taken in which
the teachers and school officers of the
county present were requested to regis
ter their names. During this time, the
following names were enrolled:
| OFFICERS. f1f
E. B. Sherman, Moderator, District
No. l, Lagrange.
| H. r. Schutt, Director, Dist. No. 3,
Jefferson.
| Samuel Patrick, Assessor, Dist. No.
| Z, Jefferson. ~
Justus Gage, Director, Dist. No. I,
Silver Greek. se
G. S. Wilbur, Trustee, Dist. No. Z,
Silver Greek.
Lagrange, Dist No. 1.-R. II. Trip,
Miss Shurter, Miss Sears.
| Laqranoe, Dist. No. 4.-H. g. Banks,
| Wm l.. .Iakeway.
Sacer Creek, Dist. No. u. A.
Banfeld, Minnie Spencer, Susan M.
Cox, Jennie Fyfe, Emily Diefendorf,
Martha Colby.
Jefferson, Dist. No. "A. G. Car
michael.
Jefferson, Dist No. CD. w. Hurd.
While the names were being registered
Mr.. Gregory addressed the convention
on the importance of collecting facts
relating to the working of our schools.
Had sometimes seen intense interest
produced in county conventions by the
simple statement of few facts.
Mr.. Blackman addressed the convex
ton briefly on the faults of schools
which he had observed while visiting
them as Inspector. Principal among
these he considered non and Irregular
ity of attendance; also complained
of lack of uniformity of text books,
and American works in our District
Libraries. -
Mr.. Gage responded to call, in a
few practical thoughts, on the origin
and end of the faults complained of by
Mr.. Blackman. Thought they were
caused by a lack of appreciation of the
privileges that We enjoy on the part OF
parents. In proof of this he referred
to the well known fact, the shadow OF
! parents hardly ever darken school
house doors, by asking and empbati-
cally repeating the question: How
often have you, parents, been into your
schhol this winter? Not often, he be-
lieved would be the true answer.
] The Secretary then stated some facts
in regard to the working of the
lDowagiac Graded School, and was
followed by Mr.. Trip with similar
report of the Cassapolis Union School.
Mr.. Schutt made remarks upon the
correction of the faults mentioned by
| Messrs. BIackman and Gage.
4, Mr.. Gregory, State Superintendent
of Public gInstrustion, then addressed
the convention upon the topics suggested
by the remarks made by the gentlemen
which had proceeded him. In regard
to the cause OF the evils mentioned, he
considered it to be a false public opi,a-
ION, which is, in turn, the offspring OF
a false public sentiment. This false
public opinion is, that the parent oacns
his child, and has q right to send it to
school when, as long as, and no longer
than he pleases. Hence, parents OBJ
jections to enforcing rules for prompt
and regular attendance. Now we can
never accomplish what we ought to
accomplish, what we can see and al
most reach, until we throw away the
notion that the parent osons his child
and acknowledge that the child himself
does and ought to own the intellect thai
God has given him; that so far from
the parents owning the child, he is laid
under obligation by the very relation
which he sustains to his offspring te
educate it to the extent of his ability
and that since society lays claims upor
the child at twenty-one years of age
it ought, if need be, to aid in the fitting
l.