Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-09-29
MEETING OF CITY TEACHERS.

The city teachers held their first regular
monthly meeting for the year at the nigh
school building yesterday. The meeting
was called to order by Dr. Stevenson, who
appointed J. S. South secretary. The
superintendent stated that as the board
had chosen first-ciasS man for supervisor
of music in the school he expected that
choir from among the teachers would be
organized. probably by the next meeting
Of the teachers, when the program would
be inspersed with music.
The superintendent announced that the
schools would be closed on Friday, October
4. for the purpose Of allowing the pupil
and teachers to attend the fair. 1t was eX-
pected that tickets of admission would be
furnished he pupils by the far association.
The grading of salaries OF teachers was
explained and each teacher was asked to
report to the clerk of the board his or her
eXper ence in teaching, as that was to be
the standard of grade of teachers salary
Prof Shull was then called upon for a
talk on physiology, as 1T should be applied
in the schools His talk was principally
on the development of the reproductive
faculty of the mind. He gave the follow
ing rules that should govern the teacher:
First-The power of reproducing an idea
depends upon the vividness of the percep-
ton CT feelings of the individual when
the idea was first produced.
Second-The power of reproduction de-
ponds in a great measure on the frequency
of repetition of the fact, perception or
feeling.
Third-This power also depends upon
the contiduity of action or upon the chain
of actions or thoughts upon which the idea
depends.
In regard to the law of association of
ideas the professor explained how it may
be easier for person to remember dozen
things sometimes better than one. Mr..
Suuils remarks were followed by a very
able lecture on the subject Of memory
training by DR.. Stevenson, showing how
the memory when properly trained is a
"true friend" while if improperly trained
it will prove false when most needed. He
showed how the memory of the pupil
could be cultivated rapidly first by formu-
lating knowledge covering great deal of
ground into simple words easily remem-
bered, and secondly by having pupils COM
NIT to memory thoroughly gems OF poetry
and prose.
Professor Stevenson closed his remarks
by a powerful appeal to the teachers to
train the pupils to habits of attention.
After recess the subject of Moral Train
ing was taken up and ably discussed by
Miss Allen and Prof. Davis, of the High
school, and by Miss Jessie Adams, of the
Grammar school department..
Dr. Stevenson followed by lecture on
The Moral Effects of Hardness and Irreg-
ularity of Attendance of Pupils. The
teacher should always trace the cause be-
fore attempting a remedy or punishment
for this fault, The principal remedy is to
arouse the love of pupil for teacher, max
ing the school room home aud pleasant
and interesting place for pupils. DR..
Stevenson's remarks should have been
listened to by not only the teachers but by
every parent in the city.
The superintendent also recommended
that the teachers should organize them
selves into reading clubs and follow out n
strict course of reading. After these e1-
ercises teachers of the primary grade, the
grammar grade and the principals met re-
spectively in separate rooms and formed
separate organizations for their work in
the future.