The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1891-05-08
shiawassee County Teachers.


After rapturous music by Vernon's male
sextette and prayer by Rev. Clark, Presl-
Brandt introduced Prof. Austin George,
superintendent of the training department
of the Normal The subject of Mr.. Georges
address was Culture" and the theme was
the necessity and possibility of becoming
really cultured in distinction from the COM
mon ''veneering" process.
knowledge, said this eminent educator,
is not culture; knowledge Is the collection
of facts, dates and theories-culture is the
grouping of related facts and Is a process of
generalization. knowledge is only step
ping stone, although necessary stepping
stone, i'm attainment of culture; the former
is the means, the latter the end. Too fire.
quently mere collection of unconnected
and undigested facts at the command of a
glib tongue were accepted as an evidence of
culture, when really it was an abnormal de-
velopment of the power of criticisms; analy-
sis without synthesis was the power of this
walking encyclopedia. Talk with the man
whose memory has been trained, to the eX-
clusion of his judgment and reason, and in
Is minutes you will discover the shallowness
of his mental makeup. TO sum up, cul-
ture was the correlation of facts, or process
of generalization and classification.
The bearing of his subject i'm reference to
teachers was the Importance of progress in
educational matters; it Is very easy and very
common to get into rut and stay there;
true culture requires that each days expert
ence should be compared with past expert
ence and the methods discovered and used.
Nor should any teacher be content to con-
fine her attention solely to class room studies.
Shakespeare, Dickens and Bancroft should
be read by the teacher who wishes to rise i'm
the profession.
Saturday morning gave no definite fore
cast of the day. 1t might rain or be clear
! and teachers who started for Vernon were
prepared for either outcome. The east
bound Ann Arbor train was the first to ar
rive with most of the Owosso and Corunna
delegations. When the trains from both
directions had arrived and the threatening
clouds cleared away, Vernon contained the
brightest and best looking lot Of people that
make up any association within the cOunty's
borders. No pains had been spared to dec
crate the Baptist church. Banking the pull
pit and platform were plants and flowers in
prOfusiOn and arranged with artistic taste.
At ten o'clock Pres. Brandt called the as
semblage to order and Meningitis trained
choir furnished music that caused them to
be repeatedly encored. The Rev. n. M.
Clark, of the Methodist church pronounced
a most fitting invocation asking the divine
blessing and guidance upon those teachers
| whose influence must mould a nations
thought and guide peoples way. Pres
Brandt began his address by paying high
compliment to those who in past years haC
presided over the association saying they
had been persons of scholarly attainments
and had left their impress upon education
al thought.
''We are here with hearts loyal to the
schools of Shiawassee county and true TO the
work of our choice.
To these gatherings from time to time
come the faithful, earnest teachers, who ART
in search of better methods and who never
return to their work without noble aspira
tons and a greater love for the same.
The occasional gathering of the education
al forces of our county is matter of grea
importance to our citizens and influences
should go forth from these meetings tha
will affect every school in our county,"
y X
1.-The functions of the school should be
not so much to store the mind with dry facts
as to prepare it for the reception of knowl
edge in after years.
Right habits of study and investigation
are of vastly more Importance than the
| knowledge obtained AT ScnOOl.
1t is important that at least the first prin-
ciples and general outlines of the practica
sciences, be thoroughly fixed upon the mind
n n y
Mr.. Brandt then gave some very practica
advice tO.the teachers. Education SHOULD
never tend to idle pride but should create
an atmosphere of industry. A teachers is re
membered by his pupils because they have
remains as the lamp of learning, when the
particular text book is forgotten.
Teachers! Our calling is a noble one; /
serves to keep us young as we live with the
young, and their thoughts are our thoughts
1t has been truly said that the true teach
er lives OH the SUNRISE side of life; he neve
passes high noon.
There never was true teacher who be
came entirely old.
Some grow gray, occasionally one is bald
but they are always young. They catch al
the glow of happiness, reflected from thu
beaming faces OF the young.
Then let us always acknowledge that 0ul
calling is peculiarly happy one."
EDUCATION AND CITIZENSHIP
said A. e. Benson, should be coordinate
as every citizen is sovereign. Schools
should teach the individuals relationship t.
the community and to the State, since th'
support of the school is derived from tina
source, and respect for the origin should b'
taught from the one originated. Mr.. Ben
son would teach the principles of Christian
ity as the foundation of good government
and would recognize the principle that evi
is matter of eradication by education rathe
than by prohibition. The homes, TIN
schools and the churches, were the integra
factors for good and the second in point o
mention was the work of this body.
The discussion following this paper large
ly turned upon the teaching of biography II
the schools as q means of instruction in his
tory, civil government and the lives o
statesmen.
The ladies of the Baptist church had pro
vlded dinner in vacant store in the villag
to which place the Association adjourned :
do justice to the elegant spread that wa
prepared for them.
THE AFTERNOON SESSION.
Who attends the teachers associations
is a question sometimes sneeringly asked
and what do they amount to, is added I'm a
undertone. The answer to the question