The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-01-05
OREGON TEACHERS MEET,
The Corvallis Contingent Make
aGood Showing at the
Session.

Our readers will be interested in the pro
gram of the State Teachers Association
stract of the work that pertains especially tt
I what was done by the persons from this Sec
tlon of the state. This meeting was uniyer
sally acknowledged one of the most satisfac
tory of the conventions of Oregon teachers.
The enrolment reached fully 400, and in the
| several departments-that of superintend-
ents, colleges, and public school teachers
| there was a remarkable interest, intelligent
papers, and lively discussions, the gist oi
which was that teachers need special prep.
aration for the discharge of the important
duties imposed upon them by responsible
ties they assume, and that there is a rapid
forward movement in every department o.
school work.
On Wednesday afternoon, Prof. J, B.
Horner read a very good paper on Libra
ries in Public Schools" The paper received
a great deal of mer1ted praise, since it con-
tanned valuble suggestions on the Importance,
value, and character of such adjuncts to the
public school course. On suggestions on
how to procure these libraries it was shown
how some localities have succeeded in raise.
ing funds for procuring the books--among
others, the plan of holding entertainments,
the proceeds of which are appropriated to
this purpose, was referred to. The collect
ing of books and magazines for which the
owners have no further use, and the solicita.
tion for bequests from persons who have
not means enough to endow some institution
of learning, and yet are anxious to use par.
of their means for the promotion of the in
telligence of the rising generation.
In the college department Pres. Jno. M.
Bloss, gave an address on ''The Place of the
State Agricultural College in our Education
al System" The relation of the several de.
partments of school work was clearly out
lined, and the point that in this system the
agricultural college has distinct place, was
well made. The paper called forth friend.
ly discussion in which number of the COL
lege men participated. Supt. McElroy also
took part in this discussion.
In the same department, President Camp.
bell discussed t'The place of the Normal
School in our Educational System" He
said that the normal school system was early
made in enlightened oou ntr.es III Europe an
integral part of the public school system.
Trained teachers were recognized as neces.
sity by each of the great educational re-
formers. In the United States the normal
school idea was impeded in it's growth by
tho empirical work done by many private
normal schools, which assumed the name as
a means of gaining popularity. The best
schools based their teaching upon thorough
preparatory study of the elements of psycol.
ogy and of leading educational principles.
Normal schools today aim at developing
the originality of the student. They aim to
avoid dead mechanical work.
In the main department of the
association, Professor Il. w. Shaw read
on Thursday very clean paper on the
topic ''The State, The Community and The
School" The relation of these three was
clearly shown and the responsibility of these
to each other constitute the leading thought
of the paper. The special mission of the
school in its function of preparing citizens
for the state and desirable people for the
community was we'll presented. The paper
was well received and will leaye its impress
for good with the teachers of Oregon.
A central feature of the meeting was the
exhibit of school work in the art room of the
Portland high school building. In this ex-
hibit, there was a very good display of com.
position work from the department of
English from the state agricultural college.
This work, done under the direction of Prof.
J. B. Horner, showed remarkably the quail
tiles of neatness, good thought and clear
expression.
The session closed on Thursday evening
at which time the Hon. M. George, of Port
land, presented, at the close of very hap.
py speech relative to the good work done
education in the state, to Supt. McElroy,
in behalf of the teachers, very beautiful
token of their regard for him. The present
was Mssonic jewel, beautifully engraved.
Mr.. McElroy responded in very neat
speech in which he briefly reviewed the
history of public school work in the state,
showing the growth it has had and the aims
of the department relative, to future i'm.
provement. He expressed his recognition
of the valuable assistance the teachers have
universally given in his work, and thanked
them for their confidence and appreciation.