The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-12-30

fN1ngSbury. After vigorous speech upon
the merits of this gentleman, and on mo-
ton of Allison, he was made president by
reclamation.
Mr.. Millspaugh presented the name of
Mr.. Allison for first vice president, and
he also went in by reclamation
The names o. Prot. Oldham and Prof.
j. M. Tanner were named for second vice
president. After a standing vote, Mr..
Oldham was declared elected.
A. c. Nelson and Mrs D. r. Corey were
presented for third vice president, result
ing in the election of the former.
Mr.. Mcknight was nominated as Secre-
tary TO succeed himself and was unan-
1mously elected.
Mrs. D. R. Corey was made treasurer
by unanimous vote, which was cast by
the secretary on motion of Van Colt.
MESSAGE FROM IDAHO.
At this point a telegram of good wishes
was signed by j. C. Merriman, president
OF the Idaho state teachers association.
1t was in behalf of the teachers of that
state.
Mr. Brimhall. in brief speech. pre-
sented the gavel to Prof. ]. L. Kingsbury,
who stepped upon the stand and heartily
thanked the teachers for the honor con-
ferred
A vote of thanks was extended to the
officers of the past year for their efficient
services, which included vote of thanks
to those who had assisted in the success
of this convention.
A discussion was precipftated by Van
Colt moving that the next place of meet
ing be Salt Lake City, his reasons being
that it would be the appropriate place on
account of the necessity OF being in close
communion with the N E. a. Mr.. Allison
thought Ogden just as convenient a point,
but as the constitution provided for the
executive committee to attend to this
matter, the motion was tabled.
The convention then adjourned.
DONE ON THE HIGH SCHOOL.
Willard Done. in his discussion of the
Functions of the High School, Tuesday
afternoon, answered some of the objec-
lions which have been made by teachers,
as well as by some business men.
L will state that the high school is OBJ
jected to on the ground that it does not
prepare its students for the technical
callings of life. 1t does not make them
clerks, bookheepers, teachers, farmers,
mechanics, lawyers, doctors or business
men. But the most serious objection
urged is that it engenderS in the young
people contempt Tor manual labor. In
answer to the first objection it may be
said that at the time of emerging from
the high school the student is too Young
to enter at once on the active duties of
life. But he should have attained TO such
a discipline of mind and acquired such
breadth of culture as would enable him,
with a very few years of technical
preparation. to enter successfully on any
one of these callingS; with the ineStim-
able advantage of being able to seek
broader and more highly intellectual
recreation and development than would
be possible without this training.
1T is, indeed an advantage that he has
learned from this work how to use his
spare time in independent scholastic labor
and intellectual recreation, instead of en-
plOying it in the sensual enjOymentS too
common among our young farmers, me
chanics, clerks, etc. This unfortunate
condition is due more to insufficient train
ing and too rapid development, than to
anything else. Incapable of the highest
forms of intellectual employment, these
young men occupy THAR leisure in less
worthy pursuits.
Regarding the other objection, only
one suggestion will be made Let the
young people be constantly imbued with
the idea of the dignity of manual labor.
Make them understand that the high
school course is as valuable a preparation
for manual callings as for professional
pursuits, and that those are as honorable
as these. Contempt for work implies a
training in a wrong atmosphere and I'M
der misleading influences. The high
school which encourages this so-called
aristocratic feeling and imbues its
students with contempt for honorable
manual labor has missed its most i'm
portant function.
Il am earnest in my opinion that the
high school training is of inestlmable
value, and that as many as possible of our
young people should make it a point 70
take advantage of it. Such a boon. earned
by honest effort and valued as highly as it
deserves, cannot fail to make a most
profitable impress on the youth.