The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1899-09-15
GAVE GOOD ADVICE
Superintendent Quigley Called the
Teachers Together on Last Satur-
day Afternoon
And Gave Them Some Good Advice
to Follow During the Coming
School Year.
Major Warne and Frank MCLain Wire
Of Their Arrival at San Francisco
Last Thursday.
TALKS TO THE TEACHERS.
Supt Quigley Gave the School Teach
TALKS TO THE TEACHERS


ers Timely Talk and Some
Excellent Suggestions.
The years work in the public schools
was inaugurated Saturday afternoon by
the monthly teachers meeting. These
meetings are regularly held the first
Tuesday Of each month from 4:15 to
5:l5 and the public is cordially invited
to attend. Supt. Quigley gave to each
teacher the years program. One half
of the time will be devoted to psychol-
ogy with special reference to teaching
and one half to the discussion of SUBJ
jacts of special interest. Six other
mon hly meetings are also held for the
different grades. The teachers were
nearly all present and seemed to be
enthusiastic and ready for work.
The superintendent addressed them
at length, giving some sources OF en-
couragement and outlining some
changes that should be made, and what
the teachers should do to secure the
SUCCESS y! tQe sCnOolS.
He said in part "that in some i'm
portant features the conditions for sue
cess are more favorable than they have
ever before been. Another year has
been added to the high school course
and We shall be able to complete, in a
satisfactory manner, the elementary
texts we begin. The seventh year pu-
pills are by themselves, thus giving
all the room they need and also reliev-
ing the two next lower grades There
is no reason now why each grade
should not have all the attention it
needs.
"The financial strain upon the city
has been relieved and the board of
education feel that they can provide
for the needs of the schools without
distressing the people. All the rooms
are now provided with single desks,
thus relieving few rooms from a
great amount of irritation and trouble
The rooms are all in good repair. The
board has done its duty-the rest re-
mains for US to do. They expect, and
they have the right to expect-not
mediocrity-but first class schools in
every respect. Our work will be under
close surveillance, and if any of us fail
to measure up to high standard we
shall be, and ought to be-, counted out
for the best good of the schools should
be considered before the interest of any
Individual. II we can not, or for any
reason do not, do the best of work we
should give place to those who can and
will do it. l am confident that We have
the ability ana skill to satisfy the de-.
mands upon US, but the success ex-
pected will require all our physical
ana mental powers, all the vitality,
all the nervous force, all the en-
thusiasm, originality, ingenuity and
judgment we can command. None of
US will have any surplusage of power for
anything else. All our outside work,
amusements, and recreations, whether
on the Sabbath day or any other, should
be regulated in kind and amount, by
their effect in preparing us for our
school work. If they weaken or tire
us or distract our attention they should
be omitted. There should be no blue
Mondays, when teachers begin the
weeks work tagged out, as is often the
case. We have contracted all there is
of US to the district for a money
consideration. Common Honesty re-
quires that we should fulfil our con-
tract or resign. Our motto should be,
This One Thing 1 Do"
81 think many teachers have g mis-
taken notion about Saturdays. We
are paid for Saturdays the same as for
other days, and they should be used
largely in closing up the weeks work
and in preparing for The next week.
Sunday should be to the teachers, u
day of quiet rest and worship. All
school work and care and thought of
school should be banished in conform
ity with this divine and natural law.
"Seek the acquaintance of the par
ents, and do not fear to talk school with
them. Study the peouliarities of each
pupil, and act upon the theory that
every pupil can be reached and helped.
1t is in handling peculiar cases tina,
superior skill can be shown. Be re.
sourceful in methods. Be alert aud
progressive. Teachers who learn
nothing from experience are the
| poorest kind. AS soon as q teacher
does exactly the same thing in the
same way year after year, he should be
dropped. Do not discard method be-
cause it is old nor adopt it because it
is new. Supplant the old method by a
better one, which you have thought
out and made your own.
"Something must be done to lessen
! the irregularity in attendance. shall