Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-05-04
A SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL MEET.

Teachers Association held In this city
on Saturday, April 10Th, was we'll at
tended both by the teachers and tho
public, and great deal of interest
was manifested,
SCHOOL EXAMINATIONS.
The forenoon opened with a paper
on school exam nations, by Miss
O'Dowd, followed by discussion
which was participated in by Prin'
cipal A. II. Jolley, Superintendent
Metcalf, Mr. Jcardeau, Miss Bennett,
Miss Hoskcn and Mr.. Thomas. II
showed great desire to make examin-
ations all that the word implies.
E" SPRING NATURE STUDY"
The paper by II. II. Lloyd Jones on
"Spring Nature Study" not only
showed deep interest in the subject,
but literary ability. The paper elicit
ed considerable discussion. Mr.,
Jcardcau sadh he was opposed to maxi
ing nature study IL fad. Prof. Sails
bury fully endorsed the ideas pre-
scented by Mr. Jones, and dwelt ut
some length upon the Importance OF
the subject.
EXTRACTING LESSONS IN GEOGRAPHY, F"
In n model class, ny conducted by
Miss McCabe was we'll done. The
latcncss OF the hour prevented the dis
cussion which was to follow, with
Ed. Trcdinnick AZ leader.
PRESIDENT SAIL SBURY's ADDRESS.
In the afternoons President Albert
Salisbury, of the Whitewater Nor
nal school, addressed the association
on the "The Law OF Habit" In this
papcr he showed that this law ruled
our life; that good habits were essen
tial In order that We may bring out
what il best In life. Manners and puri-
w of life were chiefly regulated by
habit, Nowhere will the habit OF our
life manifest itself more quickly. We
cannot be habtually rough and rude
i'm manner, and whenever occasion de-
mands, try to bo gentle and kind.
Tho best part of Presidents Sails
bury's address, was where he brought
out the responsibility of the parents,
aud showed how that the home and
It's influence were important factors In
the formation Of good habits, Many
parents allow their boys and girls To
roam tho streets, when they should bc
ut home, and then wonder why then
habits are not what they should he.
1t Is II pity that moro did not hear this
admirable paper, from which we
make the following brief extracts:
I" No wide survey Of the wonderful
facts of instinct IL nocdful to show
how greatly the lower animals exceed
man In the range and variety of these
unlearned actions; and In general, |,
viii easily be seen that the lower the
order of animal, the moro completely
ia It's life ruled by instinct. The chick
has moro and stronger instincts than
W
and SO on.
"The young lower animal, u par
fridge for Instance, Is born READY
MADE: 1t docs almost from the first,
all that IL can ever do. 1T Is adapted
to its environment from the outset.
mot SO with the human infant.
What Is 40 helpless, SO incapable, so
Incomplete, Ns n newborn babe:
In general, the higher the order OF
animal, the more hcplcss the young.
What Is more stupid and moro clumsy
than " young colt, except young
infant? Vet this mtantilc helpless
ness Is part of n rar-reaching plan.
Man, who must adapt himself to so
many activities, and 40 great II varic-
ty of environment, must not be adapt
cd perfectly ut the start to only
one. The more hclplcss and impcr-
fcctly adapted Mt first, the greater his
adaptnbility for development. In
infancy " it doth not yet appear what
we shall be-" That Is determined
largely 10y the varying circumstances
Of life and education. Through our
very inromplctcnoss mt birth, comes
the possibility of choosing, of cary
ing out onos own character and
career. No brute Nttains this, over
it's own qualities aud their dcvcl-
opment, 1t has no possible control,
But the human bcjng for the sake OF
his greater freed ON, and greater pos
sibilities, is left AT the outset almost
bare of instincts. lie must LEARN
most of his activities. Tie cries,
swallows, cXprls troublesome matters
from the organism, Involuntary: but
how brief the list how short the step
towards self rcali2ution.
"But while man Is mcngrrlN en-
dowcd with Instincts, we are not tC
suppose that the great majority of his
acts are voluntary or the result ol
conscious purpose. We lind in him 4
now law of artiv ity, the law of habit
What instinct Is to the lower orders
habit is TO man.
"Ouc evil result has followed ON
cNaltation of the public school, in TIL,
fact that everything is thrown upon IL
and parents have come, MS It would
seem, to shed their own responsibility
for much that il fundamental IN the
the early training of the child. dc