Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-12-09
FIRST MEETING
OF Golden Belt Educational Asso
citation.

The first annual session of the Golden
Bet Educational association was held
in Wa-Keeney, Friday and Saturday of
last week and was decided success not
withstanding the inclement weather and
inconvenient train service which kept
many from attending Many teachers
in each of the seven counties of the Belt
live from Is to 80 miles from the rail-
road and it required energy and endur-
ance to get to town against the severe
northern gale OF last Thursday. Again,
teachers coming from the east were COM
PEELED to be away from home four days
and three nights in order to attend all
the sessions and it would be asking too
much to expect all to come under such
circumstances. The attendance was not
large, but this defect was offset by lively
interest and enthusiasm at each session.
The first session was called to order
by President Gehman Friday morning
and opened by singing "America."
Schuyler Opp was elected temporary Sec
rotary. Rev. Bracken delivered the well
come address to which Superintendent
A. L. King, OF Ellis county, responded
briefly. The president delivered short
address which was followed by paper
entitled First Day of School" by Prof.
Opp. Mr.. Opp would allow no liberties
on the first day which he did not expect
to continue throughout the term and adj
vised teachers to become conversant
with their schools and surroundings be-
fore beginning their labors, also advised
inspection and repair of school buildings
before the term began.
The president appointed the following
committees: On resolutions-Prof. L. S.
Fry, Superintendent Isaac Smith and o.
F. Bearnes. Nominations - Superin-
tendents A. S. Peacock, A. L. King, J.
r. Bickerdyke, Professors o. E. Wheeler
and J. 0. McBurney.
At the Friday afternoon session Mrs
S. M. Hutzel read paper on 1.-THE
Teacher From the Standpoint of the
Parent" @. V. Kinney, editor of the
Oakley Graphic: sent letter regretting
his inability to be present and also sent
his paper, "The Teacher From the
Standpoint of the Public" which was
read by A. S. Peacock. Mr.. Felts being
absent, Superintendent Smith and Miss
Andres were appointed to discuss his
subject, "The Teacher From the Stand
point of the Pupil" These were follow
ed by lengthy discussion during which
President Fairchild gave teachers some
wholesale advice about government. He
would enlist the influence of the better
minded pupils in controlling the unruly
ones and endeavor to convince them
that it was for the good of the school
and not a favor to the teacher.
emusic in the Public Schools" was
the title of paper sent by Miss Louise
Doerle, of Russell, and read by Miss
Stearns, of Ellis. The discussion which
followed disclosed a diversity of opinion
regarding the place of music in the
schools, but all agreed that was valua-
BILE as an exercise for it's moral effect
and discipline operate singing was
roundly denounced by J. A. Rich.
The evening session was opened by
music by the Wa-Keeney Glee club.
Miss Grace NJ Hager, of Ellis, recited
"Persimmons" to the great delight of
the audience.
President Fairchild, of the State Agri-
cultural college at Manhattan, delivered
an address on "The Art of Seeing"
which was both pleasing and instructive
to the mixed audience, although intend
ed more especially for teachers. The
large room was comfortably filed and
the evenings entertainment enjoyed by
all. After the lecture an hour was spent
in social reunion enliyened by songs by
the Glee club which were loudly ap-
plauded, calling forth many words of
praise from our visitors both young and
old. In the meantime the west-bound
train brought several new arrivals to
participate in the fun. The evening will
long be remembered by the teachers of
the Golden Belt.
The weather Saturday morning was
especially unfavorable. Sleet covered
the walks. President Fairchild took the
middle of the street for safety. How
ever, the clouds and gloom did not
dampen the ardor of the teachers or
lessen their enthusiasm. They were
soon engaged in discussion, led by SUI
perintendent Smith and @. II. Cole, of
Grainfeld, of elbow to Create an Inter-
est in the Study of Current History"
''The Youths Companion, Review of
Reviews and Our Times" were mention
ed as papers for school room work on
this subject. Attention was called to
the fact that current history would pro-
woke discussion of partisan and sectarian
subjects. Several teachers would teach
politics, or discuss party policy without
being partisans. Superintendent Bick-
erdyke would not lose his identity on ac-
count of his public position. He would
not be afraid to name his politics or re-
ligion and give his reasons for the same
and allow pupils and others the same
privilege.
Prof. E. B. Bachelor read paper on
"The Teacher as Citizen" which was
well written.
"Earmarks of a Lazy Teacher" was
the subject of paper by Prof. L. S. Fry.
The INDECENT pedagogue was graphically
depicted. Superintendent Bickerdyke
gave some ludicrous descriptions drawn
from his own observation.
O. L. Wheeler recited a laughable Sc
lection which closed the session.
The afternoon session was opened by
an able paper by Prof. Wheeler on Ed
ucational Progress in the States. This
was followed by a ''free-for-all, go-as-
you-please" discussion of ''The State
Board of Education; Are They Fair to
the Teachers of Western KansasW This
aroused more lively discussion than any
other subject before the association. The |