Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-04
THE STATE.
THE STATES INSTRUCTORS.
Proceedings Of the Thlrty-Eighth An
nual Meeting.


The thirty eighth annual meeting OF the
state teachers association was held in Ian
sing Dee 2G-2S. The program of the first
session consisted of a brief greeting by
President Angel of the university, which
was appropriately responded 10 by Super
intendent Grawn of Traverse City
The address of President Il. L. Church
'eviewcd the work OF the association and
dwelt at length upon the necessity OF teach
ing the principles of "A sound economy, 10y
atty and patriotism as tending 10 insure
peace and perpetuity OF the union.
He referred to the growth of
anarchy and socialism to the great body of
ignorant people that como to America
among the immigrants, aud he declared that
our motto should be Intelligence, Pre-
requisite TO Citizenship and our battle
cry, Educate ali the people, both native and
foreign born" He believed the bible should
ever be the foundation for teaching moral
ity, and that teachers should thwart every
effort TO keep il out of the schools. He
thought that no nation had ever met with "a
greater problem than the question which
now confronts this nation in its eudeavor
to harmonic the discordant clements now
coming TO our shores. IL we do not Ameri-
canize them they will dc. Americanize our
children. In conclusion he recommended
the continuation OF the col eye mems sec
tion of the association ard suggested that
provis or be made for a section representing
reformatory and charitable institutions of
the state that all branches ofthc education
al system might work in unison and har-
mony
At TIE opening session on the second day
President Willis of the Michigan Agricul-
tural college read a paper on the Relation
OF Intelligence TO Crime He said that
those who have had much to do with Grim
inal character have noted that but few
criminals are destitute of moral knowledge.
As rule they know they have done wrong.
Many have had careful moral and religious
training: they have 'memorizcd the ten
Commandments; they can conduct theo-
logical controversy with skill and accumen.
Some are really religious to a degree that
almost disarmS suspicion OF hypocrisy.
Conditions have been adverse, so that the
moral sense has not been developed, OF the
stress of temptation has been more than
they could bear. Our worst class of Grim
innls are not heather. Moral training,
therefore, will not be the sole remedy,
Somehow the conditions must be changed.
A large proportion of our convict popula-
ton live by their wits. They are intell-
gent they have been educated 10 idleness
and have grown up without habits of labor,
or the ability TO labor. EX-PresidCnt Hayes
says:
''If there is any specific for crime in all
its stages, it is labor. If the young of all
conditions of life, of both sexes, were
trained to industrious habits, taught some
form of useful labor, if education gave
the tide turn in our prison statistics"
Again Teach every boy in this country
an honest trade by which he can maze his
living, and you will greatly diminish the
number of criminals. Our present school
yystem is admirable" he continues, yet
our girls and boys come out of these schools
without any profound respect for labor or
for the laborer, or with "a Willingness 10
make living by the labor of their hands.
There is the weak point Of the present
system
President Scott of Hope college at Hol-
land, read paper much in the same vein
rs the address of President Church. His
subject was "Moral Training in Our Pub
lie Schools"
Dean Alfred Wright of Boston, well and
favorably known in Chautauqua circles,
gave an address in the evening. on the
''Value of Classical studies,n just after the
governor and Mrs. Luce had given recep-
tion TO the members and teachers in attend
ance, at the executive parlors.
At the closing session Of the association
resolutions were adopted inviting the OIL
GERS of the charitable and reformatory in
situations Of the state TO participate in the
annual meetings of this association, recon
mending young folks reading circles, and
instruCting representatives to the ma
tional association 10 seek TO bring that and
the state organi alton into closer relations.
The state reading circle, which was an
adjunct of this association, was disband-
cd an} the funds thereof absorbed by the
latter.
The scheme TO hold a summer meeting at
Bay View was defeated.
The following officers were elected:
President l.. X. Fiske of Albion; vice
presidents, a. T.. Haynes of Hillsdale, and
j. w. Simmons of Dowagiac; secretary, G..
NJ. Seamson of Coldwater; treasurer, Miss
Mary f.. Tilton of Lansing; executive COM
mittce, for three years, DR.. G. +. Hunting
of Alma, j. n. Mccall of Ithaca. Orr ShurtZ
of Charlotte; to fill vacancy, for one year,
Miss Mary r.. Fisk of Grccnville.