The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-03-29
CITY TEACHERS MEETING.

CITY TEACHERS MEETING.
The monthly meeting Of the city teach
ers convened in the high school chapel at
g. M yesterday. DR.. Stevens conducted
devotional exercises. Several appropriate
selections were sung by the institute, con-
Quoted by Professor Young and Miss Her
ring at the piano.
Superintendent Stevenson gave direc-
tions for the observance of arbor day, on
Friday. April 10, this day being more con-
venient for the schools than the designated
day. He urged on the teachers the i'm
portance of properly celebrating this day,
by calling attention to the great practical
value Of trees in meliorating the extremes
Of heat and drouth. Attention should be
paid to the kind of trees best adapted to
to have regard for trees and to consider
their injury in any unnecessary way as
impful. Trees are to be planted where
necessary as also vines, flowers. shrubs or
anything that will add to the beauty or
attraction of the school grounds.
The superintendent spoke of the crafty
ing progress being made by the schools
and urged the teachers 30 use all due in
fuence to retain pupils in school during
the remaining weeks of school.
The first paper en- the program was read
by Miss Bertha Daugherty. of the Kellogg
school; subject: 1.-THE Aim of the Gram
mar School" A brief outline of this fine
paper is as follows:
The Grammar school deals with the
formative period. the interesting and i'm
portant period, OF mental growth; here Is
education, and the chief incentive for the
further acquisition of knowledge, they
may have before they go out TO do their
part in the worlds work.
Here is laid the foundation of regulative
conduct the practice of those moral &C
tions which cryssalize into principles and
become fixed habits.
The Grammar school ought, certainly, to
give ali pupils an equipment of knowledge
of the world they live in; power and
choice of words and expression for the
knowledge they have: true sense of the
meaning of words, aud their relation to
thought that their power TO read and I'M
derstand will be an open sesame" 10 the
stores Of all learning; thorough ground
ing in all the operations of numbers relat-
ing to ordinary business and mechanical
acter that will be a surety of strength
against the time when they
will lose the restraining will
that guides and teaches them; and last.
but not least, love of all knowledge and
truth, with a glimpse of pathways that
appear as we to higher levels rise" that
shall lead them by original investigation
toward higher development and state of
If the grammar school accomplishes
these results, then on looking back, even
should the work appear rugged as palm
tree stem, no matter so long as it has
been growing and bears its grand. green
crown of leaves and weight of honied fruit
at top"
This paper led to a spirited discussion,
Messrs Shull and Knight and Miss Cleve-
land, Dickinson, Graham and Bryson par
Messrs. Ward and McNair, of the school
board, were present and addressed the
teachers. Mr.. Ward has recently visited
all the schools as member of the teachers
and was able TO speak from
extensive observation
Prof. Geo. c. Young, superintendent OF
music, read a paper. Subject: THE value
of music as a regular branch of the com
mon school curriculum" Music is an aid
to other studies. 1t invigorates and slim
ulates the faculties, assists In the cuItiva-
ton of the will, the training of the mem
DRY, and promotes graceful and finished
reading. Speech may be made melodious,
and the testimony of the best authorities
that the rapid fading Of the 'sing-song" Of
the reading class is almost entirely due O.
the influence of music in the school room.
Vocal music promotes health. 1t accom-
piishes this by means of the exercise IL
gives the lungs and vital organs; also by
the eheerfulness and elasticity Of spirits
which music only can bestOw. As a means
of discipline, music acts as safety valve
which an overflow of boyish fun
or I'll mic at nd pd
thus in the pleasantest way possible bridge
over the major and minor intervals that so
often lie between muscular and intellectual
activity.
Music enters into all the conditions and
relations Of life. II is a. the cradle as the
mother with some familiar hymn or an
improvised lullaby. bushes. her babe 20
the stern wilt thouS" and strengthen the
Il will" 1t is in the sanctuary 70
sanctify the holy Office and hallow the
sacred service; IL is in the home circle as a
wall of protection around the dear one.
who are soon to go out from beneath the
anxious eye OF father and mother; Il give.
An increasing charm TO social life, while IL
The grave 10 watt the soul released from |
Earth beyond the spangled court Of God |
INTO the sunlight Of gloriGed peace
Regarding ourselves, each ia his or her |
1wn peculiar way, A. cedters Of influence |
n this development Of the life within, and !
from various centers, we shall |
ouch first the magnificent army Of school |
whom IL ia q privilege 20 com
nsnd; these children, perhaps feebly a, |
irst, but more strongly as they grow in |
Tears, will touch the home circle; the in |
luence Of the home circle will 20 out In |
lum bsrles. differen. Ways and affect the /
'ocial circle; the soci6 circle With IL. |
'ther charms viii in time color the |
more practical life Of the public circle: aud |
hen as these circles widen and become /
more far reaching. the influence Of thk /
weet persuasive power shall grow until il 1
las received due recognition In ics uulirn-
ted resources 70 refine, purify and expand /
u the lasting associations Of itfs
In the discussion which followed this |
Taluable paper. Mrs. Booth Misses Rowe
nd Clark. and Me~srA Carson and Bsrsck-
nan took part All bore testimony 70 The
GOD results os the Systematic teaching Of
be subJsc- il our schools.
DR. Stevenson endorsed the teaching Q.
Q uslc a. being founded on correc, pedsr |
'oglc principles, and believed TIE .irae de-
oted 70 this subject s.s nos: juticious.y
mp!oyed-
The exercises throughout were inter
persed with music, whseh - A~ays
eAtrre OF the Institute