The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-03-29
ELCIN IS THE NEXT MEETING PLACE.
Mr.. n. w. Thurston Eulogizes His
Work as q Teacher and Friend.
The Pedagogues Talk on Different Sub
jects, Elect Officers and Depart for
Home, to Meet at Elgin In 1891.
The Course of study.

The Northern Illinois high school
teachers took possession OF Ottawa
Friday morning, the 2lst They OBJ
Served-teachers always Observe-the
methods and work of the Ottawa
High school in the morning and in
the afternoon, as an outing, they
visited the glass factories, in which
much was found TO interest them.
At 6 o'clock the visitors were ten
dered a banquet at the Congrega-
tional church. Prof. Leslie made a
neat address of welcome, which was
responded to by Prof. Smith, of Rock
ford. Addresses were made by Prof.
Hatch, of Moline, and Messrs.
Thorpe, Mayo and McDougall, OF OF
tawa.
The association opened its first SEES
sion of the meeting of 1890 in the
high school chapel at o'clock, with
music by the Ladies' Quartette. Pres
lident Forbes, of Princeton, made the
opening address, mainly, congratula-
tory in tone with several suggestions
for the future.
The principal work of the evening
was paper by Chas. A. Smith, prin-
cipal of the Rockford high school,, upon
''Civcs in the High School" followed
by discussion. The paper was an ar
gument for greater attention to the
study of city, state and national gov
eminent in the high school, embrace
ing the conduct of elections, duty OF
public officers, and more especially the
study Of the principles of government
and the civil questions of the day.
Discussion followed, led by Mr.. w.
A. McAndrew, Mr.. McDougall, Mr..
Leslie and others taking part.
Among the teachers present are
Chas. A. Smith and Miss Carrie f..
Tucker, Rockford; j. A. Bishop, Rock
Island; II. w. Thurston, La Grange;
w. II. Hatch, j. Mcneil, Moline; r.
Mckay, Elgin: and G. A. Wheeler,
Chicago.
On Saturday morning the President
introduced Prof. II. w. Thurston, of
La Grange, who read paper in memo
riam of the late VIM. II. Ray, of Hyde
Park.
There are thoughts we cannot van
ish and they will always remain with
Jus. We all know that the days allot-
ed to VIM. Henry Ray were brief, as
he died at lineage of thirty-three years.
We also know that he used the days
well, and built up foundation of
learning which cOmpelS our admira-
ton. 1t is my privilege to memOrize
some of the acts of this great man.
His father was clergyman. He was
a loyal man and a general in his church.
His mother was bright, viyacious and
very nervous. Ray got the strong
characteristics which showed forth in
his life from his parents. From his
father he got the strength of character
and from his mother the vivaCiOuSneSS
and nervousness. He was born in
Barnett, VT, in 1856, and in 1870 re-
moved to New Hampshire with his
parents and entered the Appleton
academy. His father died in 1871, and
two years later he removed to KnOwl-
edge, VT, where he completed his
studies. During the winter. months
he taught school and in summer
worked in the hay field. At the age
of twenty-five years he was made prin-
cipal of the Mt. Vernon, N. H., Acad-
envy, and held the position for two and
one-half years. In 1883 he took charge
of Hyde Park school. His success was
obtained by hard work. Day by day
he reached higher ground, and had he
lived he would have reached the high
est summit to be attained by an ed
uoator. With an infinite task before
him he died because he was finite. His
literary work was of very high order.
He wrote for the Dial, of Chicago, and
other literary papers. His criticisms
were considered authoritative.
We feel proud Of him for what he
did, and loved him for what he was to
us. He will be missed in educational
circles. The key note of all his living
was the one word "service." He was
always unsatisfied with what he did,
but nevertheless he was great man.
On motion of Mr.. Smith. the paper
was received and ordered spread upon
the records.
The committee on course of study
presented report which was adopted.
There was considerable discussion on
the report.
Mr. Forbes stated the object of the
committee was to give the department
of citizenship a prominent place as a
study in the high schools.
Mr.. Smith said the time was ripeD-
ing for closer relation Of studies in
the different high schools of the state.
| Mr.. Hill thought there was too great
a tendency toward the materialistic
among the children in the high school
work.
Mr.. Mcneil thought more time
ought to be given to the study of the
sciences.
Mr.. Hatch was in favor of giving
less time to the modern languages and
more time to English and the sciences.
The synopsis of high school studies,
as taken from the report, shows there
are six departments: Language. es-
thetics, mathematics, natural sciences,
citizenship, and ethics. The pupil is
not obliged to take up the second or
last departments; that is, he need not
study practical morals or utilitarian
manners. The time is divided among
the other departments as follows
Language, 46B per cent; mathematics,
12s per cent; natural sciences, PIT per
cent; citizenship, 1874 per cent.
The rel orts of the secretary and
treasurer were read and approved.
The present committee on course Of
study was appointed to represent the
association in connection with the
state committee and college represent
| tiyac af tho pOminu GIL MINOR cnpyaD-