Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1889-07-25
Tie State Teachers Association.

The State Teachers Association
OF South Carolina met in Columbia
on Tuesday, the 10th of July, in the
Chapel OF the Female College:
FIRST DAYS pRoCEEpINus:
The convention was called to or
der by tho President, Henry p.
Archer, of Charleston, who intro
duced DR.. Ellison Capers as the lead
er in worship for the opening oxer-
cises of the day. DR.. Capcrs read
from St. Matthew, the thirteenth
chapter, and invoked the Divine
blessing. The address of welcome
was read by Mayor John II. Rhctt,
of Columbia. Mr.. Rhett heartily
endorsed the meeting of the teach
ers of the State: thought it indica-
tive of permanent and substantial
progress. The speaker said that the
teachers profession was one of the
highest and most influential callines
on earth. Prof. Edward T.. Britton,
OF Brunson, responded on behalf of
the Association, by request of the
President, in short but forcible
speech. The annual address was
delivered by President Archer in a
speech of nearly half an hour. He
said the teachers had met in their
18th annual session for the purpose
of exchanging views on the leading
educational topics of this progress
sive age. The speaker dwclt on
three points in an especial manner:
coordination, cooperation and as
sociation." Each of these terms is
suggestive within itself.
The necessary committees were
then appointed by the chrir.
Hon. Jas. II. Rice delivered an
excellent address on the "Idcal
Teacher" This Subject was treated
by the speaker in manner peculiar
to himself -forcible, business like,
practical, full of common sense and
manly.
"Technical Training for Public
Schools" by School Commissioner
John l.. Weber, of Charleston, was
the next topic. The speaker related
some of his experience in conduct
ing school under the above caption,
which experience, he said, was en-
tirely satisfactory to himself and its
patrons. He said the pupils learned
in this experimental school to exc
cute domestic duties with ncatness,
accuracy and dispatch. We are
glad to say that our good mothers,
in our county, teach their daughters
all kinds of domestic work and our
teachers are thereby relieved of this
oncrous task. Quite number of
gentlemen entered into this discus
sion with varied experiences, much
to the entertainment and enlighten-
ment of the large audience of teach
crs and we'll wishcrs.
DR.. VIM. NJ. Grier, President of
Erskine College, delivered an ad-
dress on "Mediocrity." Suffice it to
say, that this address was simply
grand and decidedly the best ad-
dress delivered before the associa-
ton. Those who are personally ac-
quaintcd with DR.. Gricr can readily
understand why we thus speak of
him.
WEDNESDAY MORNING.
Prof. John G.. Clinkscaics read an
address, "reachcrs on Stlts," which
was pronounced very fine.
"School Discipline" by Edward
Carroll, Of Charleston, was the next
paper in which Mr.. Carroll displayed
much Judgment and forcthought,
grounded upon common sense. This
subject provoked quite discussion
by number Of gentlemen, some Of
whom, taking the dangerous posi-
ton, in our judgment, that it is mo-
rally wrong to inflict coporal pun
ishmcnt. The advocates of "spare
the rod" seem to think that parents
should administer discipline at home.
This idea seems to us far fetched and
irrelevant. 1t occurs to us that pa
rents, in very many cases, are made
quatc to the proper government of
children, and in many cases their
business engagements are such that
they have not the time, if they had
the ability, to devote to this particu-
lar department Of educational
achievements. We, by no means,
advocate the indiscriminatc and in
judicious use of the rod, but there
arc many eases in which nothing but
tho rod, well administered and firm
ly persisted in, will reclaim tho ruth
less and wanton urchin. AS to tho