Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-30
MORE MISSOURI TEACHERS TOGETH-
Err THAN EVER BEFORE.
JEFFERSON CITY DRAWS WELL
NEXT YEARS CONVENTION TO BE
HELD THERE ALSO.
Professor f. ID. Luckey. of st, Louis.
to BE Nominated for President
of the AssOcintiOn-Manual
TRIMMING ExhnustIve-
ly Discussed.

Jefferson City. No. Dec. ~oa.-(Special.)
The attendance at the state teachers con-
vention had reached the 100 limit at the
opening of the second days session this
morning. md the officers are greatly
pleased. Heretofore the attendance had
never reached over 200. and the increase TO
loo is considered evidence of the activity
or the teachers in educational work.
superintendent b. Riggs. of Cameron.
read a paper this morning OH Make the
Country District Larger The average
country school district of the state. he said.
contains about seven and one-half square
miles. The average school population in
our state is found to be about fifty 10 the
district. The teacher of such a district has
eight grades or classes and four recitations
OF each class. which will give thirty-two
Rotations a day and twelve minutes would
be the average time for Rotations. From
this he argued that the districts were now
too large for one teacher. He wanted the
districts made larger and two teachers
employed for each school. This would give
more time for each recitation.
President Jesse, of the state university.
gave a synopsis of the report of the COM
mittee of twelve of the National Education
a Association. DR.. Jesse commended the re-
port strongly for the recommendations that
agriculture, horticulture. dairy work. sew
ing and cooking be taught in the rural
schools. He named several Countries which
had adopted this plan and declared that
even kinS-ridden Canada has these things
taught III her schools.
Miss Bertha Balm. teacher of English in
the Kansas City high school. read a paper
on Literature Below the High School As
IL Affects Literature in the High School,"
She advocated teaching lessons from Bible
literature She thought some of these sem
fences We're the most beautiful and inspir-
ing in all literature.
Time and Purpose of Introducing
Shakespeare was the subject of an adj
oress by Major J. E. Merwin. of ST. Louis.
Major Merwin made one of his strong.
characteristic addresses. He said that if
the courses of study are so crowded that
there Is no room for Shakespeare below
the nigh school they should be exploded
ana room made for them. He paid a glow
Ing tribute TO Shakespeare and his works.
shakespeare is the master artist of the
race. ana his writings should be used in
the nth grades and all grades above IL.
At the afternoon session. Professor T. I.
Rubey. OF La Platte. made his report as
secretary of the state reading circle COM
mittee. He reported an increased MEM
bership, but gave no figures. The entire
committee. with Mr.. Rubey as secretary
WAS reelected.
Mr. j. West Goodwin. of Sedalia. Sec
rotary and treasurer of the Eugene Field
Monument Association. addressed the
teachers in the interest of the association
He urged them 10 assist him to build a
monument 10 the school poet by contribr-
tons from the school children of the state.
DIR. William Richardson, of KirksyilIe.
presented a paper on Literature as Con-
tributory TO Moral Education" This Was
one of the ablest and best papers of the
day. Dr. Richardson argued that the moral
influence of the writings of all the great
writers OF the world is unreasonable and
the good which they have accomplished
forever. This paper was discussed by -. A.
Hawkins, of Maryrilie, and Miss Anna
l.. Clark. of Nevada.
The remainder of the afternoon session
was devoted 10 industrial education. Gil
bert Il. Morris n. of the Manual Train
ing high school. of Kansas City. preserved
a description OF specific work and purpose
of the Manual Training high school. He
was unable to give much of the results
OF the system. because ii had been tried
but four months in his school and hence
ne devoted ms paper TO the purpose of the
new system. Industrial education will soon
become a part of the regular courses OF
study in all modern progressive schools. he
said. DR.. {. NJ. Woodward. the father of
manual training in America. addressed the
association on manual training. lie said
Kansas City has the best manual training
high school In the world. and ST. Louis
will soon equip her schools completely for
NUS "blk Il. Alsilllil lTslllll1g keeps me h0vg
longer in school. 1t offers a broad oil-
ture. 1t is a great moral force and gives
precision and accuracy TO the character of
the student.
Supervisor ]. Z. Painter. of Minneapolis.
Mimi. read a paper on exhibition of sloyd
aud other manual training work In the
ward schools of Minneapolis. and gave ex-
plantations of such work and its purposes.
He said that in 1894. n system of simple
work was introduced into those schools
IN the fourth, fifth and sixth grades. The
girls do sewing and cooking. and the boys
do work at the bench. The system has
been extended to the eighth grade. Tho
course is elective. but. when once selected.
the pupils must stick TO il. But few ask
10 ho excused from the work. The course
l. intended rather for a general education
Than 10 lit students for any particular
trade.
Superintendent ]. A. Whitford. of Mo-
herly. discussed the practical side of the
question. He said the five great powers.
the school book combination. have de-
creed that twelve branches shall he taught
wanted only practical subjects In the com
r1on school curriculum. This was the first
rap al TN" recent textbook commission dur
ing the session.
Superintendent ]. NJ. Greenwood intro
duccd a resolution providing for the or
EaniZation Of historical societies for tho
purpose Of keeping data for Missouri his
Tory The resolution was adopted.
The committee" on resolutions tonight
decided 10 for president. Pro
f"ss"- l. i. Luckey. of ST. Louis: for
secretary. IL. L. Dubois. Trenton: for rail
road secretary. J. L. White. Jefferson civ
AT $50 to-day the teachers We're given n
free lunch at the pcnitentiary by Warden
J. II. Starkc. For once. nearly lno e,i,I.
Gators were in the greatest penal institu-
tion in the United States-ihe. Missouri
penttentiary- The lunch consisted of tho
food given the prisoners daily. The teach
ers found il TO he of an excellent ouaIity
Tonight from 8 to 10 the teachers ATTEND.
ed a reception at tho executive mansion
given by the governor and Mrs. STEPHENS
Light refreshments were served. 4 sn.ciaI
orchestra from ST. Louis furnished most
delightful music.
The committee on place of meetirp ~
day decided BY a vote of Il TO ] to recon-
mend the holding of the next annual sos
sion In jefferson City. This report will
probably he ratified by the association 70.
morrow when the committee reports. The
state capitals of several states secure all
annual state teachers associations and
since the association held here This yaar
that the attendance will continue large If
hold here again. The date of the meeting
viii he on Wednesday. Thursday and Fri
day OF Christmas week.
FREE LUNCHES FOR PUPILS.
President T.. BENJAMIN Andrew.
Urges n Radical Innovation in
the school System.
Springfield. Dec. cat the meeting of
the Illinois State Teachers Association to-
day. the principal address of the morning
VAS that delivered by President E.. Benin
min Andrews, of Brown university, ut
Providence II. / on The pub1ic School