The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-01-03
TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.
Normal school Trouble Not Touched
Upon-The Papers.

building at the worlds fair, and which
caused Custodian Griffin of the state
house so much worry by being left in
his care. came into good play Wednesday
morning at the second session of the
state teachers association. The $50
chairs and the settees which constitute
the seating furniture of the hall of the
house of representatives were soon filled
and a hundred or more extra chairs were
added. but even these did not suffice
and the throng filled the gallery and oc-
cupied available space for standing room.
The unusual attendance was due to the
expectation Of a lively discussion of the
state I,nrmal school trouble, but the dis
cussio 1ziid not come. and although those
in attendance may have been disap-
pointed on that score, they were amply
repaid for their trouble and enjoyed a
profitable time during the session.
The first subject discussed was. 1.-THE
State Of Public Education" This was
a symposium, and four persons were on
the program 10 take part in it, but
Alexander c. Johnson, superintendent Of
the home for feebie-Tninded children at
It. Wayne, and T. j. Charlton, super
intendent of the reform school for boys,
were not present and the discussion was
concluded by Joseph Swain, president of
the state university, and L. Z. Griffith.
superintendent Of the institute for the
blind
The next paper. on Literature and
Life was by Mrs Emma Mont McRea
OF Purdue university. She said that
literature was truth transformed into
beauty: that there could be no compro-
mise with truth; jingle Of words cannot
make literature. The simple everyday
life may by a skilled hand be trans
formed into a thing of beauty. She said
that truth makes every man who comes
into its presence feel that there is divin-
ity within him. The paper was dis
cussed by Miss Adelaide Baylor of Wa
hash and Miss Anna c. Film of Vim
cennes.
The evening session of the teachers
convention was devoted to a debate be-
tween students Of the Indiana university
and DePauw university on the question,
Docs the Political and Social Situation
Demand the Rise Into Power OF a New
Political Party Other Than the Demo-
cratic or the Republican,"
Indiana university had the affirmative
and the debate was opened by Linnaeus
Hines OF Noblesville. He is a hand
some young man, possessing the form
and fea lures Of an Apollo, but he lacks
the qualities Of some Of his doubles con-
tempories. wh2 made themselves
famous as orators. Mr.. Hines took up
livered his speech in a nervous, rapid
manner. which led his hearers TO think
he must be talking against time rather
than against three very young and very
inexperienced men. His delivery was
much on the tragedy style and detracted
considerably from his thought. which
was in some parts good, but too
voiunlinoUs and not enough to the point.
The affirmation was also discussed
by William H. Stout Of Jeffersonville
and J. II. Hamilton Of Greens5urg.
Their argument was similar 10 that
of Mr.. Hines, first showing the need Of
reform, then showing the inability of
the Old parties to bring this reform
about, and hence the necessity Of new
party.
The negative Of the question was
handled by Charles A Prosser of New
Albany. James NJ. Ogden of Danville
and Edward Dunn Of Spencer, repre-
seating DePaUw.
The debate lost much OF its interest
from the fact that there were no judges
appointed 70 decide which side won.
The large attendance which has char
acteriZed the meetings Of the state teach
ers' association during the convention
now in progress was maintained at
Thursday mornings session. The devo-
tiOnal exercises OF the day were led by
President Burroughs Of Wabash college.
The first subjects discussed was 1.-The
treated under two heads by two differ
ent speakers and further discussed by
other members. President Burroughs
was the first speaker and considered the
Moral Education in Public Schools"
Public education for citizenship, he said
should not be secular. He said that
while theological and religious doctrines
were Separable from morals, morals and
religion were inseparable. Morality is
not necessarily religion. Morality is the
outside and religion the inside From
the weIl-gOverned home comes the best
student and from the weIl-governed
school comes the best citizen. He
thought the scriptures should be studied
as literature lessons; as the mirror of
human life The schools, he said, were
not secular and could not be while the
American republic lasted.
Under the same general subject the
Rev. r. +. Dewhurst of Indianapolis dis
cussed the ''Pedagogics Of the Bible"
He said the bible was full of stories of
men teaching and behind them may be
seen methods. Three methods of teach
ing were displayed in the bible The
first is the dogTnatic of which the ten
commandments are examples. The work
OF the prophets is full Of dogmas and
the speeches Of Paul are marked with
dogmatic methods. The second method
was the categorical method which looked
for a spiritual meaning behind the lit
He said the third method was embraced
in the pedagogics Of Jesus. His was the
analytical method and He was pre-emi-
nently the great teacher He was a
great observer and possessed an engag-
ing personality. He taught as one hav-
ing authority.
The next paper was on The Tendon
cies OF Prevailing Methods Of Promotion
and Reports" II was by T. E. Fitzgib-
bons, superintendent Of the Elwood city
schools and he took a positive stand
against frequent examinations and fire.
quent reports Pupils we're trained to
the idea that II they could stuff enough
q few days days before an examination
20 make satisfactory showing and get
tie required per cent. they had accom-
plished all that was expected Of them.
And In many cases the tendency was
In the direction to expect no more. Ere
quent examinations have many bad
moral influences upon the pupil and be-
sides the effect upon the teacher Is not
good. The teacher, too, drifts into the
notion that TO have his pupils make a
good showing on an examination Is the
highest object OF his vocation. Frequent
reports from teachers required too much
OF their time that they might otherwise
be giving to thoughts for the betterment
Of their schools. He believed teachers
were unnecessarily hindered by useless
red tape. This paper was discussed
freely by several members, those who
were county s1psrintendents feeling an