Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-02-16
| EDUCATORS EDUCATE
Teachers Association Favored
With Brilliant Addresses From
Brilliant Men.
Practical susfsstions BY Vim
cent. Sabin. 0'Shea. Barrett
and Others.
Reception BY City Teachers.
Officers Electe Boone Gets
Next Me- tinf.

of the Central Iowa Tea chers Associa-
tion are being heartily congratulated
because of the entertaining, instructive
and inspiring program provided for the
convention in this city Such an array
of talent procured for the edification of
the members of the association ard the
friends OF the public schools would
grace any educational gathering of
whatever size or standing.
There have been heard at the conven-
ton the young and brilliant George e.
Vincent. of the chair OF social science of
Chicago University, who is an exempli-
fication OF the ideals which he contends
for In education; the plain spoken,
practical Henry Sabin, former state
superintendent. who criticizes some of
the present day schools: the expert
enced Beardshear of our own agricult-
ural school; Professor NJ. ". O'Shea,
WHO stands for all that Is good IN the
educational system of our country and
sees advancement to- be made in the
twentieth century; State Superirtend-
ent Barrett and others Addresses and
suggestions from such men as these
deavor on the part of those who have
much to do with the shaping Of the
lives of the succeeding genera tions-t the
IL tructors in our schools.
The opening proceedings of the con-
vention proper took place in the Odeon
theater Friday evening, following the
round table meetings of the afternoon.
Splendid music has been furnished foi.
all the sessions by 9 chorus of fifty from
the Marshalltown high school, ladies'
quartet OF sweet singers from Boone
and the Marshalltown high school or
chestra. The chorus was under the d.:
rection of Principal j. S. MCGOWAN,
while the orchestra was directed by Mr.
John Woodbury., one of the pupils of
the school. The Boone quartet. as we'll
as the orchestra. has delighted
the teachers. The quartet is
composed of the following young ladies':
Miss Mabel Flint. first soprano: Miss!
Bessie Beatty. second soprano: Miss
LILLIAN Goodrich, first alto. and Miss
Bessie Weaver. second alto.
At The session Friday evening, which
was well attended by teachers and by
number OF citizens, MIR II. G. Lamson.
president of the association. delivered a
brief address, in which he defined the
duties and responsibilities of the school
and its instructors. He referred 10 the
growing conditions which Will soon re-
suit in the school taking the place of the
parent in q large measure In the train
ing Of the young in the duties OF the
home, and the demand for more attsn-3
ton to the physical d evelopment OF the
youth. In the twentieth century the
rural schools will become almost as eff
ficient as those of the cities. He pre-
dicted that more attention will be paid
to the individual pupil: normal tuition,
books and supplies will all be free, and
the vocation of teaching will be made a
profession instead of a makeshift. Pres
ident Lamson referred 10 the Inception
and organization of the Central Iowa
Teachers Association and the good that
1t is hoped will be derived from it,
"a Lesson From the Negro was the
subject OF brief address by tina, vet
eran educator, Hon. Henry Sabin. Mr.
Sabin paid q tribute to Booker t.
Washington. whom he believes was
given mission from heaven and has
1uinlled that mission. He quoted Mr.
Washington to show that something for
the hand to do as we'll as brain devel-
opment is essential to successful
schooling. and he proceeded TO argue
that In this contention the great COL
ored man is right. Mr.. Sabin criticized
the school system because 1t teaches
with the end of obtaining diplomas In
stead of to grapple with the serious
problems of life. The trouble In this
state, he said, is this dry rot of uni
formity" Of school courses being forced
upon US which Is killing our schools
and making mere machines OF the
teachers So that all they can do is to
turn the crank. He wants more free
dom in the selection OF studies, so that
pupils may take such studies and as
many or as few as they can carry. The
reason there are not more boys in the
high schools and graduating classes is
because OF the cast iron rules regulating
the studies. We don't understand the
boys. We look upon them too much
from the standpoint OF school teachers
and not as men and women. All men
should be brought to the same level so
far az dignity and respect are con-
cerned. We should have more respect
for manual labor. and withal teach the
children to do we'll whatever they UNDER I
take.
Professor George E. Vincent delivered
the closing address OF the evening ses-
ston. and many times we have pail high /
prices to hear less entertaining and in
Etructive lecturers. Mr.. Vincent is an
easy, graceful speaker, whose depth of |
Intellect impresses itself upon his hear
Frs and holds their close attention. Hisj
subject was Studies and Life" and I
his address was a sermon on the cues |
ton Of social science but not of the va
riety taught by some OF the colleges Of T
this country. Professor Vincent an
sumes the position that school studies
should, ~ near az possible, adjust the
man to the conditions and environments
In which he will later And himseif--not
the preparation OF one to step at once
from the school into active life, for that
s impossible. but to so train the pupil
that he becomes adjustable to his sur
roundtngs after he has viewed them. II
s useless, he says, to teach OF the
things the pupil can not see and con-
,eive, but equip him to adjust himself
% the complex conditions and problems
II life-to the ever changing conditions.
Colleges and high schools can do this.
but no more.
THE RECEPTION.
The up-to-date teacher believes In the
ack-and dull boy theory, and
he Marshalltown instructors proposed
o provide little recreation. Therefore