Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-01-08
EDUCATION.
subjects Discussed by the wIsconsin
state Teachers Convention.

Wisconsin State Teachers Association
opened its regular winter session in
Madison, MONDAY evening, Dec. ~ with
am address by Hon. Louis A Proctor,
member OF the State Board Of Super
yis0rs, on "Work at Che State tndus-
trial School for BoysN After q general
survey Of the suhjecto Of reformatory
work, Mr. Proctor proceeded Go give a
history of the Industrial School at
Waukesba, = description of the system
as at present established there, and an
exposition of ideals hello in view in
dealing with the boys committed 20 the
institution At the close OF the address
in response 10 questions sy W. H.
Chandler and w. r. Anderson further
information concerning the character
ana condition of the boys at the time
OF entering the school was given by Mr.,
Proctor and by G III Reed, former
teacher there. The fact was developed
that about third Of them are entire
ly illiterate, fully one half nearly SO,
the great majority Of them from the
large cities, and most of them actual
Migrants Albert Hardy cor tirmed some
OF the statements OF the address. Mr.,
Chandler said that according to his OBJ
servatiou, the parents are MS "a rule weak
rather than wicked. a vote 81 thanks
was rendered Mr. Proctor and then
followed an informal reception in which
many OF the teachers participated
Tuesday m0fulng. the 10 sid nt of the
assoc, alton, r w Burton. shade few
pleasant remarks suggested ey the asst
mgeriug OF the National Assoc alton.
complmenting the teachers of Wscon-
sin on the hospitality displayed at that
time, and urging them 60 keep alive the
inspiration then received and make it
fruitful of greater and better results ia
their work Gucius Heritage OF tina
state university, made some remarks
respecting the Study OF Latin empha7iz-
ing the necessity OF more thoroue lilly
memorlzng paradigms and expressing
serious doubts as to the utility OF recent
innovations in the teaching cf the LAM
guage, including the so.ca led "Natuyal
M thcd He insisted that the way IN
which ii child picksup an acquaintance
with his vernacu,ar tongue is not nee
essarlly the lest way for the acquisition
OF q new language by "a mature mind.
The discussion was continued by w. G..
Sawyer and a. r. Sprague, the latter
Directing particularly to the Criticisms
on the naural method
STATE Superintendent Graham preeeut-
ed a committee report on "Athor Day, "
recommending chat Gov Ruslt be re-
quested TO designate an Arbor Day for
the spring OF 1885 and that q committee
be appointed 10y the Association TO pre-
pare "a simple tasteful plan for the ar.
rangements OF trees aud shrubs, to be
prepared IN diagram for distribution "a
county uperiutendents. R3mark8 IN
endorsement of the report were made by
A. r. Spraeue and Wm. Johes. The
latter referred 10 the inadequate size Of
most school grounds and the educatiye
ieiluence which can be expected from
the movement IN resisting tbe narrow
" utiitariau tendency of che times. w.
j. Desmond called attention To what
has been done m replacing forest trees
ia Southern France, tho obstacles en-
countered there aud the eNpgdienta
employed 20 overcone the preJuaicea oi
the peasants. He would Ike % see the
work undertaken by the National Gov
eminent The discus ion was c0ntiuu-
ed by J. L. Emery and w. I'll. Chandler.
The latter cautioned The Association
against "hitiag of more than it could
chew" lie would have it's efforts
strictly concerning the schools, instead
OF attempting to 90 out INTO wider
field. He would not haze the general
work of discus sing or attempting the
reloreating 81 the country At large as
sumed by the Association. j. w
Slearns called attention 10 she danger
of having too much shade in the viciui-
~ of the school house. lis first re.
cOmmendation Of the report was adopt
ca by the Association. Aftsr a long
general discussion, the further con-
sideration Of the report WIS postponed
until Wednesday morning.
report On Supplementary Read
ing" was presented by III. u. Maxsou,
chairman Of the committee After
briefly discussing the purposes Supple
meutary Reading and the methods cra-
ploytd in its use, ii was recommended
that committee be appointed ~ the
Association 10 prepare a grtded lit of
books ana papers d-eful for the purpose,
and That the subject be- urged as !, spoc-
iai topic for discussion az teachers' in
sttutes and other appropriate occasions.
The report was discussed 10y L. y. Har-
vey and L. r Saith, and fursher com
sideretion Of the subject postponed uu-
til the afternoon session.
According to O special order, the AS
ISOLATION proceeded 10 The election Of
delegate 70 represent il ut ihe next
meeting Of tho National Association,
and A j Hutton was chosen
The afternoon session was opened
with an address on The New Educa.
ton by II. II. Be6eld, Of Chicago,
which IN the senco Of it's author was
read By w. u. Parker.
The report Of the committee on
Reading IN th Schools" was presented
by w u Anderson. g. II Key48 gave
an account Of the experiment with the
pupils Of the public schools Of River
Falls in procuring small library and
cultivatin2 taete for good reading
He had used with decided success, the
privileges Of the library IN a reward for
satisfactory school work II has also
been observed that those boys who in
dulge the most in vicious reading when
not properly guided, on the other hand,
under judicious guidance exhibit the
greatest avidity for good reading The
discussion was continued by b, r.
Smith. 4. J. Wiswell, and w. H. Chond-
Ter Mr. Chandler deprecated any at