River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-10-30
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E.s. BAKER,A. II. Editor.
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TEACHERS ASSOCIATION, HELD
AT SPRING VALLEY OCT. as.

and comfort.
Miss Lottie Francisco was excused
at her own request from presenting
her topic, geography. The subject
was however taken up and discussed
by the association and the method of
beginning with the teachers desk,
cardinal points, measurements. ar
rangement of articles upon it,etc., and
always the Vhy. Then widen the sub
ject on the same general principles to
school house, school ground, district,
town, county, etc., was the plan gen.
orally approved.
Mr.. F. L. Barney gave his ideas ON
Hygiene. Recommended cleanliness
and the moistening of the air of the
room by dish of water on the stove.
Ventilation was freely discussed.
Adjourned for dinner.
NJ. L. Maxgood read an essay on
Grading Schools. The matter was
discussed at length by the association.
Pupils should be seated by grades, tax
ing the reading classes as the basis of
grading, and the aim should be that
those in the same readers should have
the same studies, and be brought, as
soon as possible. to the same attain.
ments in each study, that they may
recite in the same class and SO reduce
the number of classes, giving the
teacher more time to devote to each
class.
Mr.. Martin presented the subject of
Physical Geography. The speaker
proposed that some physical geography
be taught collaterally with political
geography, and where the pupil had
completed Swinton's Complete Geog.
raphy, then physical Geography should
be taught topically; taking for in
stance the atmosphere and exhausting
that topic before leaving it for anoth-
er. He would give the "why" great
prominence. By Mr.. McCleary it was
brought out that single question as
"Why is the Desert of Sahara!" would
develop series # topics for discus
sion, requiring perhaps all of one term
to arrive at the answer. Plans for
making Mathematical Geography easy
for the scholars to comprehend were
mentioned by J. T. McCleary and 9TH
ers.
Querist--What effect does diffusing
moisture through the air of the school
room have on pupils bodies?" The
Supt. and Mr.. McCleary answered
that the effect was good. Critics re-
port. The following resolutions were
adopted:
RESOLVED, That we tender our thanks to
those teachers from distance from whom
we have received cid.
RESOLVED, That we, as teachers, regard
the teachers association as q valuable aid in
disseminating knowledge and request the
Superintendent to meet with us as often rs
practicable.
RESOLVED, That school boards and patrons
are equally interested with teachers and we
cordially invite them to meet with us in the
future.
ArTaEDANcz.
H. s. Baker, John Martin, Julia Akers, W.
4. Akers, e. G. Mcintyre, Sylvenus Brown.
Henry Maxgood, Charles Adams, Lottie Fran
cisco. Minnie Adams, Mrs. Brown, J. T.
McCleary, Amy Moore, Rda Asxgood. Katie
Bonnie Thompson, M. L. Maxgood, Anna
UpmAn, Mrs. Jenison.
I'll. S. BAKER, Pres.
M. L. MAxGooD, Sec.
FRIEND BAKER:-With your permits
sion should like to make comment
or two on an article contained in your
Educational Column of Oct 10th,
where you say, 1.-The pruning process
by raising the standard and making
the questions more severe, must now
cease or the supply of teachers will
not meet the demand"
Begging pardon if too freely l speak.
| / must say that it does not seem to me
to be proper for our educational
standard to be lowered in the least.
but rather that it should be the aim Of
all TO raise ii higher. Abroad we
have an enviable reputation for ex-
cellent teachers, both as regards schol-
arship and practical results; also we
have the State Normal school here
which must greatly aid the scholarly
attachments of our teachers.
But here is what l conceive to be
the cause of the desertion from the
teachers ranks in Pierce county of its
Oldest and best qualified teachers:
Other professions offer them mach
better pecuniary inducements. with
steady employment, while the pay OF
teachers has, the last year, been re-
duced to nearly nothing.
Is it reasonable to expect person
to spend several years time and mon
ey in fitting himself for the arduous
duties of teacher, and then to ask
him to teach winter school for S25
or $50 per month"; again say, will
any sane man expect such a sacrifice
of any one who has the ability to
teachl
Where is, the doctor or lawyer Of
whom such a thing is asked! Yet
they have employment the year around
while the teacher has only eight or
I
ten months work at teaching out of
the twelve. tell You as friend that
this must change or the educational
ranks of Pierce county will be depriv-
ed of their brightest stars in a very
few wears and the other professional
ranks will be the gamers. Teachers
are human and cannot live on air, and
as to honors, it is very seldom that
their efforts to do their duty are even
appreciated. ALPHA.
/ THERE were two at the River Falls