Telegram-herald., 1891-12-30
WORK Or 1HE TEACHERS
H.y. FRENCH ELECTED PRESIDENT
The Province of the Uatssssisy Die
eusssd - Divided Estween Ssrasd
Rapids and Lansing for eext
Years Meeting.

There was a large attendance III every
session of tire teachers association
yesterday. The morning session MAS
opened by come pleasing musical exer-
cises by the children Of the fifst grade
of the Cot avenue school conducted 10y
their teacher Miss Eaton.
President Schurtz announced the
following committees:
Nominations s-Superlntendent +. w.
Arbery Of Battle Greek. Professor Chas.
Mckenny of olisct college. Mrs. j..
Ahnefeldt Gloss Of this city, Commis-
sloner ID. +. Mcclure of Shelby. Super
intcndcnt n. NJ. Lawson OF Coidwater.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS w. 5.
Perry OF Ann Arbor and q. Z. Fisher OF
Muskegon and Commissioner J. l..
Wagner OF Grand Ledge.
Receptions - Superintendent T.. l..
Briggs of Grand Haven, ID. p. simmons
OF Owosso, Miss Elnora cuddeback OF
Alma, Deputy State superintendent
Brown Of Lansing. Superintendent j..
II. Piowman If White Pigeon and Sup
erintendent +. {. Thompsonof saginaw.
Superintendent w. \. Perry of Ann
Arbor red a paper on Psychic Studies
in the Public Schools." He said: ITO
say that psychology has altogether
failed in its mission would bc extravsg-
ant, but To say that II has borne It's fuil
fruit would be hyperbole.
Practical Psychology.
Psychology has been taught too
much from books alone and too often
the teacher is apt TO take the word OF
her text hooks against her own con-
science. The mental life of child is
. sealed book TO us unless it can be
opened by observation. When the
reading OF volume OF psychology
leaves the impression with q teacher
that he has exhausted the subject and
that all minds must be made to con-
lform exactly to that book, that teacher
will be more hampcred than helped 10y
his knowledge.
"That psychology is the only true
basis of scientific pedagogy has been
recognized for 200 years at least. But
we cannot be content with Whist psy-
choiogy is doing for education today.
IL il cannot do more, il it cannot
answer our questions more fully. We
must reject II and strike out on somo
new line, All great teachers have done
their best work IN closest contact with
their pupils. The great master did
his great work through his intimate
knowledge Of his disciples. Ffoebel
was great student of psychological
truths. Secondhand knowledge is al.
ways of secondary value. Theories
may be learned from text books, but
the most valuable knowledge will be
learned from observation of the child
rem and their natures. Hence the re-
action at the present timo from formal
psychology to Frobclism. We need
more studying of minds ut first hands,
President Schurtz announced the de-
tentlon by illness Of Superintendent
Geo. w. Walker of Adrian, who was Ia
have opened the discussion. +. A
Strong, formerly principal Of the
Grand Rapids high school and low q
member OF the Ipsilant Normal fac
ulty, made q few earnest and wei
chosen remarks on the subjects. Re
marks were also made by DIR. Fiske
president of Albion college, DR.. Brown
occupying temporarily the char o
pee yogy at Ann Arbor IN place o
Pr.f. Hinsdalc, and Prof. ID. Putnam
of Ypsilantl.
Superintendent Simmons of Owosso
after few remarks, moved that tn
president appoint a committee OF fivi
to lay ont course OF study for :
young peoples reading circle. such n
has obtained such q strong hold II
Illinois and Indiana; carried. Tb
president then announced q recess o
ten minutes.
The paper 10y Supt. T.. c. Thompsol
of Saginaw on "Classics ia Grade,
Work" was an appeal for more appre
cation Of the gems of the worlds liter
ature. Supt. Anna NJ. Chandler o
Marquette .iso read very able pape
:. On the subjects.
They Elect Presidsnt.
The election of president for tn
ensuing year was the next thing il
order. Supt. 5. +. Higgins of Hollan,
presented the name of Supt. T.. {
Thompson of Saginaw. Supt. T. w
Asbury Of Battle Creek nominate
Supt. H.. y. French of Kalamazoo
While tho vote was being taken th
committee OH nominations made th
following repcft: Vice president. A. J
Murray, Sault Ste. Marie; secretary, "
II. Honey. Monroe; treasurer. J.. A
stewart. Port Huron; executive con-
mittec, G.. c. Fisher, M1sxegos; j. I
Ewing, Alma; ID. T.. Mcclure, Shelby
The report was adopted and the seer,
tary was instructed to cast the ballot @
tho association for tho nominees.
The vote for president resulted
French, Ga; Thompson, as. Mr.. Frenc
was declared elected president Tn
meeting then adjourned.
Afternoon session.