Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1891-04-30
TEACHERS MEET
AND DISCUSS VARIOUS TOPICS OF INTER
EST TO THE PROF EssION.

AND DISCUSS VARIOUS TOPICS OF INTER
EST TO THE PR0F ESSION.
The Belmont County Teachers Asso-
citation held in the Presbyterian church
at Warnoek, last Friday and Saturday.
was a most successful affair The attend
ance filed the building, the papers were
full of meat, and the discussions were
warm and interesting The Friday even
ing session, held chiefly for the benefit OF
of people in Warnock and vicinity una
BILE to attend Saturday, was in some re-
spects the more entertaining meeting.
Sup't Rea, of Barnesville, gave a lecture
ON "Our Political Parties" which albeit
a little dull for the more fippant, was
filed with solid facts and thought. He
considered the parties in the light OF his
tory, reviewing their origin, rise progress
and decay. Sup't Mannix. of Martins
Ferry. addressed the association on
Lost History of Words" Much new
and interesting matter was laid before
his hearers relative to the significance
and derivation of many Of the common
est words. The evenings exercises were
embellished by solo rendered in her
usnual fortunate manner, from Mrs. Jes-
sic Morton Carroll, of st. Clairsville, a
former successful teacher.
On Saturday Mr.. j. o. POrterfield, of
Demos. O., read an able and practical
paper on "The Needs of our Schools" :"
On the subject Examinations W. c..
Bowers, of Barnesville, and Sup't Muir
ply, of Belmont, presented excellent pa
pers. The discussion that followed on
this vital subject showed that the teach
ers are awake to the faults of the
present examination system, and de-
sire them remedied in the best manner
possible. This question has been under
discussion for several months, and it is
admitted that change should be made,
though there are various ideas as to what
sort of system to adopt. A feature OF
the discussion was the humorous address
of Mr.. A. w. Creamer. Miss Matte An
derson, of st. Clairsville, read one of the
most interesting papers of the meeting.
Her subject was "Procustes' Couch. She
made a striking application of the old
myth of Procustes and his iron couch.
Teachers should not, she said, attempt to
make the pupil conform to any rigid sys-
ten. The pupil is naturally ductile, but
there is possibility of too much bending
and twisting of nature. There should be
a mutual elasticity and adaptability OF
scholar and system to obtain the best re-
suits. The question of organizing aTeach-
ers' Union was opened by paper from
John Y. Anderson, of Bellaire, and dis
cussed by A. p. Myers, of Bellaire, and
Others. 1t was argued that organization
and union are the marks of the age in
all departments of work. They are help
full in suggesting and inventing new
methods by the contact of mind with
mind. But they are also an absolute
necessity. Any profession or vocation
will be crowded to the wall unless it is
organized to resist the encroachments of
other branches. There are unions OF all
other callings; why should not teachers
organize and present an unbroken front
in the assertion and maintenance of their
rights? The question mooted of late, of
reducing teachers salaries, was vigorous
ly discussed, and hotly protested against.
On Saturday an excellent dinner, pro-
vided by the good people of Warnock,
was served to about two hundred people
in the school house. The Warnock choir
furnished good music throughout, assist
ed by the popular solos of Mrs. Carroll.