Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-07-09
STATE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.


Building Fund &C., on 500 valuation.
STATE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.
Some Very Interesting Papers Read on
Very Practical Subjects.
SDecidl Correspondence of the Register.
BUCKHANNoN, W. VA, July Sat
the session Of the State Teachers Asso-
citation, paper on The Teachers Read
ing, was read before the association by
L. c. Woolery. professor Of Greek in
Bethany College, in which it was stated
that person to be successful teacher
must be leader, that the pupil is not
likely to go beyond his teacher. He
expects to be lead. And that the teacher
is largely assisted to become leader oy
the reading Of the best books. That
knowledge In the possession OF the
teacher was equivalent to shear OF
golden grain in the hands Of the herds
man leading, instead Of driving his
flock. That an education, whether be-
gun In university, college or private
school, amounted to but little unless it
leads to the scholarly habit OF reading.
That Ii is possible for teacher to get an
education without ever seeing college
or it's apparatus or professors by con.
slant and earnest and tireless reading OF
good books. But this has many disad-
vantages. The subject was divided into
what TO read, how to read, and the re-
suits.
1t was clearly set forth that a teacher,
in order to make himself proficient IN
the common branches, must read collat-
eral material. When arithmetic is
taught read algebra and geometry,
when geography is taught read history,
when history is taught read biography,
which bears about the same relation to
history as the factors to the product.
Reading good books makes good man
or woman. 1t Is not sufficient 10 talK
well-we must live we'll"
The School Officer as Factor in our
School System, by d. w. Shields, was
the next paper, who said that system
of public instruction implied system
of administration. The school officers
are by far the most numerous OF public
servants. School boards have with us
the almost absolute control OF the
school, and in q great measure make
them what they are. They must measure
the qualifications of the teacher by MS
teaching and success. His control
covers so per cent of the schools with
out any other direct supervision. IheSe
officers are whole, honest, earnest
men, but is their preparation and quail
fcations such as would be applied by a
business man in the secular affairs OF
life? Is it economy that so important
an interest as the child's education be
run longer in this hap hazard manner
"What can the schools do to encourage
the reading of proper literature?" o!
Prof. Strauss, of Parkersburg.
,Broad-minded. generous MANHOOD
from simply school curriculum, but II
youth their arrows Of thought must b.
directed towards the best in prose anC
verse. The teacher must form the task
in the mind of the PApil for the best fl
literature by knowing and reading the
best himself. Narrowness must b(
avoided in selecting a pupils reading
The assortment of reading must be
varied. The best of fiction and poetry
should be made of the school instruc'
ton. The reading must be progressive,
so that the taste may be cultivated
for the highest and most instructive
literature. Moderation in reading is
essential. The mind should not In
youth be choked by overlooking. Purity
! is the main essential. Positive purity,
not merely the absence OF the objection
able, must characterize books for the
young.
The formation of school libraries,
reading clubs and other means must be
adopted. The reading should be graded
and interesting so that pupils will relish
what they read.
''How to Improve Our Country
Schools" was very earnestly and intelli-
gently discussed by Prof. W. S. Elem
ing, OF Buckhannon. He made two
general divisions of the subject, as fol-
lows: l. Directly; III. Indirectly. Our
country schools may be improved "Di-
rectly" ~, by improving the teachers.
The speaker dwelt with force upon the
present inefficient condition Of the coun-
VI tCoNhVl - dAN eLOlS III IuCg COulu 10
improved by (a), improving the teach
ers' teachers; .(b), by better equip
ment of the Normal Schools; (c),
by Institutes and professional courses
of Reading. (2) by longer term of SER
vices" The evils Of short-lived teach
ers were exposed. 1t was thought these
evils can be remedied, (G) by better pay,
(b) by longer school term.
Under Indirect" Improvements were
the following: (D Efficient supervision;
(2) a graded course of study with gradu-
alton; (3) County High Schools; az
District Educational Meetings: Isl
School Fairs. The speaker did not
dwell at length on all of these sub-di-
visions, but spoke more directly TO the
last, school Fair" He is great adj
vocate of Manuel Training, and was en-
thusiastic in his advocacy of such work
in the public schools He advocated
the "School Fair" as a means Of cult
waiting public opinion IN favor of the
school
QUINsY troubled me for twenty
years. Since started using DR..
Thomas Electric Oil, have not had an
attack. The oil cures sore throat at