The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-11-23
HE CAUGHT THE TEACHERS,
Or. J. p. Welsh Takes Their Part.-A Vote
OF Thanks rendered.

The Harrisburg Patriot OF Friday
last contained the following concern
Ing our distinguished townsman, DR..
]. P. Welsh
The most popular speaker at yester
days sessions of the Dauphin county
Teachers Institute, as far as the
teachers were concerned, was DR.. J.
P. Welsh, principal of the State Nor.
NAL School at Bloomsbury DR..
Welsh, plain-spoken if anything, made
an address in the afternoon on "The
Part in Education Which the Teacher
Does Not Have" He was down on
the program to speak on "The
Teachers. Part in Education" In
addressing the Institute he said the
subject assigned did not suit him.
When he gave it to Superintendent
McNeal to be placed upon the pro-
gram he had not given it the thought
it deserved. "Instead of speaking
upon what the teacher does in edu-
cation" said he, al wish to talk on
that part the teacher does not have.
| wish to consider those elements
which have to do with the FIRST six
years OF child's life or that period
proceeding the time when it is handed
over to the school teacher" He re-
ferred to the child as a bundle of
possibilities.
'On the training it receives prior
to being placed in school depends a
great deal its future. He alluded
somewhat bitterly to the failure of
fathers and mothers to give the pro-
per early training to children and with
no little sarcasm said the primary
school teacher was expected to make
good boys and girls of them. &" No
doubt" the speaker said, "one of
these children can send its mother to
bed with the headache every night.
What then," he asked, "can teacher
be expected to do with twenty-five or
Thirty of them1 Parents teach their
children most everything excepting
how to be good fathers and mothers"
He pointed to The great difficulty in
the matter as being lack of know
ledge on the part of the parents
their utter incompetency to properly
train. DIR. Welsh told a story of
visit to a doctor, an old college class
mate, during his vacation. He wss
anxious that the doctor accompany
him fishing. The doctor was unable
to go, however, because OF his having
to visit patient-a ten.months old
baby suffering frow dyspepsia.
What |" said DR.. Welsh, "Is
that baby's stomach ruined already p
" That's about it," was the reply.
g Its parents have been feeding it
cakes and sausage"
When the doctor returned, having
prescribed diet of milk on his first
'isit, he told the speaker the young
'ter was sitting at the table eating his
ouckwheat cakes and sausage. Such
iiet for baby struck the teachers as
being extremely ludicrous and there
vas considerable laughter.
DR.. Welsh said there was great |
iced of moral training on the part Of
PARENTS. He said the teacher re-
:eived but little assistance in the
4verage home and yet parents insisted |
IN complaining that their boys ard |
iris were not what they ought to be.
Good citizenship" he said, "was
he object of the State in establishing
'ublic schools and," he added "the
eachers ought to have the co-opera-
ion of every parent in attaining this
'bject. This CO operation was too
requently absent, however" At the
oncluslon Of his address Professor l..
|. Cause, an old city teacher, arose
nd moved a vote of thanks to DIR.
Welsh for taking the part Of teachers
nd for his able address. Superinten.
ent Mr.. McGinnes, of the Steelton
chools who was presiding, put the
ote and heard In response hearty
hOrus of ayes.