The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-31
TILE WORK OF EDUCATORS.
Discussing the Duties and the Methods
of the School Teacher.
The Proceedings of the State Teachers Asso-
citation esterday-ANu Of interest
. ing Papers on Educational Topics.
MORNING SESSION.

,State superintendent Holcombe's Address
aud Other Papers of Interest.
The attendance at the morning session OF the
State Teachers Association yesterday was
largely increased, the seating capacity OF Fly
mouth Church being pretty we'll crowded. The
gathering is largely Of social nature, as 1t
affords the teachers an opportunity to renew
acquaintance and during the day the corridors
of the church were filed with members Of the
association INDUCING in social chats The at
tendance numbers between four and five hun
: dred teachers
At the opening of the morning session, Mrs.
Annie f. III. Lenem, of Spencer, and Samuel
Lilly, of Gosport, were appointed secretaries of
sthe meeting, and S. S. Parr of Greencastle; D.
N Nelson, of Rensselaer, Elias Boltz, of Misha-
waka, ard Mrs Matte G. Dennis. Of Richmond.
= were selected as members Of the committee on
resolutions. The principal feature of the morn
ing session was the paper of John W. Holcombe,
the Superintendent of Public Instruction. on
''The Social Influence of the Teacher" The
amount and kind of influence any individual
win exert, he said, depends on his own character
and attainments, and knowing the character
and Attachments of the teachers in the mass, it
may be possible to form some idea Of their col
7ective influence. We find the teachers divided
INTO two distinct classes, unequal in numbers
and capable of every different kind of influence.
III The professional teachers. few IN numbers.
possessing experience, special preparation, and
usually decided bent aptitude for their
work (2) ThA non-professional, the great ma
.jorty, withent experience or preparation; gen
orally Young; looking for instruction and
guidance to tao members of the former class.
They are of tho people and from the people, and
after a,few years returning to the people, they
carry through all trades and occupations the
views, and sentiments and spirit of the common
school teacher. A moderate estimate would
show that in addition to the 13 900 school teach-
ers employed in this State there are 80. coo per-
sons who have taught from one to three years in
the common schools. If the combined influence
-of all these could be organized and devoted to
noble ends, what a mighty force we would have
constantly working for the improvement and
as people is high and may be infinitely higher,
when, as some writer has predicted education
shall supersede politics. Our morality both in
theory and practice is higher than the Greek.
aesthetic training, and it is fit question
for discussion in all meetings of profess
sional teachers. how their non-profes-
sional brothers and sisters may, during
corporated in our great guild that they may ever
after feel their membership reality, with all the
obligations it imposes, the constant pursuit for
themselves of the noble Qualities and attain
mentS which we recognize as culture, and the
perpetual dissemination of these through the
. community. Thereby this people may be greatly
aided toward the attainment of such intellectual
possessions and refinement of taste as may make
their life ever more gracious and lovely, and such
pllilosophic calm such self-containment and re-
pose of spirit AS to make each one content with
whatever destiny he may be able to achieve for
himself by the exercise of his highest powers.
''The Truancy Problem was the subject of an
interesting paper read by Mrs. Matte Curt Den
MIS- of Richmond. There were two ideas, she
said, that must enter into all systems of teach
ing--one is, of course, the acquisition of knowl-
edge, and the other, far more important, is the
higher culture which is developed into character.
j. 1t would seem that every effort had been put
forth to broaden, improve and enlarge the mis-
sion of the public schools, but it still true
that much more attention was paid to the devel-
>opment of the mental than the moral nature of
children. It is also true that the public schools
do not receive the hearty cooperation of more
than one half of their patrons, and this was the
cause Of much difficulty The superintendent of
the Chicago schools recently wrote that they
considered truaney the result of Original
sin on the boy and lack Of interest on the
teacher" But the speaker thought that the orig
inal sin might exist somewhere else. If childs
antcipations were realized, and his interest re-
/, tanned at the school, he would be seldom guilty
OF truancy IL teacher could succeed in max
a iBg the school-rnom the best place, in a boys
opinion, all would be well; and if he could not
keep the boy in school by kindness, he could not
keep him there in any other way. Judicious
praise has saved many boy, while continued
censuro has ruined many another The super
. intendent of the school and the parent OF guard
ian should be promptly notified of any case of
truaEcy, If the boy retufeSk TO school, treat him
so as to keep him there. Think of something
that will be sure to interest him, but do not re-
fer at once to his misdemeanor. Wait till you
win him, and then you can discuss anything
with him. There are so many avenues to boys
heart that it is pity that it cannot be- reached
in some way No amount of supervision can take
the place of the personal influence of the teacher
Teachers could frequently be won by earnestness
and love, and true tact for teaching. We must
be exceedingly careful not to spoil two hoys
trying to save one. All school discipline should
BE in the nature of reformation. 1t is being
urged now by very high authority that all incor-
rigble cases of truancy should be sent to a
reform school. But such system is of doubt
full benefit think we sometimes give too
much attention to method and government, and
too little to what we teach. | believe the time
is coming when school children shall be taught
not only that which instructs them, but that
which also interests them. Give the children,
adapted tot their mental and moral natures some
thing that they are pleased with, and all will
be we'll. 1t will not do for the teacher to punish
the truant--that belongs to the parent or guard
ian. The superintendent and parent should
consult over each case Let the truant come to
school when he WILL go long as he does not in
terfere with the discipline of the school, and
Wren he does. send him away at once.
The discussion of the paper was opened by E.
1t. Butler, superintendent of the Winchester
schools, who said that there were two forces at
work IN the heart OF the child-one of evil and
one of good-and the future Of the child depends
:, upon which is victorious. The relation between
the family and the school contributed largely to
the formation of a chila's character.
'"Phe truancy must be cured said Mr.. Wilev
of Terre Haute, in the public schools because
therA could be no waiting ON the adncatian of tha