Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1890-03-08
TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.
Joint Meeting at Ellis.


The Teachers Associations, OF Ellis
and Trego counties, met IN joint session
at the school house, in Ellis, on Saturday
last There was a good attendance in
spite of severe weather.
The meeting was called to order by
President Whelan of the Ellis county as
ISOLATION.
Supt. l.. 81. Boyd gave an address of
welcome, which was bright and to the
point. After speaking of the good done
by teachers meetings, he criticised the
teachers in friendly way for failing to at
tend these meetings more regularly.
G. A. Wilson made very pleasant and
apt response to Mr.. Boyd's address.
Methods to Prevent Absence and Tar
diness" was the title of an excellent pa
per by Mrs. Flora Irwin, of Hays. 1t
contained many practical suggestions.
In paper on the Influence of Early
Reading upon Character" Hudson Har-
Ian gave most thoughtful and earnest
presentation of this subject. After show
ing how largely the child's character is
influenced, for good or bad, by that which
he reads, Mr.. Harlan urged upon them the
importance of cultivating in their pupils
taste for good reading.
Mr.. Harlan's paper was followed by
an earnest discussion. Mr.. Whelan said
that the Ellis school already had a con-
cidarobIa librory oDd eubeor;bo1 e.. -
magazine for supplementary reading. 1t
was urged that school districts levy tax
as provided for by the law, and that the
money so raised could be added to by en-
tertainments. 1t was proposed that the
expenditure of the money be directed by
a township or county committee.
At the close of the discussion an adj
journment was had for dinner.
AT 100 the teachers were again called
to order and A. S. Peacock opened the
session with paper on Denomination
al Schools" Mr.. Peacock's decided opin
ions were based on a careful examination
OF the subject and also on personal ex-
perience. He believed the education of
the children to be the duty of the state
and not of the church; that the denomina-
tional school was antagonistic to the pub
lie school; that the former graduated
churchmen and the latter patriots.
This paper provoked warm discussion.
Mr. Boyd said that in sectarianism lay
the greatest difficulty met with in school
work in Ellis county; that in one district
having a school population of more than
two hundred there was an average attend
ance at school of but five. and that sever
al other districts were in like condition,
the children being kept from school for
religious reasons. Among the remedies
proposed were the apportionment of the
state funds on a basis of attendance at
school, and placing the management of
the schools in the hands of a county or
township board instead of district board
On motion of Mr.. Boyd it was ordered
that the papers of Messrs. Peacock and
Harlan be published in the county
papers.
|
Miss Jennie Forbes, was carefully pre-
pared and valuable paper. 1t was read
by Miss Root, the writer beingssick.
G. A. Wilson followed with paper on
"How to Teach History" He advocated
making it live subject, beginning with
the study of recent events and persons
with whom the pupils are already famil-
lar, then extending the study to those
more remote and less known.
In "How to Teach Country School"
Sanford Sites gave his results of personal
experience, and the teachers received
many valuable hinte. He said that teach
ers should not be tied to old methods,
but should be willing to discard them
for better ones.
A. B. Baker stated the "Results OF
County Uniformity" in Trego county af-
ter which a resolution was passed that
the teachers of Ellis county work to Sc
cure the adoption of uniformity of text
books in that county.
The teachers also passed a resolution
of thanks to the people OF Ellis for their
hospitality, and the Trego county teach
ers, by vote of thanks, expressed their
appreciation of the kind welcome received
at the hands of the teachers of Ellis
county.
The Trego county teachers were Misses
Fitzpatrick, Harlan, Hathaway, Ander-
son and Shepherd, Mrs. G. A. Wilson,
Mrs. A. E. McCollum, Mrs. a. B. Baker
and Messrs. Harlan, Wilson, A. E. Nc
Collum, D. B. Rogers, Peacock and
Baker.
The meeting was declared by all a de-
cided success, and an effort will be made
to revive the former Smoky Hill associa-
ton, comprising the western counties
along the line of the Union Pacific.
The New Discovery.
You have heard your friends and neigh