Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-01-24
9THE GROWING TEACHER. /"

George W. Twitmuyer, superiptend
ent OF public schools, delivered an ad.
dress before the public schvol teachers
Of the city, Tuesday afternoon. 10 the
Willard Hall School, Eighth and
Adams Streets Tho subject Of the ad-
dress was The Growing Teacher
Before his address Mr. Twitmyer an
nounced that the English Grammar
Courses had been moved up enc grade,
that Is, beginning February lst, the
gramm ar now studied by the first gram
mar " AIDE would be used 10 the second
grammar grade and 80 on in the six
grades OF the grammar department |;
also, that Mines Mental Arithmetic
would be used in the grammar grades.
Following Ia A report Of his address I:
think that a monthly meeting
will help US professionally. We need
to keep out of rllts, for II We get into
them It requires great effort to get out.
OF all professions that OF teaching re-
quires that those who have adopted il
should keep clear Of grooves. From q
biological point OF view, growth Is an
increase OF the functions of the physi-
cal organism and the strengthening OF
the organs, Man can educate himself
and ought to do Il. Tho doctrine Of
growth IS taught by Christ. The par
able OF talents teaches the lesson OF re-
spopeibility and the parab le of the
pounds teaches the doctrine OF retribu-
tion. Uee your talents and improve
them, else they fall you. Use and i'm
prove all your powers or lose them.
The power OF self improvement ia one
Of the great differences between man
and the lower auimals. Man can teach
the animal, but the animal can not
teach himself. He who improves him
self improves society, The teacher OF
all people needs 60 be constantly grow
ing. The life and spirit that is 10 us
10 the life and spirit that prevails In
our pupils. Education In schools is
the effort Of the people to better man
kind. Therefore we must be reasona-
BILE, virtuous and humane in our school
rooms. Bishop Spauldipg says, 10
grow is to be fresh and joyous
|. !" The growing teacher has need OF
broad outlook and strong person.
atty. Too much of the work 10 our
schools is too narrow, there is need OF
broader culture. Too much time is
given to tasks, repression aud fault
finding and not enough attention is
paid to the finer natures and the spirit
ual development OF the children. Let
the discipline be OF positive char
acter. These methods OF nagging and
scolding subscribe to the doctrine Of
child depravity aud are now giving
place to faith In the inherent good
ness OF humanity. Elasticity and FREQ.
dom in methods is necessary. Life Ia
expression, action, movement. Praoti.
cal work Is needed in our schools in
view OF the fact that 80 per cent OF the
children remain in school less than five
years. Let them be infused with world
consciousness. Let the growing teacher
help the weak minded and incompetent.
The child who is strong mentally and
physically will grow with less help. In
conclusion let me " ish that we may all
be inspired with the help that comes
from a higher power. "s fsr', NJ.
HlMiss Lincoln then addressed the
meeting on tho subject OF the Baird
Memorial, which will be placed in the
new high school. Various forms of
memorials have been suggeated-a
library 10 the new high school, a por-
trait OF Mr.. Baird and memorial win.
dow for the same building, aud foun-
tain to be placed somewhere In the city.
On motion it was decided that the,
Baird Memorial Committee ascertain
the cost of the memorial window and
that they send circulars to the teachers
OF the city asking for subscriptions.