Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-10-12
A TALK TO TEACHERS.
Mr. Fishers Remarks at
Yesterdays Meeting.
GOOD ADVICE TO FOLLOW.
He viii Be a School Superintendent,
Not an Office One.

The first general teachers meeting OF
the school year was held yesterday alter
noon at the High School, commencing at
4:45. Superintendent Fisher occupied the
time for twenty-five minutes on fractions
and was succeeded by Mr.. White, instruc-
tor in music, who led the teachers in the
singing. iss Estes OF the Laurel Hill
school rendered Marguerite" very pleas
ingly, and after this restful variations OF
the programme, Superintendent Fisher
took the floor again and spoke for some
time defining in general way his posi-
tion as Superintendent. Among other
things he said:
We are all born teachers- so at least Col
Parker says. The statement has the true
ring of feeling and appreciation. 1t points
To the progressive plan OF the world and
the inherent good there is in people. |
like 1t. Then like the converse propo.
sition and believe that to be true. We are
all born learners. | desire to make a
practical application OF these views in my
work here and, as school Superintendent,
To bring you, II l can, into relations OF
helpfulness, so that the schools of Paw
tucket may be schools for you and me,
good places to be in, TO teach in, To grow
in. The High School and Kindergarten
the training school, the special teachers
the other teachers and their assistants, ali
should be unit OF forces contributing to
your education and mine.
Hard work Is needed and much of it
hard work in the school room, and il is
my desire to share with you in doing it,
want to be in the school room all I can,
not to harry you but to help you, not to
take away your freedom but to give you,
II possible, more OF it. As soon as | get
settled down to house keeping shall 90
directly from my house to the school
room In the morning, and not to the
Office, where | might be detained for
good part of the forenoon. | desire to be
school room Superintendent and not
an Office superintendent and | trust
that, AZ go my rounds, shall be a wei
come guest, 10 matter whether | come
alose or accompanied by others.
believe that every boy and girl Il
more or less genius and that in direct
ing school work we should keep this fact
continually before us. In brany New
England at least, where so many original
thinkers have lived and died, and where
SO many poets and pu ubllc speakers, inven-
tors and artists have earned world wide
reputation, history would suggest that
free scope be given to individual powers.
To accomplish What feel is needed |
must rely TO certain extent upon teach
| ers' meetings. How many shall we hold
during the Year, | should say that half
quarterly meetings would be desirable,
| emitting the one in the hot weat her at the
| end OF the year and perhaps one in the
| Snort days OF mid Winter. Seven general
| and seven grade meetings [seven for each
| gradel would be the maximum; and We
| might hold only five or six. Let us say
six of each kind. | ask you to cooperate
with me I'm making these teachers meet
ings a success. | must teach you and you
must teach me. We must be teachers and
learners together.
do not want yoa to worry over your
work. Worry bring crows feet and all
the other wrinkles and finally kills. |
| do not pity those who work hard, but |
do pity those who worry with or without
cause. My injunction to you would be to
work hard and worry not bit. Easier
| said than done, perhaps you say. But |
would like TO ask you IL ii is not some
| thing for the School Committee or the
| School Superintendent To come forward
and encourage you not to worry. Does
not that helpt
The remarks OF Superintendent Fisher
were listened to with great interest and
the teachers were evidently much pleased
with them. During the course OF his ad-
dress, Mr.. Fisher paid high tribute to
ex superintendent Maxson.