Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-01-15
COUNTY TEACHERS MEETING.
The Dickinson County Teachers As
ISOLATION Holds a Good Session.

| 4u6 mlu-hluleI meeting VI the OlCh-
inson teachers was held in the Abilene
high school building and notwithstand-
ing the threatening weather and the
bad roads a good number of teachers
and others were present.
The program was carried out in full.
Volunteers took the parts assigned to
those who could not be present. Pres
ident Nihart made the meeting lively
from the start by calling teachers to
discuss the subject, Reading" Sup
Elementary reading was advocated by
all. The kind to choose called forth
quite spirited discussion. Prof. Cook
said, Tread the readers for the drill and
let it be understood that they are drill
books"
Whispering and how to regulate
1t, was next taken up. All had griefs
to to tell on this subject. Superinten-
dent-elect VanDyke thought agreeable
work, detention, location in room were
remedies. Prof. Nihart claims that
pupils are too often told to stop whiS-
pering. He says: "Tell but once, be
firm. If I speak three times week to
my pupils about a matter, have made
failure"
Miss Anna Rogers not being present
Prof. Nihart read her paper on, "HOw
Can We Improve Ourselves Socially?'
Miss Anna Miller discussed the paper
bringing out the idea that the teacher
is failure socially from the nature of
his mind, and is inclined to be dicta-
rial. He is not welcomed by young
people at social gatherings. The
teacher could be the greatest socially,
if he could get away from the teachers
air.
After recess John Mcdonald was to
have given a lecture. He was wired
not to come as the weather almost for
told slim turn out. AS it was he
would have a good audience. John
will come again telling of the teachers
procession.
Superintendent Ford gave fine sur
vey of his work for the past four years.
He deplOred the fact that the teachers |
averaged only 20 years of age. He
finds no fault with the teachers, but |
with the pay that keeps children teach
ohSlIrn, ITiZ or cInrroI |
that the average yearly salary of male
teachers in the county is $500, of |
females $3.50. How can strong men
and women training fer teaching, be
expected to come forth for so meagre
salary? There were ~ teachers
meetings in all, of which, he attended |
SO, two meetings were failures on &C
count of the weather. Many other in
teresting facts had been collected
showing .conclusively that Mcdonald
speaks truthfully when saying sit is
not teachers profession, but teach
er's procession" The account he kept |
of the teachers for the past four years
shows that the school room is only
stepping stone to most who teach.
superintendent Van Dyke spoke
on the prospective. He feels the re-
spOnsibility of the work inasmach as
so much has been done by his prede-
cessor. He wants uniformity in school
methods, believes fiction could be dis
carded from readers and in place politi-
cal science be used. He closed by ask
ing the cooperation of all teachers
that he may make his administration n
success.
At the close of the meeting the
teachers present, and a few outside
teachers who could be reached, had a
surprise for Supt. Ford. 1t was a set
of Henry's Commentaries on the Bible
in five quarto volumes. Prof. Cook
made the presentation speech in which
he spoke of the esteem in which
the outgoing superintendent. was
held by the teachers. They found him
always sympathetic and ready to help
and as small token of their regard
gave him the Commentaries.
Mr.. Ford could not give expression
to his feelings but speaking a few
words of thanks hoped God would
bless the teachers wherever they
might work in the future.
The association then adjourned to
meet in March, 1891. w.H.w.