The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-28
AT THE TEACHERS MEETING
WHICH OPENED. YESTERDAY AFT
ERNooN AT THE WINDSOR Ho-
TEL, IN THIS CITY.
HIS CONTEMPORARIES, THOUGH,
Il
Repudiate His Structures, Attribut-
ing Them to a Personal Con-
ffct With One of the Men.

1NleHUentS SectlOn or the state eOuca-
tfonal association last night. At one
time the section was on the verge of
resorting to a star chamber session.
Mr.. Ford read a paper on the "Rela-
ton Of the State Inspector to the State
Superintendent" in which he attacked
both the state school inspectors in quite
drastic terms and followed his paper
up with a red-hot speech, which occa-
stoned g. spirited discussion. several
members trying to get the floor at once.
An educator from the southern part Of
the state was recognized by the chair
and moved that the association do not
go on record as approving Of the charg-
es contained in Mr.. Ford's paper and
that the association do not stand for its
authorship. Mr.. Ford secured the floor
again, and said If the motion prevailed
he would give his entire paper to the
press for publication. The motion did
not prevail, but there was some lively
talk among the members for the next
ten minutes. The sense Of the entire
meeting, with the exception Of Mr. Ford,
seemed to be that the state inspectors
had given satisfaction, and when the
legislature provided for that office it
had made a valuable addition to the
state educational department. It was
openly charged after the meeting that
Mr.. Ford who had been instrumental in
the arranging for the meeting Of the
city and village superintendent, in fact
issuing the call, had gotten them to-
gether for the express purpose Of at
tscking the state inspectors, with
whom 1t is alleged that he had a per-
sonal grievance by reason Of the fact
that a short time ago he had some diff
Guilty with one Of the inspectors who
was on visit to Owatonna. It being
the first meeting of the city and village
superintendent, it was taken as rather
an indicate procedure that Mr.. Ford
should spring his attack on the state
superintendent before the association
had been fairly launched Both Mr..
Ford and the chairman of the meeting
refused to make public the contents
Of the paper, but it is understood that
Mr.. Ford set forth certain alleged prac-
tees on the part Of the state inspectors,
which, If true, made them appear In a
bad light, but the unanimous verdict Of
the sixty superintendent present was
that they had received fair treatment
at the hands Of the inspectors, and that
the office was a most beneficial one to
the educational interests of the state.
E. G. Adams, Of Mortified, poured
Oil upon the troubled waters by intro
ducing a resolution providing for an
appointment Of a committee Of i've to
confer with the inspectors and show
them Mr.. Fords charges and if they
were true to take steps to remedy the
evils. Mr.. Adams proposition was re-
jected, with general laugh, and some
body moved that the matter be drop
ped and the newspapers be refused any
part Of Mr.. F'ord's paper. The mo-
ton prevailed and the meeting pro-
ceeded with the programme of the
evening.
Virgil G. Curtis next gave an address
on 1.-The Annual Election Of Teachers
and Officers" Mr.. Curtis said he was
sorry the meeting had been so wrought
up over the matter Of state inspectors,
as, for his part, his dealings with them
had been entirely satisfactory. The in
spectors certainly had been subjected
to a process Of roasting and sizzling,
and he thought the superintendent
were we'll able to Judge the efficiency
of the state Inspectors Mr. Curtis in
his address on this topic maintained
that the tenure of office Of all school
officers should notobe arbitrarily limit
ed. Mr.. Curtis gave a very compre-
hensive view Of his subject.
The committee on nominations ap-
,k0I h., IL
their selections asIW f. F. Selleck, Of
Schmitz, Of Albert Lea, for secretary
and treasurer. The report Of the COM
mittee was unanimously adopted. The
meeting then adjourned until a call
should be issued by the president for
the next meeting, which would prob
ably be held in connection with the
next annual meeting Of the state asso-
citation.
The afternoon meeting was opened
with a general discussion as to the best
means Of perfecting an organization.
Several were in favor Of organizing as
a section of the main association, while
others were opposed to such action, be-
lieving in such a case their work
would be confined to one meeting a
year and that in connection with the
state association. After a lengthy dis
cussion it was decided to leave the de-
tails of the organization until after
they had gotten in working order. H.
A. Franklin was elected temporary
chairman, and L. H. Ford, secretary.
On motion committee was appointed
on organization to report at the even
ing session, consisting Of F. D. Hub
bard, Red Wing; II. A. Wells, Still
water, and P. w. Ross, of Morris Su-
perintendent s. S. Parr, Of st. Cloud,
read a paper on School Legislation"
He thought there was much legisla-
ton needed in the interests Of city and
village schools. despite the fact that
the statute books were full Of school
legislation. There were many cases
where legislation could do much good.
The most important requirement of a
superintendent was to be able to judge
the qualifications Of an applicant, and
to know the composites Of a good
teacher. Mr.. Parr said some Of the
men who had reached distinction In
the educational world were men who
set themselves against the introduce
ton of fads and foreign elements Of
all kinds. Legislation which benefited
the school benefited its head, and the
interests Of the superintendent and the
school should be identical. He did not
think politics should enter into the
school, but occasionally the 'spoiIs''
element did, and worked great injury
to the school and its constituents. He
thought the tenure Of office of the
superintendent should be longer, as it
took man at least two years to get
acquainted with his school district. The
superintendent in ten of the largest
towns in the state averaged three
years, and In forty other smaller places
they held office for only two years,
s,,I,
idea Of holding an annual election In
a school district was absurd. as 1t was