Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-29
state in annual convention assembled, re-
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obdtO III dANuSti SOANOAOAOAA oSoO oAS.SOs ~
turn your cordial greeting. Slgned.]
To President Massachusetts, Teachers
Association, Boston, Mass: Four hundred
teachers of the North Star state in annual
assembled, extend cordial
greeting to their co-laborers in Massachr--
setts. Signed.
To President Michigan Teachers Asso-
citation, Lansing, Mich: The educators of
Minnesota in annual convention assem-
bled, join hands with you in your work.
IRWIN SHEPARD, President,
A. M. WELLEs, Secretary.
ADDRESS BY PROF. WEST.
Prof. W. NJ. West. superintendent of the
schools of Duluth, read paper on the
Current criticisms upon the public
schools The speaker first allnded to
Charles Francis Adams recent fusilade
upon the devoted bodies of the pedagogues;
reference was had to the contemplate ar
ticJes of the Boston Herald and caution
in recent number of the New York Graph
&c, in which the process of intellectual
examining was illustrated.
Much of the work, the speaker confessed,
was of surface character, the tendency to
make a show took precedence of all else.
He thought however, that those engaged in
teaching had no occasion to lose heart.
He thought that technicalities should be
dispensed with as much as possible, a close
sympathetic supervision was wanted, not
military rule strictly depending on ex-
aminations as the upshot. It was easier to
work questions on technicalities than on
principals.
The question was one of ratio between
means and ENDS. Proceeding, the speaker
refuted the assertions of false and un-
sound criticisms directed against the
school system, inviting at the same time
all fair and impartial investigation, as
this he stated, was the only way to create
healthy growth of the system, and the
system carried within itself the
seeds of vital life and growth,
The charge that the schools did not fulfill
their mission in moral training was then
adverted to. This, he said, was partially
constitutional; some thought the schools
should provide the pupils with character,
just as others supposed the schools should
supply the brains when the intellectual
timber was wanting. Mere intellectual
training could only aggravate the moral
ulcers of society, monopolies and COM
munism. The schools should teach the
principles of morality and right; they
should teach the nobility of faithful labor;
the schools should inculcate love for hon
est labor; they must awaken true ambi-
ton, yet teach the final indifference to
mere circumstance. An earnest and able
plea was made by the speaker for higher
standard of morality in the public schools.
The urgent necessity was teachers of a
higher mental and moral order, fitted to
develop the powers and train the character
of the pupil.
On motion, greetings were derected sent
to all other similar associations in session
this week.
The subject of the last paper was then
discussed. Superintendent Rowe, of
Washington, was the first speaker; he
spoke forcibly of the necessity of greater
moral impetus in the public schools.
Prof. Allen followed with pertinent re-
marks on the tendency to cavil and find
fault with the common school system; the
speaker thought that the school system
was steadily improving; he believed there
were many who were imbued with the
spirit of the cause and less for mere pay
the times were suspicious of great improve
ment in tie future; grand principles were
at the foundation of the system and with
earnest effort it must succeed.
The chair appointed Profs. Gray and
Tombs and Supt. Brady, as a committee
on programme.
Prof. Donovan was the next speaker; he
| thought that there was as much work to be
done in the hearts and homes of the pu-
pills as by the use of the text books.
Prof Alling, of Albert Lea, spoke of the
question of moral training in the public
schools; the speaker thought that mental
and moral growth were strictly allied; he
believed there was moral weight in syllo-
gism; in proportion to the mental growth
and expansion the moral fibre would be
strengthened. The moral qualities of the
pupil depended upon the character and
moral influence of the teacher.
GYMNASTICS.
At this iuncture the audience were in
vited to witness the gymnastic exercises of
a class of pupils from the jackson school,
of st. Paul, under the direction of Mrs.
Deakin. The exhibition consisted of
dumb bell exercises by class of about
twenty-five neatly uniformed boys and
girls. They went through the motions
with military precision, the motions be-
ing made to the. prompt time of piano
accompaniment.
The children showed fine training, and
the exhibition was most creditable, form
ing the most charminga feature of the ses-
sion. Upon the conclusion Of the exer-
cises they executed a military charade,
giving the movements very gracefully.
The exercises were greeted with great a p
plause, and vote of thanks was awarded
Mrs, Deakiu and the class
On motion of Superintendent Whitman
it was decided that no person should
speak more than once, or longer than five
minutes on any one subject.
Prof. Buell. then addressed the meeting,
his idea being that any true system of edu-
cation must embrace a development OF the
moral, physical and intellectual powers
alike.
The president ann )uns ed that Prof.
Holmes, who was to have lsctured en-
drawing, had not arrived, and that Prof
Ormond, also on the programme, was de-
tanned by sickness.
Supts. Riley and Buell. wers appointed
to assist the secretary.
|. An animated discussion took place
bearing on the appointment of a commit
tee to examine and report on the exhibit,
the display, receiving the favorable COM
ments of Supt. Kiehle and others.
resolution was passed appointing a