Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-04-26

The Northern Illinois Teachers asso.
citation, which was attended by at least
300 of those whose professional duties
are identified with the training
of the youth in the northern
port of the state. has come to Rock ISL
and. held its convention involving an i'm
mense amount of work to be crowded
into really but one day altogether-at-
tended to all its business, heard a grand
address on the true ends of education, and
ADJOURNED, and most of the visitors are
now on their way to their respective
homes. There are some who have re-
NAMED for the evening outgoing trains.
TIE WORK OF THE SECTIONS
IN connection with the opening session of
the Northern Illinois Teachers associa>
ton yesterday afternoon. occupied the
time until 4:30 o'clock. A large part of
the interest centered on the primary de
partment, of which Miss Ella ii Mattice of
Aurora, was chairman, and in which the
topic language was discussed by Miss
Lewis, of Chicago. Mr.. Bright of Engle-
wood, Mr.. Hall, of Aurora, and others
The second and third grade section was
in charge of Miss Laura Forsy tn. of Ster-
ling; the fourth and fifth grade meeting
was presided over by Miss Sara E.Doxee,
of Moline. and of the grammar grades Mr..
zeis, of Englewood, was chairman. In
the Hugh school section Principal J A
Bishop, of the Rock Island High school,
was haIman, and here the chief topics
for discussion were:
| nations;
To what extent may we grant privileges to pm
pills and i'll maintain proper discipliney
What can be done 10 cOunteraCt those influences
when leai boys to drop out OF Hi Oh school before
graduation.
The discussion was very interesting
with reference to all these questions, the
most prominent educators participating
being Principals Sanford and Haughton,
of Chicago; Forbes, of Princeton; Web
ster, of Dixon; Stratton, of Davenport;
Dudley, of Maquoketa, Iowa; Witter, of
Muscstine. Iowa, and Mrs. Gettemy. of
Galesburg. The prevailing sentim ent
seemed to oppose final examinations as
essential TO promotion from one grade to
another, and on the matter of privileges
all concurred in the opinion that there
should he more encouragement in the way
of athletic sports, such as a gymnasium,
oase ball and foot ball, etc. This it was
believed would also produce solution of
the third question as to keeping boys in
school when they reach the time inevit-
able when they are inclined to drop out
of school The encouragement of ath>
letcs as feature of high school work
was therefore very strongly favored.
In the department of principals and
city perintendents, F. T, Oldt, of
Lanark, was chairman, and all the var
iOus topics were discussed with interest
and profit In the county superintend.
ent's department. NJ. R. Chambers, OF
Galena, occupied the chair. and the cub
jects under consideration were mostly
examinations. school visitation, and the
matter of providing trained teachers for
their schools.
After the teachers which had separated
into sections for the work pertaining to
their particular grade, had resssembled in
the assembly room, with President Frank
H. Hal of Aurora. presiding, Mayor Nc
Conochie delivered his
ADDRESS OF WELCOME
speaking as follows:
Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the
Northcr m Illinois Teachers Association;
1t gives me pleasure to have this OPP
portunity of meeting with you this after
noon, and as mayor of the city ! tender
you the hospitalities of our people, and
in their name and in behalf Of the citi
Gems OF Rock Island / extend you the
right hand of friendship and bid you a
hearty welcome to our city. We will
deem it our pleasant duty to show all the
places of interest in our vicinity and make
your soiourn in our midst as pleasant and
agreea BILE as possible. We hope you will
enjoy yourselves while you remain with US
and when you return to your homes may
you carry with you the many happy re-
| Elections of this meeting, from which l
have no doubt you will derive many BEN
efits, both in widening the circle of your
acqua ntances and in listening to the
practicable experience of those who have
adopted new and improved methods of
instilling into the minds of the youth
better and more thorough systematic
| education.
| wish to say word without any ine
tention on my part of trying to act the
part of the courtier by saying anything
which might be construed by you as fiat
terry, which | am not in the habit of doing.
and that is, we as people take special
pleasure in receiving and entertaining 80
INTEL gent and distinguished an audience
as / see before me todsy-your calling is
high and noble one; its votaries take
their well merited positions high up in
| the select ranks of the eminent men and
women of the age. Your profession Can
no longer be classified with that of that
unfortunate but nevertheless necessary
member of society, the poor despised
pedagogue of half century ago, whose
true characteristics were so wildly por-
traYed by the pen of the immortal Dick>
ems. These illustrious personages as q
rule, in most of the nations of Europe,
were always some old brokendown gov
eminent pensioner, either soldier or
sailor, and offtimes il was some poor
despis ed, deformed specimen of humanity
whose bodily infirmities incapacitated
him rom performing manual labor. whose
chief qualifications were hard heart and
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