The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-30
MANY TEACHERS ARE PRESENT
VARIOUS SECTIONS OF THE ORGAN
IzATIoN CONSIDER BRANCHES
OF TEACHING.
REPORT OF YESTERDAYS DOINGs
President Parr Delivers His Animal
Address-PrOf. Coulter, of Chi
cagO, Is Heard.

SiOhoi dooOCldllOu TO OrO6r yesterday
Tor the first general session there were
probably in the neighborhood of 500
instructors within range Of his voice.
most of them of course of the gentler
sex The fact that so many teachers
left their homes and came to ST. Paul
during the holidays shows in no mis-
taxable manner the keen interest taken
In this state in school matters The
session was held in the Plymouth
church on Wabasha street, and among
those present were the most notable
educators the North Star state boasts
as we'll as number of prominent men
and women only Indirectly interested
in teaching. Noticeable in the audi
ence were: Ex-GoV. Ramsey, President
Northrop, Of the state university; Dr.
Kiehle, Supt. Weld, Saltwater; Mrs. A.
w. Cooley, Minnee polls; Horace Good
hue, Mortified; Martin A. Shoemaker,
George B. Alton, superintendent of high
schools; E. A. Engsctrom, Goodhue
county; President J. w Olson, Albert
Lea; A. w. Rankin, state inspector Of
graded schools; Edward Soaring, Man
kato normal school; President Shepard,
Winona normal school; President Lord,
Moorhead normal; President Kleeber-
ger. st. Cloud normal
The session was the thirty fourth an
nual, and while the general session was
held in the Plymouth church the Vari-
Gus sections met in the capitol, at the
high school and the Windsor hotel 1t
was an interesting assemblage, con-
tanning, as it did, steachers from every
rank. from university president to the
modest, demure little Kindergarten.
During the day the sections considered
everything educational from high
school methods to- child study, music,
county superintendent work, elemen-
tary work, while in the evening the
teachers listened to a talk on "Educa-
tional Problems" by Prof. John Coul-
ter, of the Chicago university
SUPT. PARIS ANNUAL
At the general session in the morn
ing Supt. Parr called the convention to
order and straightway delivered his an
nual address. He opened with the state
ment that the Minnesota schools fell
short of the demands made upon them.
So far as direct effects are concerned,
said Mr. Parr, the ultimate test of eff
cheney in the American school system
is not cheapness Of cost, nor neutrality
in religion and politics, nor uniformity
of system, nor isolation from other edu-
cational interests, nor even superiority
over private establishments, but rather:
First-The ability to furnish equal oppor-
tunity to all classes Of the community
that they may be trained to respect one
another and to do justice to the rights and
duties which devolve upon them.
Second-Power to arrange the machinery
of school attendance so that those classes
and individuals who would otherwise neglect
their educational duties and so become
menace to public safety shall receive such
stimulation as will lessen the dangers from
this source
Then followed a series Of papers by
Well known instructors The first was
entitled THE Stratum in School Be
low the Average" and was read by
Miss Alice J. Mott, of Faribault, who
suggested that the solution of the prob
lem Of dull pupils was along the line of
elective schools, making all schools
special institutions in the sense Of
recognizing the peculiar characteristics
of each child.
George A. Stanton of Sank Center.
followed with the topic 1.-THE Best
Method With the Slow and Deficient
Pupil" Mr.. Stanton expressed the view
that from to 10 per cent Of the pupils
III d 0C1lOOI III De .IeSdTueu DIS dD-
normal 1t was from this class, he said,
that the ranks of criminals and tramps
were recruited.
LIBRARY WORK.
In the general library discussion held
under the auspices Of the Minnesota
Educational association, Miss Little M
Crafts, assistant librarian of the state
nniUQrSitU smoke ihror
omy as a Part of the College Curricu-
lum." She explained the relation which
the library sustained to the mission of
educational institutions. 1t was the
duty of the librarian to teach the stu
dent how to use a library, not what
was in the books, but how to grasp
their contents. Instruction in the use
Of the best reference books was essen
tial.
DR.. Hosmer, Of the Minneapolis pub
lie library, delivered an address on
THE Relation Of the Public Library to
the Schools" Reference was made to
the libraries of Milwaukee, Detroit and
Cleveland as the three libraries Of the
country which were the originators of
the idea Of the connection between the
public libraries and the public schools.
make the relation between the schools
and the library cordial one.
State superintendent w. W. Fender
CAST spoke on the Minnesota School
Libraries" He referred to the advan-
tages derived by the children Of the
schools from the libraries, and their
use for occupying times Of recreation.
DR.. Kiehle, of the state university,
continued the discussion. He hoped
that some plan for library instruction
would be formulated.
PROF. CoULTER,s. ADDRESS.
Pedagogues who, attempt to teach
what they themselves do not know
received a caustic treatment last night
from Prof. John M Coulter, of the
university Of Chicago who addressed
the University Educational association
at Plymouth church Prof Coulter oc-
cupies the chair of botany in the Chi
cago university. The subject of his
address was Some Educational Prob
LENS" The address was listened to
with the closest attention and marked
evidence of appreciation.
President Parr introduced Prof. Coul-
ter to the association In his predatory
remarks Prof Coulter said that never
in the history of education had there
been such a movement toward change
as now. A feeling of unrest prevailed
1t was not probable that a leader
would spring up at once and solve the
problem of education. The progress
would be gradual. The truth would at
last be revealed by series OF approx
imations The true education was not
lust at hand, but 1t was nearer than it
was a year ago.
Prof. Coulter. in discussing the prob