Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-10-22
NORMAL SCHOOL QUESTION.
Question OF More Improvement Of
Present. Training Facilities DIS.

- xral0108 Facilities Disc
cussoA. I. 3 s
Clinton, Oct. 22.-The three days, ses-
sion Of the Northeastern Iowa Teach
era Association closed here Saturday
afternoon. The attendance was the
largest In the history OF the associa.-
.tion. President Laylander says that 1t
has been q decided success, in every
particular. In the morning Professor
Sparks gave a lecture on Literature
IN American History and Superin-
;tendent Cox, OF Rock Island, gave an
Illustrated lecture on Manual Training
IN Public Schools. A feature OF the
session was an attempt to commit the
association In opposition to more nor
mai schools and in favor OF improve
ment OF present facilities for training
teachers. The fight was led by Super
lntendent j. =. Stout, of Grundy Gem
ter. He commended that more attention
should be given to county Institutes and
nigh schools. The proposition was lost
on a close vote. State superintendent
Barrett came to the rescue or the Stout
resolution would have been adopted.
These resolutions were adopted:
We deeply regret that 5000 or more
new or inexperienced teachers, many Of
whom are poorly prepared for their
work, are Admitted to the profession
every year. while correspondingly
large number Of experienced teachers
leave the profession annually. Believ-
ing that experience has shown that the
repeated declarations Of this and SINH
lar associat tons, and Of the Iowa. State
Teachers Association, regarding the
great teacher problem are true, we, in
behalf OF the school children Of Iowa,
renew our appeal to the general assem-
bly, for more and better facilities for
the training Of teachers; therefore, re-
solved:
That the laws relating to the issu-
ance Of county teachers certificates
should be repealed, and substitutions
made that will be better adapted to
present conditions.
That we believe that courses In man
ual training are desirable and practical
bic In most Iowa cities and therefore
recommend greater attention to this
feature of public school work.
That the plan of solidifying the rural
districts is feasible and tends toward a
higher efficiency Of these agents. and
therefore has the earnest support OF
this association.
That in determining for our educa-
tional system the branches that the in
dividual shall study. the demands OF
our civilization should govern us. The
individual should he fitted by the study
of physical nature and human nature to
perform his duties in society. the FAM
lily, the state and the church. We ems
phasize the fact that whatever is es-
sential to spiritual growth prepares for
industrial life, and therefore oppose the
division of subjects into two classes,
namely: culture subjects and practical
subjects.
Since Iowa .is q; great agricultural
state and the tilling OF the soil will ever
be the business of a great majority Of
our people, we favor such changes in
courses OF study as will give the pupil
of the country school better knowl.
edge OF the things which relate to his
daily work. To this end we commend
to boards Of education in rural districts
the enrichment of the school curricu-
ium by the introduction OF the subjects
of agriculture and horticulture"
President MasLean delivered very
strong plea for equality OF educational
advantages in Iowa. He said that the
road to a good education should be
opened to every farm house and that
the farmers child should have advan-
tages equal to those in the cities.