The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1893-04-20
THE TEACHERS CONFERENCE.


On Saturday last Supts. Bargain, of
Cottonwood, and Race, of Redwood,
met twenty-five teachers in confer
ence at Lamberton. The. session be-
gan at 1870 a. m. and continued un-
til 4:3O p. m. Miss Osher sang solo
Drifting with the Tide" as an open
ing. 1t was nicely rendered. Supt.
Race took up the topic of School
room ventilation This was the sea-
son of the year when some teachers
thought a fire unnecessary Never
lower window on the side from which
the wind is blowing. Don't open doors
to cool off your rooms. Try and per-
suade the board to put jacket around
the stove. This protects the children
who sit near the stove and more uni
formly heats the colder parts of the
room. Try and have your room pro-
vided with Thermometer. It will
guide you better than your own feel
ings. Mr.. Emerson spoke on "School
Discipline and Order" He said he
might consider good school one that
was full of life, work and orderly
movement of the pupils. Good work,
he thought, never came from poorly
arranged plans. He dwelt at length
upon liberties and punishment of pu-
pills. Obedience, order and dignity of
the teacher We're necessary. No teach
er can afford to be careless in habits
on the street. He teaches there as
much as in school rooms. If it was
necessary he would whip a very bad
boy into good one. He required pu-
pills to deposit in box upon his desk,
written statements about which they
wished to talk. At close of school he
looked them over. If unnecessary
the privilege in the future was denied.
He thought all pupils should realize
they were in school for business. All
forms of idleness should be strictly
forbidden. Supts. Race and Bargain
took up Reading" Both particular
ly urged good enunciation, good ex-
preston and good volume of voice.
The sentence method was particular
Iy urged over the word method. ALI
first reader grade should spell by let
ter, by sound and use the word in a
sentence of the pupils making. The
work should be followed in second
reader grade in similar manner. The
teacher to teach the lesson must know
it. To borrow pupils book and then
ask where the lesson is, was an act al
most inexcusable. From such teach
ers good teaching was almost impos-
sible. Teachers must have plan, an
outline of what they intend to teach
and then teach. A teacher should ask
himself this question, "What have I
tried to teach and have I taught it,"
The Misses Byington sang beautiful
duet entitled Freshest Flowers Over
the Sea-"
Supts. Bargain and Race discussed
the free text book law. claiming that a
half loaf was better than none. Teach
ers we're urged to induce boards not
to hurriedly adopt books without due
delberation. A county uniformity for
Redwood and Cottonwood was desir
able. Supts. Bargain and RACE we're
urged to confer as soon as possible
with each other with reference To the
books likely to be used next year. The
following program was presented for
the next meeting.
Lesson in general history Age of
Pericles to Rome Miss McGrath,
leader; Instrumental music, Mabel
Osher; Recitation, Anna Gwinn; Vo-
cal duet, Misses Byington; Lady of
the Lake, S. J. Race; Paper on geog-
raphy, Ida Dinneen; Question box, in
charge Of the president. Meeting adj
journed to meet at Lamberton, May
Ii, at 1:15 p. m. s.