Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-12-28
DEPARTMENT
MEETINGS HELD
State Teachers Listen to Papers
And Take Part in Debates
SCHOOL BOARDS ABSENT

p.,,od 70 Put In an Appearance This
Morning as Was Anticipa'ed-hin-
derparten Demonstrations
Tho forenoon session Of the state
Teachers Convention today was occu-
MED in holding department meetings
at the University Normal building
The superinlendents meeting, however
vas held In the city superintendent
office in the City aud County building
the session being a most interesting
one.
The Normal building presented an
nspring scene for the educator or any
one interested In education. The bulId-
ING was thronged with teachers ana
eudepts and the meetings were IN
,ensely interesting The first aud only
eosco Of the convention was registered
when the school boards failed TO put
IN an appearance. That section meet
inv had 10 be abandoned therefore ana
what promised to be very pertinent
discussion never occurred, Inc lop'C
IN have been discussed was the school
,est hook on which Principal n T.
porter of the Branch Normal school,
had paper prepared containing many
radcal suggestions among when was
the matter OF printing the text DOCKS
coming under the purvlew Of the state
one Of the most interesting Sessions
was that Of the kindergarten led ny
Miss Mary c, May The other sectons
and their leaders were' Primary MISS
Ella Larsen, Of Utah county grammar
David 0. Mckay, of the Weber STAKE
academy. colleges and secondary
schools. Prof. Byron Cummings, OF the
University Of Utah, and the superln-
tendents section led by A, {, Nelson
state superintendent OF public instruc-
ton
c. A. BLOCHER's PAPER
The first paper was read by SUPER
intendent q. A. Blocher OF Summit
county, and was entitled County SUI
peryIslon." The writer took the posi-
lion that there should be greater uni
formlty In salaries of county superin
tendents as well as OF teachers In
many Instances the salary Of county
superintendent Of public instruction Is
SO meager that an officer is unable to
pay the attention TO his duties tnnt
the duties Of his Office demand, and he
Is obliged to engage IN other pursuits.
The salary Of teachers Is so small thai
efficient teachers cannot BE- obtained,
and the standard Of education lg kept
az minimum. The school buildings,
the writer maintained, are very poor
and should be replaced by more sub
stanllal ones
Mr.. Blocher would close the schools
.ather than employ teacher OF medio'
ere ability He also urged that the
standard Of examinations be made rig
IA, and that temporary certificate
should be granted only under rare
conditions
THE DISCUSSION.
Superintendent Marks in discussing
the paper would not advocate too
stringent conditions in teachers ex-
aminatlons, TO the extent of closing the
schools by reason Of inability to secure
competent teachers, but would by care
full graduation and working constantly
on an upward plane, reach the required
efficiency in the work Of the teacher
ihers who took part In the discus
sion were Superntondents SoW1rds,
Arid, Christensen Of Sanpete, Ashton
and former Superintendent Van Colt,
UNIFORM STUDY.
Advantages Of Uniform Course Of
Study for the Rural Schools was the
title of a carefully prepared paper by
superintendent W. s. Marks Of Tooele
county The writer's attitude was that
uniform courses were not only neCes-
sary, but imperative to the end that
thoroughness and uniformity cannot be
reached unless formulated standard
be adopted and consistently adhered
to. Mr. Marks would. however. Qdyo-
cate tlexlblllty In whatever standard be
adopted and gave cogent reasons there.
for
supt II. NJ. Arid Of Wasatch, who
had been assigned the subject. "Dis.
advantages Of a Uniform Course o.
studyin mantaing his position held
That too much uniformity IN all schools
and under all circumstances would re.
tard progress and result In great In.
jury to many pupils Mr.. Arid, in ad.
vocating his attitude caused much mer.
rlment by the spice he threw into the
subject.
Participating in the discussion were
superintendent Ashton. Brown Of Utah
county and Christensen Of Sanpete.
The paper that was 20 have beer
read by State Superintendent Nelson
was not read by reason Of the latenes.
OF the hour when his subject was reach
ca Mr.. Nelson occupied a brief tim,
III explaining points that had beer
brought up IN the papers read and all
so urged that the various superintend
ents urge upon the trustees and neonl,
VI lhelr counties the urgency Of con
sohdatlng districts wherever feasible
any upon a unanimous vote the porpo
sltion carried with a will.
pupei lnlenlehl ID, IA. Christensen o
the SAT- Lake schools then spoke brief
" urging that the measure be give
nearly support. His remarks wer
SURFING and timely Among those pres
ent were: ''~'
,,Nephi Anderson, Brigham city, Goa
NJ Thompson Richmond. l. w Row
man, Scohed r. NJ. Whtesldcs Law
ioh A. MolyneuN, Moab George w
Decker Cedar City; D. d. Bowen I'm
I rex city Harry p Brown. Oasis
Ihomas r. Conde Croydon. VIM. John
son, Clroleillei B. w. Ashton Sal
Lake city George Christensen NM
Prieasant Jacob Magleby. Monroe
clarence a. Blocher, Park Cnv. Vim
Marks Tooele City; n. G. Stewards
Nnernal D. /. Brown Pleasant Grove
II, ~ Ard Heber City; w. r. Wilson
ogden city G. II, Brimhall Provo. n
II christensen, Salt Lake. L. n Ne
gerIseh' Springylle supt Rawllngs
Provo and supt Merrill Logan,