The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-31
STATE INSTRUCTORS WAS FIN
ISHED YESTERDAY.
A. E. ENGsTRoM PRESIDENT.
GOODHUE COUNTY sUPERINTEND.
ENT IS CHOSEN TO THE MOST
EXALTED OFFICE.
WHAT THE FINAL DAY SAW DONE.
of the BeAt Conventions of
IT'S Kind.

Yesterday saw the final sessions of
the Minnesota Educational association,
and the beauty and brains of the state,
as exemplif1ed in the recent gathering
| OF pedagogues, dispersed to assemble at
another Christmas vacation. A. E.
Engstrom, Of Goodhue county, was hon
ored, as was expected, with the election
to the presidency of the association,
and Prof. J. D. Bond, of St. Paul, was
again made general secretary; Miss
Lora Levens, of st Cloud, was chosen
| recording secretary. and F. F. Farrer,
| Of White Bear, treasurer.
AT the meeting yesterday greetings
were accepted from a number of SINH
lar associations in session in various
4 parts Of the state.
A resolution by Prof. Rankin, provid-
ing for the admission to the association
OF school boards and their members as
| section Of the general session, was
| adopted.
A similar resolution, recognizing the
principals Of the graded schools as an
independent section, was also passed.
A measure was passed directing the
president Of the general association,
and the presidents Of all the sections.
each to name one person to member
ship on a newly created committee on
legislation, the committee to hold office
for two years.
The general theme for the discussion
OF the morning was the Rural Prob
lem Many changes desired will be
considered by the legislative commit
tee OF the association. a body just Gre
ated. One Of the first things to be Sc
cured will be a change in the laws re-
sard1ng teachers examinations for DO
sitions in rural schools.
-Supt. /. I. Bargen, Of Cottonwood
county, discussed the problem of school
attendance. Some thought better teach
ers would Increase the attendance: 9TH
ers better system of grading.
Prof. Shepard thought it would he a
good plan for committee to collect in
formation from all over the country as
10 the management Of rural schools
Supt. Engstrom said the conditions
IN Minnesota were different from East
ern states. The Eastern township sys-
tenn would not be successful in Mime
sofa because the boundaries were
wrongly arranged
Supt. c. G. Schultz, of Nicollet coun-
~, touched upon the question of pro-
viding teachers. Teaching is now a
matter Of business Young men and
women go into it for the money there
is in sight, not for the pure love of it
hence, 1t is requisite to pay good sal
aries If the best teachers are to be Sc
cured"
Prof. Engstrom declared it would be
simple matter to provide good teach
ers il two things were provided-frst
place for higher education during the
summer; and, second, good wages.
President Shepard believed the great
est difficulty in keeping good teachers
was In the uncertain tenure of office.
Prot f. Webster, of Minneapolis. of
the committee on course of study
asked for the continuance Of the com,
mittee.
This committee was appointed two
years ago, and we find it is a much
harder task than we had expected
Several meetings were held, but before
definite conclusions could be reached
several members Of the committee went
out of the state. Therefore no definite
conclusions were ready for presenta-
ton"
One Of the most practical results
of the convention is the action taken
by the association in providing for
the appointment of a committee on
legislation, one member to be appoint
ed from each section of the association.
The committee is not complete as vet.
but so far the following have been ap-
pointed: From associated school
boards. Mrs. Jennie c. Crays; from the
elementary section, S. A Farnsworth:
from the graded school section, e. r
Carr; from the child study section.
F. A. Weld The committee will look
towards the revision of many of the
laws now on the statute books eff
fecting the educational interests Of the
state. Much good will undoubtedly
come from the efforts of this commit
tee on the behalf of better school leg
islation. There are many enactments
which work injustice to principals and
experimenting, in the country dis
tricts especially The committee holds
office for two years, and will get to-
gether in sufficient time before the
next legislature meets to draw I'D an
outline Of the legislation which thew
VIII propose. The only representative
educators have had in the past in the
legislative halls is the education com
mittee, which has accomplished very
little of the legislation which has been
recommended by educators throughout
the state. 1t is understood that the
committee will look towards certain
reforms. in the qualifications Of teach
ers. and probably a revision of the
grades of teachers certificates re-
qufred. At the meeting of the asso-
ciated school boards. the member ap-
pointed from that section yesterday
made a report, in which it was urged
that principals would do all in their
power to have the law against the sale
Of cigarettes to minors enforced The
report also recommended the estab-
lishment of day schools for the deaf
in school districts where there was
demand for such a school to be con-
Quoted in connection with the day
school.
The principals and superintendent
feel that many of the much-needed re-
forms in the public school system Of
the state will be accomplished through
this cOmmittpn