The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-30
GENERAL ASSOCIATION.
Numerous Papers Presented at the
Morning Session.

Numerous Papers Presented at the
Morning Session.
The general session of the State Teachers
Association in the House of Repres antatives
yesterday morning was we'll attended. Many
interesting papers were delivered, and the
discussion at times was animated. An at
tempt was made to take a fiash-light pic
ture of the gathering, but it was pronounced
fiasco and now another ordeal with the
blue-smOke artist must be undergone this
morning. committee on nominations was
appointed consisting of a me1nber of the
association from each district as follows:
Robert Spear, EVANSVILLE r. J. Alley,
Bloomington; d. S. Kelly, Jeffersonville,
Miss Leva Foster. North Vernon; A. r.
Chairman. Terre Haute; Lee o. Harris,
Greenfield; L. o. Dale, Indianapolis; O. r.
Baker, Winchester; M. H. Stuart, Sheridan;
Horace Ellis, West Lafayette; w. D. Weav-
err, Marion, and B. Chaplain, Whitley coun-
ty.
After prayer by Rev. B. A. Jenkins, Ct the
Third Christian Church, and a solo by A. d.
Hitz, Superintendent W. H. Sanders, Of the
Rensselaer, schools, spoke on the subject
How to Secure Better Educational and
Social Relations Between Teacher and Pa
iron" Mr.. Sanders thought that the best
visits by teachers to the homes of their pu-
pills and visits by parents to the school
rooms. Mr.. Sanders had sought the opinion
of many of the superintendent of the State
on the subject, and among the plans that
they suggested which would further better
relations were sermons by ministers, lee
lures by doctors and lawyers and articles In
the press on educational subjects. Some of
the superintendent thought that the work
cntailed upon the teachers is too great, and
hot fn he Gnhn UnIII6
in allowing the teacher more time for social
relaxation and also in giving her better pay
1t was further suggested that Il state Ii
brary system would be of material assist
ance to the work of the teachers. Miss An
ma Wilson, of the Crawfordsville High
School. and B. F. Dyer. of Albany, ably dis
cussed Mr.. Sanderss paper.
The second paper was by A. E. Humke,
superintendent of the Vincennes schools, on
the subject "Distracting Elements in the
School Life of the Pupil; How to Meet
Them" Mr. Humke was rather satirical In
his remarks and showed himself TO be an
iconoclast with reference to many of Ihe
school practices of the day. He ridicuied
the red tape enforced upon many schools
by county superintendent and declared that
it would be blessing if some power would
crush out One-half of the school journals,
the constant perusal of which was democrat
izing on any teacher. He opposed to
examinations and contests of all kinds, and
said that the duty of the teacher in training
the habits of the pupils was often lost sight
of in the effort to teach so much arithmetic,
reading. etc, to the exclusion of all other
considerations. The influence of poorly
taught Sunday schools, he also declared. to
be demoralizing on school pupils 5. b. Nc
Cracker, of Elkhart, discussing the Paper,
spoke on the multiplicity OF studies as p De
McAvoy, of this city, deprecated the hold
ing of oratorical contests for the same rea-
son. - ,,,..ao,,u 20 4,,o c,ro,7o
Teacher-How Relieve Them" was 'he last
tonic on the programme. Miss kate Moran
principal of the State Normal at Terre
Haute handled the subject in a very capa-
BILE manner. She said that the principal
burdens imposed upon the teachers were too
much work and too small pay. She said
that it was a truthful statement that the
teachers life was often narrowing and this
was because the insufficient salary gave the
teacher little opportunity for acquiring Gull
ture. "A cheap teacher she said, lis a
poor investment, and some DAY the people
of the State will learn to place hgher
value on the souls of their boys and girls
than on dollars and cents. Miss Moran
mentioned other burdens of the teacher The
presence in the schools of abnormal chill
dren was one. Children with corrupt minds
were a particular danger IN the schools:
into the schools another class OF pupils mat
prove a burden upon the teacher. Miss Mo-
ran doubted the wisdom of forcing street
gamins with their knowledge of life to at
tend school among innocent children just
learning to read. she was In favor or sep,
arate schools for this class of children and
also thought that the compulsory law
should be so amended as to compel attend
ance for the entire school term instead Of Of
that the Indiana course of textbooks was
not properly arranged. the geography. for
instance, being ahead of the reading k1owl-
edge of the pupils in the grade for which
If IS intended The incompetency of superior
officers was stated by the speaker TO be one
Of the most CALLING burdens of the teacher;
Township trustees sometimes are elected
who canont read or white. and schoolhouses
are erected without regard to sanitation or
the decencies of life The divorce of politics
from the selection of all school officials was
urged as the only remedy for this condition
of affairs After Miss Moran closed. L. l..