The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1877-02-15
For the Advertiser.
COUNTY TEACHERS ASSOCl'
ALTON.


| .sus. Rov1e wsssA A. On tho ssGrOAt-
cet Good - the Greatest
Number.
Editor Of .idvertiser.. Recognizing
the fact, that "The institution Of the
present century is the newspaper,
we would beg leave to answer through
your columns an article which made
Its appearance in the ADVERTISER OF
Feb. 1st.
Our great want il light. We are
conscious, that through the article to
which we refer beam Of light has
pierced the gloom which has so long
lowered over our mental faculties and
obscure from our intellectual vision
the glories which lie beyond. But We
hope that through the influence of
this new light, Mr.. A." the mists
will soon have cleared away and We
shall see as we are seen. The COM
plant of our friend is, that the wrong
teachers are put forward in these As
sociations. Iwould ask what is the
custom in all assemblies? DO we
send inferior men to represent us in
our legislature Are not they the
sblest men Of our country: And why
send such men? The answer is so plain
even friend "A" cannot fail to see it.
The best should always represent us.
What is the impression that goes
with q man Of whom it is said, HE
graduated at Harvard or Yale?" Why
this impression: Simply this, man
cannot sit under the instruction of an
able teacher without being instructed,
unless ne pairs off, and gives his
time and attention to some subject,
which If not better adapted to his
mind is evidently more interesting
In regard to pairing off, we think but
little of that was done;on the contrary
the best of attention was given. Mr.. A
asserts, (and We do not deny 1T that,
1.-The teachers, whose names were on
the last programme, represent graded
schools" and he asks if they are
the class best qualified to offer advice
to those teaching country schhoolse'
Does he know that most, if not all the
teachers now teaching in graded
schools in Cedar county have taught
country schools and owe their present
position to their success in them?
We agree with Mr.. A in saying that
these same teachers would most glad
Y be freed from the task of bringing
these subjects before the Association.
But who will present them If they do
not: Occasionally one among the
number whom our friend thinks
should present these subjects, will
consent TO do so. However IA to this,
We only need to quote as an argument
Mr. As words on the subject Of Word
Analysis. 1T Is we'll known that
few teachers are willing to teach it in
schools. while not few say | can't
Is the teacher who IL unwilling.
which generally means unable TO
teach this subject in schools. able to
teach it before an Association? How
many of those to whom our friend re-
ferred in the above remark can he in
duced to take the subject of Word An
alysis or indeed any subject,
Another idea, which we do not I'M
lerstand how our friend Mr.. A could
1raw from the manner in which these
meetings have been conducted is,
that rs soon as the teacher treating
the subject is through, the subject is
dropped, and that process of drawing
out is omitted. Indeed, this IL some
times the ease. But whose fault is it
Simply the teachers whom our friend
thinks are not being benefited by
these meetings. After each, subject
has been presented, an opportunity
for questions, remarks and discussion
has always been given. If the teach
ers fail to embrace this privilege whe
is to blame? The same argument
used in defense of Word Analysis
will apply alike to school government
and all other subjects connected witt
school work. We do not claim thai
our Associations have been perfect
but we do claim that young teachers
have derived as much benefit from
the class Of teachers that have beer
teaching, as they possibly could from
q class not 10 well qualified to instruct
As we said before, we want light; an
no earnest, Jealous teacher ought t
place his 'under bushel" when it !
so much needed "a at the present time
We do not mean to be personal eithel
but we would like to see the exhaust
ing engine applied properly, and be
lieve "a" IL the man who knows no,
to teach us.
Class methods and lecture method
have been tried and the Associatio
will be delighted to receive the add
tional wisdom Mr.. A may be able
impart, and IL he will be kind enoug
to send in his name we will work di
igently to have it placed among tt
committee on programme for the ne,
| Association. J.
Feb. 18th 1877.