Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-11-20
COUNTY TEACHERS IN COUNCIL
Interesting Suggestions on Educa'
tional Topics New officers.

Interesting Suggestions on Educa-
tional Topics-New Officers.
The first meeting of County Teach
ers' association for the year was held
in the high school rooms, Abilene, Sat
urday, the 18th inst. Notwithstanding
the threatening weather large num-
Der of teachers besides many others
were present.
President Shirk called the meeting
to order and after a song, America,
and prayer by Supt. Ford, the insti-
tute proceeded to the election of Off
GERS with this result: B. F. Nihart,
president; J. II. Niesley, vice-presi-
dent; W. H. Wagner, secretary.
Training for Citizenship was the
title of a thoughtful paper by A. S.
Phillips. He laid great stress upon
the almost all important position OF
the teacher in this training. He said:
"Our hopes next to the church of
Christ lies in the common schools. In
country like ours only one kind of
aristocracy is recognized and that is
an aristocracy of brains,"
j. H. Engle discussed the paper at
length enforcing the idea Of the use of
the Bible in the school and also that
the teacher live highly moral and re-
ligious life. He believes "a good
newspaper a good thing in the school,"
president NiIhart added that, "frst,
we teach the pupils to obey; second,
teach them to be polite, it is the cheap
est good thing, and lastly, teach them
to be good
Prof. Moulton did not turn prophet
as the subject assigned him promised.
He gave instead a beautiful descrip-
ton of a dream. The central idea,
that after death our souls freed from
the letters of time and space are almost
omnipresent and a thought lands US
where we will, the past life then is
present and vivid, gave food for
thought and speculation.
After a song by the association,
President Nihart read paper on PRO
fessional Training" He was vigorous
in presenting the subject. 1t had the
proper ring and held that in teaching
as in other things this is world of
compensation. He did not believe
teaching would ever be sought as a
profession or that professional training
would become popular among teachers
until some law as in England and Ger
many guaranteed a certainty of livli-
hood for life. We add that more of
them would get married then and 1.-THE
world would be the better for it," He
said, 1.-THE poor teacher keeps the mil
lenium in the distance"
Mr.. Wishart, of Solomon, held in his
discussion that trained teachers are
superior to those unframed in every re-
spect."
On motion a recess of five minutes
was taken.
After calling to order the high school
pupils favored us with we'll rendered
song. The teachers are always thank
to the musical talent of this city for
their help. We enjoy the music and
hope they will continue to favor US at
the meetings.
Miss Scott, of tie Enterprise schools,
came near getting excused from her
part on the program by the presidents
anxiety about time. We don't think,
as the boys say, that he was ratified
but attribute his mistake of an hour in
the time to the late landslide. Nothing
is certain any more, even the time of
day. Her paper was well read and re-
ceiyed. She showed the Importance OF
drawing as a means of culture and
pointed out how naturally children
take to it. Free hand was advocated
and that drawing should begin with the
child's first day at school. Mr.. Phipps
took up the subject in discussion.
Said that, "he would not take book
or anybody's method for it." He
showed some fine map drawing, and in
further remarks held that lady who
could draw well could keep neater
kitchen, cleaner house and that 1t
would engender many other darling
virtues in woman.
The meeting was a marked success
in every way. Under our superintend-
ent's management we have grown in
these matters until our teachers stand
second to none in the state. W.