St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-03-18
Teachers Association.

A Teachers Association was organ
lied here on Wednesday afternoon by
the election of Mrs. NJ. NJ, Hayes as tenn
porary president and Miss Gabrielle
I Hebrard as temporary secretary. Il
was decided to hold another meeting
about the 1st of April, to which al
the teachers of the neighbOrhOOd will
be invited, and when permanent or.
ganization will be effected.
Mr.. II. H. Hargrove, of Shreveport
agent of the State Teachers Associa,
ton, was present and explained the i'm
portance of such associations and the
benefits to be derived from them. He
said that in Shreveport like associa-
ton had been formed three years ago,
and that the resulting benefits were 80
numerous and tangible that to-day a
keener interest was felt in the matter
by the members than ever, and hearty
and cordial support was accorded them
by the community. Not only was a
wholesome esprit de corps fostered and
developed among teachers, and pleas
ing and desirable sociability promoted.
but improved modes and methods of
teaching were discussed and adopted,
and more attention given to the minor
details of school work, details whose
importance are too often underrated.
The efficiency of the teachers was there
by enhanced, thus benetiting the COM
munity, and their increased usefulness
brought higher rewards to the patient
and undcrpaid toilers who to great ex
tent form the mind, heart and character
of the men and women of the future,
thus directly benefting themselves.
Similar organizations exist in the va
rious States, and Mr.. Hargroye stated
that several towns 10 this State-Mon-
roe, Ruston and others-possessed them
and that they were everywhere prosper
GUS and useful. The membership fees
were very small-usually about 90 cents
per year-and in several cases public
spirited citizens had made liberal dona
tons of books and phamplllets treating
of the science of teaching, which, like
the educational periodicals OF the day
to which they had access, were full Of
helpful hints calculated to tighten the
labors of the teacher aud make them
more pleasant aud effective.
A good, strong Association should be
organized here without any unnecessary
delay. Our teachers must understand
that they are not the only ones who are
deeply interested in this matter and
they must not suppose that if they per-
sist in standing in their own light it is
nobody's business but their own. The
community is vitality interested in every
thing that pertains to the more efficient,
the better and higher education of its
and those to whom is commit
ted this sacred trust should neglect no
opportunity to properly qualify them
selves for the best possible discharge of
their duties. One of the paths leading
to that devoutly to be wished for con-
summation has been clearly pointed out
by Mr.. Hargroye, and the teachers and
the community in general should be un-
der lasting obligations to him for his
and painstaking labors. The
ladies who attended the meeting-Mrs.
Hayes, Miss Hebrard, Mrs. Mayer, Mrs.
Traylor, Mrs. ORooke, and Misses Le-
ola B. and Maude White-are enthusi-
astic in their advocacy of the idea, and
we confidently look to them for its sue
cessful prosecution. In all their efforts
looking to that end they will have the
cordial support and the humble assis-
tance of the DEMOCRAT.