River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-04-02


ETC., ought to be dropped and algebra
substituted for advance arithmetic.
The paper was discussed by A. j.
Ingli Of Arkansaw and c. l.. Hill of
Knapp.
Distrdct School Section.
Presiding ofiicer-J ID. O'KeefTe.
The Common School section met in
the assembly room and was very we'll
attended. Mr.. Lowater was unable
to attend but his excellent paper on
the NEED OF Better Trained Teachers
for the Common Schools was read by
w. ID. Chaplin. Mr.. Rounsevell opened
the discussion which followed and
many points were suggested by way
of cure. Mr. Baird presented very
interesting paper ON ''The Teachers
Outside Influence as Related to His
School Work." one of the principal
points being, how to secure co-opera-
tion and visitation by parents. Mrs.
Wadsworth opened the discussion
which followed.
The Question Of Grading the COM
mon schools was we'll presented by
Mr.. Wentz Of Rock Elm, and "Dist.
Libraries by Mr.. Varnum of Eau
Gale, and "Books most read and how
to use them,n by Miss Kidd of Dunn
Co. proved very interesting and eX-
cited good discussions. Mr.. Webster
gave an excellent discussion on "How
to teach penmanship" which was
much enjoyed. A collection of
samples of penmanship which had
been made by Mr.. O'Keeffe was
exhibited and showed very nicely the
progression of that branch in the
grades.
TUESDAY EVENING.
The session was called to order by
Pres. Brainerd. After making some
announcements and explanations, he
called for the music. This was
furnished by quartet consisting of
Messrs. Seller and Hale and Misses
Dodge and Langdon. Then Prin.
Hamilton sang two solos with excel
lent effect. Miss Dodge followed with
another solo, which she rendered in
her best manner.
Then Pres. Brainerd introduced the
speaker of the evening, DIR. III. S.
Baker of st. Paul, WHO spoke on ''The
Relation of Fatigue to Education"
He first explain ID the chemistry Of
fatigue" Fat que is caused by waste
products of the body, which are pro-
duced by exertion, poisoning the
blood, and death would result in time
if they were not removed. He next
showed the effect of fatigue ON the
nerve cells of the brain. Fatigue
causing them to shriyel up like
a dried prune, and rest is necessary to
permit them to regain their former
state. The speaker then went on to
show by many illustrations and COM
ments, the effect of fatigue upon ones
action at different periods during the
day and week. The higher faculties
of the mind as the will, reason,
religious nature, etc, becomes eX-
hausted first. Hence one will do at
night what he would not in the
morning. A man will be good natur-
ed in the morning and i'll natured at
night. He is more religious in the
morning. hence he should have
family prayers then. He will be
perfectly honest on Monday and will
bear watching on Saturday. As it
takes about SO hours to get thorough
ly rested, if religious services were
held on Monday, they would be better
attended and the contribution box
better filed. He also showed that
man who must labor with his mind
should abstain from all heavy physical
labor before using his mind. Exercise
should follow intellectual labor
rather than precede. The speaker
next made an application of his theory
to schools. The teacher should not
tire herself by standing too much.
She cannot do her best work when
tired. A tired teacher is cross and
thus makes her pupils cross and
stupid as well as tired. The program
should correspond to certain rythms
of energy in pupils. They can do
better work between 8 and 10 than
between 10 and IL, stronger work
between ii and IL and so on.
No brief analysis will do justice to
DR.. Bakers lecture. 1t proved to be
one of the most suggestive lectures
ever delivered before the association,
and all who were kept away by the
storm missed a great address.
WEDNESDAY FORENOON, APR. l.
In spite of the continued storm,
the normal chapel was well filled at
the opening of the association. The
association was called to order by
Pres. Brainerd. The first topic ''The
Ethical Value of Civics Teaching"
was presented by W. L. Langley OF
West Superior. He said that no
other subject in the course of study is
better adapted to teach ethics than
Civics. Ethical ideas are best formed
by Study of government. Prin. I'll.
w. Rood of Washbrun followed with
a paper on Moral Training. Good
teaching of morals form a desire in
the mind Of the child to know what
the best men have thought and done.
The teacher may frequently effect
change ia character by saying the
right word in the right place.
Prin. Toby of Hudson opened the
discussion on the papers. One of the
great virtues to be taught boy or
girl is obedience, and civics is sub
ject that viii help greatly to form
this habit.
.Prin. Rood continued the discussion.
He thought the newspapers were
teaching rotten morals. He was
frequently applauded for his decided
and earnest utterances.
Prin. Tobey then appeared to de-
fend the n@wspapers.
The next paper Some Old Fashion
ed Pedagogy" by Miss Carrie Smith