The Forrest City times., 1891-04-03
EDUCATIONAL COLUMN.
I. G' 3. }. MnsshfiEWArN. Editors.
TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.

The Good Work Goes Braveiy on--
 Our Teachers in Earnest--State
 Superintendent Shinn Gives the
 Duties of County Examiners,
 Teachers ana Directors in Plain Terms--A Profitable Meeting. The fifth monthly meeting of the St. Francis County Teachers Association was held in the Forrest City NJ. E. church last Saturday. The following teachers were present: Misses Emma DeNeler, Mattie Moseley, Clara May, Hattie Ingram, Minnie Nichols, Louise Stork and Salie Lanier. Mrs. Belle Hatcher; Profs. Dur ham, Free and Mcllwain. Hon. Josiah Shinn, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Professor J. c. David son. superintendent of the Helena public schools, were also in attendance. Several visitors were also present.
 The morning session was called to order at 10 o'clock, with Prof. Durham in the chair Exercises were opened with singing; prayer by Rev. Kelley; Minutes of last meeting read and approved. | Prof. Shian was then introduced and | in his pleasing and graceful manner spoke i very forcibly of the great work of the public schools of our state and the duties
 
 same Our school interests are the most important force and uplifting power for good in the state. Other states are showing phenomenal advance in the work of their schools. and Arkansas is not far behind New life is being infused | into our educational interests all over tue state. He congratulated St. Francis county teachers in their efforts to main tain monthly association and urged 1 upon all the necessity of becoming active members of the same. Institutes are great forces and the best means of keep | ing the school interests before the people. l The county examiner. in his official capacity as state officer, has the power to organize Institutes, ard the same should be largely supported by both | teachers and people. Teachers and di- rectors should obey the calls of the 1 county examiner to attend all institute meetings. Teachers failing to attend | should have their license revoked by the l examiner. The walls of the profession are being elevated so high that no teacher 1 who does not put his heart into his work can expect to hold his place in the pro fesson. The qualifications necessary to 1 secure certificate must be raised. Every 1 examination should be made public. and 1 all the teachers should close their schools to attend these quarterly examinations. | Only in exceptional eases should pri- vate examination be given. All persons should work together to build up our country. The schools are to do the work. Arkansas is moving along grandy in this | line. Our state has now within her bor- ders fiourishing colleges at Philadelphia, Conway. Searcy, Fayetteville, Batesyillc and other places. Summer Normals are springing up all over the state which in themselves are great forces in better qualifying the teachers to do more efficient | work Prof. Shinn talked for nearly an 1 hour, and was listened to attentively by all present.
 | Prof Durham followed win the sub l ject, Rigid or Loose Government" The chief aim of all government is self-govern ment. Pupils habits must be broken up, and they must be taught to govern them selves. Parents are the first teachers. The home training must be good in order to have school training the most effective. A popular teacher is not always doing the best work. Vindictiye punishments are satanic; the loving heart must accompany all chastsement Force is justihable only as the last resort. The rod could be banisheu II proper parental control were exercised over the children at home. That government is the only true government which makes the pupils govern and con- trol themselves.
 Rev. Kelley thinks corporal punish ment the last resort. Moral principles must be al the basis of ali government and respect and honor must be lncuicated in all pupils.
 Prot. Davidson holds that no teacher likes to be called brutal, yet punishment is necessary. The teacher has not the position of parent. He has not the time io give individual attention to each pupil. Corporal punishment. therefore, is often necessary, but 1t does not always mean switching a child.
 Prof. Shinn followed with few re- marks fully corroborating the sentiments set forth by the previous speakers.