The Daily Texarkanian., 1894-04-18
NO. 1893.
EDUCATIONAL COLUMN.

the purpose of this article to dis
cuss somewhat briefly some of the
benefits of teachers institutes. The
same arguments are applicable to
the assembling of teachers in insti-
tutes as to the assembling of other
bodies, commercial, professional or
religious in associations, congresses,
conventions, etc. Some one has
said that "the American people are
a people of conventions. No peo-
pie in the world have made such
rapid strides toward improvement
in all directions as the people of the
United States have done in the last
quarter of century. This period
has been notably one Of conven-
tions, Every week the papers con-
tain an account of the proceedings
of some state or national associa-
tion, and we are made to feel in
some measure the extent of this
influence. Were space allotted, it
would be interesting to discuss the
work of some of the great conven-
tions that have been held in this
country and trace their influence
on its civilization. But it is not
within the scope of these articles to
do this. An investigation of the
matter will convince any one that
the rapid advancement and marvel
our prosperity of our country is, in
very large part, due to, and can not
be separated from, the assembling
of its people in their numerous con-
ventions Especially can this be
said of educational work. The es-
sentials to success here, as every
where else, are, unity of purpose,
concentration of forces, intelligent
guidance. Institutes will secure dll
these, In these meetings the
teachers discuss thoroughly the va
rious phases of their work. The
best of all that is said is taken and
formulated into a place which all
may follow, and thus is secured
UNITY OF PURPOSE. Under existing
circumstances every teacher Of the
county is Claw unto himself. He
never meets his fellow teacher un-
less by accident. He knows little
and cares less about how they are
getting along. His chief business
is to sit in the school house with
the children six hours day for five
days in the week and draw his sal
larry. He does not consider wheth-
er he is an honor to the profession,
his chiefest concern being how
much the profession is going to
contribute to his support. If he
has any interest at all in school
work it seldom goes beyond the de-
sire to succeed himself 1t rarely
develops into a desire to see the
cause Of education advanced every
where.
The teachers settle down to their
work at the beginning OF the term
and during its continuance do not
get out of the neighborhood, and it
is not rare thing to find teachers
working in adjoining districts for a
whole term and not so much as
even becoming acquainted, much
less cooperating in their work.
This is not as it should be. The
teachers should get acquainted;
should become warm, true and
hopeful friends; should meet and
discuss their work; should rejoice
together over success and
sympathize with each other
in times of trouble and disappoint-
ment, should join hands and stand
shoulder in all things. Their motto
should be Omitted we stand, di-
vided we fall" 1t is the purpose
Of the Institute to bring teachers
together, to have them get ac-
quainted, to make them friends, to
the end that they may unite their
efforts and work each to the advan-
tage of the other. / wish to again
call attention to the institute to be
held at the Interstate College on
Saturday April %, and extend
hearty invitation to all to attend.
Country teachers especially will
find this meeting profitable to them.
shall have more to say next week
about the work of the institute.
G.. ]. ELLIS.