Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1891-08-13
MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION.
The County Teachers Hold a Largely At
tended Meeting and Discuss
Various Topics.


Various Topics.
The large number of teachers attend
ing the Institute made an unusually
heavy attendance at the meeting of the
County Teachers Association held il
the School Hall last Saturday. With g
few slight variations the programme was
carried out to the letter Prof James
Duncan, of Bridgeport, presided
The morning session opened with pa
per by the young teacher of Blaine, Mr.
haywood Forsythe, on "The Teachers
Preparation and Plans" Mr. Forsythe
stuck close by his subject, and gave it an
able presentment He insisted on thor
Ough preparation as basis, and urged
the adoption of plans. Not only, he said,
should the teacher be awake to all new
suggestions and modern methods from
outside sources, but he should originate
plans of his own. Do not be an imitator
never take scheme without stamping
it with your own personality and adapt
ing and modifying it to suit your own
requirements. In the discussion follow
lowing the paper, Mr.. E. E. Lucas,
of Demos, said among other things,
that the teacher ought not to try to
impress on his pupils that he knows
everything. He ought frankly to admit
it, if he is fiOored. Mr.. j. G. Taggart
thought that we have too much method,
or rather that We try too much to stick
to methods. The teacher cannot follow
up cast iron system. He must do
what the occasion demands, even if
pre- arranged plans are smashed. 9th
er interesting discussion was engaged
in. The report of the committee on
township course of study was then
brought up, and proved to be too large
subject for the limited time. A motion
to hold an adjourned session for its full
er consideration, was tabled.
The afternoon session filled the hall,
and there was no difference of sentiment
on the proposition that it was hot. c. L.
Dillon, of Belmont, in paper on the
subject of "The Teacher and his Work"
presented in a new way the claims of the
teacher, and answered keenly many of
the criticisms to which he is exposed. L.
p. Anderson, of this place, added some
pertinent points, and showed himself an
effective and incisive speaker. The pa
per on "Fractions" was omitted, much to
the general dissatisfaction. The paper
on Township Graduation" prepared by
T. P. Harris, and W. L. Barre, of Somer
ton, was then read by the latter. The
plan contemplates graded system of
instruction to prevail throughout the
county, to be backed by the township
TO twelve, were presented. This inter
esting subject gave rise to lively dis
cussion, headed by E. F. Barnes, of
Barnesville. The general sentiment was
in favor of the plan as a whole, but OBJ
jected to numerous specifications. This
idea is an innovation, and is decidedly in
the line of progression.
The general discussion on how to arouse
greater interest in the meetings of the
Association was participated in by S. C.
Murphy, T. R. McGlenn, J. o. Porterfeld
and Prof. Duncan. The points were
made that the meetings should deal more
largely with subjects actually taught,
and less with theories about them, and
that lectures by prominent educators
would add to the interest. Prof. Duncan
presented his remarks in the form of
practical, personal questions.
A prolonged debate arose over the
question as to whether or not the towns
in which meetings of the Association are
held should supply dinner to the visitors.
The question, however, was not decided.
The most entertaining feature of the
occasion was the music, consisting of
songs by the quartette- Misses An
derson, Prof. Sparks and Mr.. Archer
and of solos by Mrs. Jessie Carroll and
Miss Ida Anderson.