Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-11-22
EARNEST EDUCATOR !.
Meeting Of County Teachers Associ.
ation-A Very Successful and Prof
liable Session-0ver One Hum
dred Teachers Present.

year of the Dickinson County Teachers
Association. Every section of the
county was represented "a fact which
speaks volumes for the interest taken
by the teachers of the county in their
work. Ii shows that they are not only
interested in their duties but are will
ing to 90 to considerable trouble and
expense to attend such meetings as
will help them TO progress in ability to
lead the young minds entrusted 10 their
care to higher levels of thought.
The hundred or more teachers in at
tendance were callrd to order at Ills
by the president of the association,
Supt. J. 5. Ford.
The exercises of the session werr
opened by music delightfully."- rendered
by a chorus of Abilene high school
pupils, Miss Grace Peters presiding at
the organ.
Prof. p L. Thurman, Of the SaliDa
Normal University. led the audience in
al appropriate prayer.
Another glee song was sung by the
high school.
The reports of secretary and treasurer
were read and accepted.
The election of officers was then in
order. The following were chosen to
act as officers for one year from date:
President, Prof. s. NJ. Cook, of Solo
mon: vice-president. Prof. H. F. Ora
ham. of Abilene; secretary and treas
urer, Miss Franc Baker, of Abilene.
The selection of these officers is a
pledge of good work during the coming
year. Prof. Cook has for several years
conducted the Solomon City schools in
manner which has made them rank
among the first in the State. Mr. Gra-
lam, as principal of the Abilene high
school, has won All enviable reputation
All educator and will assist materi-
lily the association in its work. Miss
'ranc Baker is one of Abilene
most energetic and ACCOMPLISHED
racLers and deserves the high honor
inferred upon her.
The Need of Normal Training
Vas the subject of paper next read by
Prof. Chas. Swisher, of the Garfield
,llege. Enterprise. He deprecated
ny tendency to teach to-day as was
aught yesterday, or to fail to improve
ipun the work of our fathers. To gain
ability to progress we must, ht
ged, have special training for the
ork. Experience in the school room
necessary requisite 10 succrssl Ill
.ork. This experience must be gained
lther in the school room ''practicing
;pou pupils or i'll the model SCHOOL "i
- norm Il school. Normal training is
1 essential element of SUCCESS as a
-acher.
Prof. A. V. Jewett in discussing the
,tper, believed that the value of nor
Il training depends much upon the
md of teaching aud that in many
ases the normal schools are Or little
PRACTICAL value because their Managers
10 not know what they should teach.
definite curriculum is the first eSSr n
Ial of normal school. Generally
lese schools teach everything under
~ sun. A training school is valuable
,nly if it trains.
The paper was also discussed by
Prof. +. ID. Carman, of HerlngtOn. Mr..
'drman took "a decidedly negative view
If normal schools. He thought their
work too superficial.
A short recess was taken, after which
nore music followed.
Grading Country Schools was next
handled in an able paper by w. A.
Stacy, of Hope. The single teacher
IAN do little. The new county high
school law is a step in the right drec-
ion, but it does not begin back far
enough. 1t should include a grada-
ZION of the common schools as pre-
urinary to providing pupils for its
Iower grades. A lack of county uni
0rmity of text books is an almost I'M
surmountable difficulty in the way of
grading the country schools. Mr.. Stacy
made strong plea for uniform text
| BOOKS. Other difficulties were treated
If and the teachers advised to work
toward some system, hopeful Off "A
brighter future. when they shall b-
aided by tie powers that be.
> 1rhe discussion of the paper was itd
by j. II. Niesley, of Carlton. He
bought that there was a general desire
| Ou the part of the teachers to do some
thing in ti,e Hue # graduation but ~
he present condition Of affairs there is
little precedent.
c. III. Lowrie, j. s. Fotd, Prof.
thurman, ID. +. Shlrk and Cha5. T..
Bear made short talks ON the subj ct.
giving the teachers some practical ad-
VICE in their work in the direction of
education,
Courses OF Study for the County
High School," was the suhjeet # tile
iast paper IF the session, 1t Was read
10y Prof s. NJ Cook, of Solomon, and