Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-01-10
OFFICE IN DIcKERMAN BUILDING UPSTAIRS.
DEBORAH, IOWA, JAN. 10, 1896.
Iowa State Teachers Association.

lHc lOTty -uTSI dlllludl SSSSlOll Ol Tie
Iowa State Teachers Association was
held at Des Moines last week, and
was in every sense of the word a decid-
ed success. Almost every county in
the state was represented by either the
incumbent of the superintendent
office or the superintendent-elec and
in many instances both were present.
These, however, did not constitute the
entire association, for teachers from
far and near thronged in to take part
in the carrying out of the excellent
program prepared by the executive
committee.
The program AS carried out in the
superintendents' section was both in
teresting and instructive. Many most
excellent papers were read and fol-
lowed by general discussions, which
brought out many more excellent
thoughts. 1t is safe to say that those
who were in attendance were benefited
beyond degree estimated in dollars
and cents. The earnestness with
which the older and more experienced
superintendents spoke could not but
have salutory influence upon those
who are about to assume those respon-
sible duties.
In the college and university depart
ments the interest manifested was in
tor fN,. ho, N,,f/
ceedings and it is doubtful if the bene-
fits derived by some are worth the
efforts put forth. Still, it showed
plainly that when the educational in
terests of our state are about to be
tampered with so as to lower their
high standard of excellence, we have
many good, loyal men to defend them.
In the general association many very
excellent papers were read touching
the various phases of education and
educational interests. These were lis
tened to with marked attention, and
from the hearty applause given it is
safe to say that through them the SEN
'iiiohto VI AoiSO iiaJoiity "CiS
voiced.
The papers regarding the township
high-schools, read by Prof. j. 5. Shoup,
Supt. Cofeen and Prof. Fracker were
to the point and it is to be hoped that
what seemed 10 be the unanimous
plan, prepared independently by these
three men, may be carried out in the
not too distant future.
The address delivered by Hon. Henry
Sabin was excellent. Supt. Sabin is
not an orator whose Imagination scars
away to the regions of dreamland, and
whose words drip from the lips, as it
We're, like the dew drops from the
rose buds, glittering in the sunshine
as they fall, but vanishing ut once
they leave naught behind. Sabin is
man who must be known before he
can be appreciated. His thoughts are
not clothed in words that will carry
the listener away in trance, leaving
him no chance to think, but he clothes
them in words so plain that u child
can grasp them, and yet so powerful
as to impress them upon the minds of
his hearers with force possessed by
but very few men.
1t is to be hoped that next year more
than four will manifest interest enough
in the welfare of our schools to attend
the meeting of the association and
help it along 1t is doing "a grand and
good work and deserves the support of
all who wish to be called teachers.
The representatives from Winnie
shiek county We're only four in num-
ber: Prof. Granrud of Luther College,
Prof. Clark of Ossian, Supt. Coffeen
and Supt.-elect Haugen.
Fayette county captured the first
prize offered by the association. 1t
consisted of a school library valued at
$500 and was awarded for the great
est number of miles travelled by any
delegation.