Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1877-12-06

| The Eastern Ohio Teachers Association il
an organization composed chiefly of the Su-
perintendents and Teachers Of graded schools
| in Jefferson, Belmont and Guernsey counties
The object of the Association is, of course
largely to improve its members in graded
school work. In 1876 the Association held
its aunnal meeting in Steubenville. At the
urgent request of Prof. Duff, it was there
determined to hold the next meeting at Bell
sire. Accordingly there assembled at Bell
aire on last Friday morning as large number
of distinguished teachers as that city had &C
commodated for many years. Not only
were the Eastern Ohio Superintendents and
Teachers there in full feather, but We noticed
the genial faces Of some of West Virginia's
best teachers, among whom were ProfA Mertz
and Bundy, of Wheeling, and Crags, Of
Mountisville
Al 10 o'clock the Association was called to
order by Prof. Pratt, Of Bridgeport, and
Supt. Shreve, of Martins Ferry, was elected
Permanent President
The opening address was delivered by Prof.
Duff, who took as his theme, .The Teachers
Opportunity and its Corresponding Obliga-
tions." The Professor believes that the teach
er's obligation are of the greatest responsible
ty, and calls upon those who are unwilling
TO assume them to ''step down and out" Hs
urged that teachers make their power felt
outside Of the school room, as means Of
accomplishing the greatest good within. He
believes in applying the rule of common sense
to school affairs, and claims that whatever
would be justified in prosperous, energetic
merchant in the way of securing and enlarg-
ing his trade, may be expected Of the teacher.
Prof. Pratt then took the stand and ad-
dressed the Association in q most acceptable
manner on the ''Qualifications which should
be possessed by Teachers" Some of the
Professors applications were exceedingly
suitable, and called out remarks Of approbs'
ton fron the audience. At the close of h o
address. Ahe Association took a recess until
I:30 r. ".
Upon re assembling in the afternoon, Miss
Margaret w. Sutherland, OF the Steubenyillei
High School, read highly interesting paper
on .'The Cultivation Of the Memory" Miss
Sutherland has perhaps no superiors as q
tescher in Eastern Ohi6, and hsE psper was
to be just what it was-R magnif- |
cent intellectual treat The Association hon !
ored itself and Miss Sutherland by requestings
a copy of for publication in the Ohio Eduea-
tonal Monthly.
Prof. J. NJ. Yarnell read a paper upon the |
''Examination Test" which was we'll re-
ceived, and which exhibited great care in its
The prevailing drift of the dis
cusson on this paper, showed that the1
teachers believe in WRITTEN examinations.
Miss Harriet L, Keeler, Superin' endent Of
Primary instruction ia the Cleveland Schools, |
WAS expected in the morning, but did not
make her appearance untI the arrival OF the
6 p. N. train. At 7:3o she began her address
on the "Public School," which was listened
to wit profound attention from first to last.
She addressed herself to a. comparison Of
school work of the past With that Of the
present, showing clearly that the common
wall OF The dcgenerscy of school work is ut
terly fallacious.. She drew some beautiful
pictures Of what the teacher should be, and
pointed out some of the means to that end. |
The teachers present regarded it great mis-
fortunethat the Boards Of Education of East
ern Ohio were not present to hear some of the
means suggested. One of the primary means
was good salariss. The great cry of /
the large salaries paid to supsrintendents re-
ceived her compliments, and the fact that 0
flrst class Superintendent, managing from
1900 to 1000 children, receives about the same
ss is paid to ordinary statesmen and book
keepers, was brought into uncomfortable
view.
On Saturday morning Miss Keeler began to I
discuss the work of Primary Instruction, and
devoted the irst half Of her one hour and
thirty minutes to an exempiiication of meth.
IDS OF teaching arithmetic to beginners. The
asst half was devoted to q talk concerning the /
training of children in correct habits oil
thought, morals, etc.
At the conclusion of her remarks Hon. J.
] Burns began to address the Association
On the subject of Mathematics. The address
was in Prof. Burns best vein, and called out
repeated expressions of applause. The noon
hour having arrived with the conclusion of
he Commissioners address, the Association
until 1:30, at which time Prof. NJ.
Z. Andrews read a paper on 'sPhe TFus Place
II High School in Q System of Schools"
hr. Andrews has given the subject close at.
ention, and was therefore fully qualified to
discuss it in an able and interesting manner
The discussion which followed, and which was /
in by nearly all the Superinten.
tents present, including Profs. Bundy and
Mertz, of Wheeling, and Crsgo, of Mounds
rille, showed that the High School question
8 one of the most vital school questions Of
he day. 1
The organization for next year is as follows:
President, Hon Burns; Sec'y, Miss Mar.
yaret W Sutherland; Treasurer, Prof McBur.
hey, of Cambridge.
At p. NJ. the Association adjourned, after
having spent one Of the most profitable ses.
lions since its organization.