Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1895-12-07
G. B. E. A. MEETING.

Golden Belt Educational association
was held in the opera house at Ellis
on Friday and Saturday of last week.
The meeting was called to order by
President Bickerdyke, who came all
the way from Salina to preside over
the meetings of the society, which he
was so largely instrumental in organ
izing. Although now outside of the
territory of the Golden Belt he has no
interest i'm the work of the associa-
ton.
The welcome address was made by
Rev. G.. II. Woodward who exalted
the work of teachers on account of
their influence upon the Young people
in their charge; an influence which
he thought was not second to that of
the press, the ministry or even the
mothers. W. H. PeniX. of Waldo,
made fitting response.
The subject of the presidents an
nual address was advertising" more
especially professional advertising.
The gist was elbow your horn but be
sure it is worth blowing; make your
work and worth felt and your services
will be in demand"
The president appointed L. III. Geh-
man and w. II. SWiggett a committee
on nomination and Mrs. Lucy Best,
A. d. Spielman and 0. a. kropf as
as committee on resolutions.
Geography, Intensive not EXten-
ed paper by Mrs. Jessie Taylor. 1t
was a plea for the more emphatic
teaching of the practical, useful facts
in geography and the omission of the
non-essentials by the outline method.
This paper provoked the most earnest
discussion of the whole session. While
no teacher attacked the principle in
yolved some seemed unable to apply
it. or to dispose of matters in detail
according to a rigid standard, self-im-
posed.
Eminent Teachers was the sub
ject of a very interesting paper by
Miss Lannie Frost. Miss Frost is a
lady of wide reading and her papers
are always instructive and entertain
ing.
1.-THE Value Of Methods" was the
subject of Friday evenings lecture by
Prof. j. n. Wilkinson, principal of
the training department at the State
NJ lc ooti fssl1
and common sense talk on the ''knOw
how" of the teachers work, but was
necessarily disappointment to most
teachers as they expected an illus
trated lecture more in the line of an
than professional
talk. That was the original inten-
ton of the executive committee, but
they had to forego that treat for the
members of the Belt on account of the
expense.
Supt. E. t. Fairchild, of Ellsworth,
read an excellent paber on 1.-THE Pro
fession." While some say teachers
work is not profession he would have
that work so well done and the teach
ing influence 50 exerted as to compel
recognition.
Prof. j. w. Thompson, of Ellis. read
a paper showing how school training
should result in good citizenship
otherwise school training fails of its
purpose.
County High Schools was the sub
ject of an instructive talk by Princi-
pal Lucy Best, of the Wa-Keeney
schools. Mrs. Best recounted the
history of county high school legisla-
ton, litigation, election struggles,
disappointment and successes through
out the state since the enactment of
the law. Prof. Isaac Smith also told
Of the difficulties he encountered in
the late high school election in Cove
county. The difficulty in establishing
county high schools by an election
seems to lie in the fact that people
underrate the usefulneSs-ne
even-of such and greatly overrate
the supposed cost of them. The sue
cess of those schools already estab-
lished ought to convince voters of
their mistakes. As usual the smallest
taxpayer is the biggest objecter.
Such a school adapted to the needs of
Trego county would not cost the aver
age taxpayer as much as a pound Of
tobacco or a bottle of Missouri com
promise. Such schools should be es-
tablished in every county to induce
pupils to remain in school longer and
to furnish the connecting link be-
tween the rural schools and the higher
institutions.
The society was entertained by the
grafton of O. A. Kropf and by nuRer-
Gus recitations and music by young
people whose names our reporter
failed to get. The music of the man
dolin club was especially fine and the
audience could hardly satisfy itself