The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1901-11-20
TEACHERS ASSOCIATION At RIM
GOES.

portunity presented, in the meeting
Of the teachers Of the southern part of
Hunterdon county, in the lecture
room in our village, | yentured to
step in and look around bit-Eeep-
ing my ears open ali the while TO
catch that volubility Of utteranee,
that grace of articulation, that pre-
cision Of accent which, in the old
time teacher made him noticeable for
his richness in the use of language, IN
his ability to make himself under
stood, that was better than that Of any
other person met Well, time has
wrought changes, in the pedaSo8 as
well as in all else. Progress compels
such, and as the pedagog more than
than any other member of society IL
mouldabe, we see him more the crea-
ture of circumstance, of environ
mcmillan any other factor found IN
progressive humanity, IA well in
sentiment, notion and practice as in
education and personal influence.
Yet as | saw him in this meeting, the
distinguishing qualities Of the peda-
COG graced every member.
The meeting was, at about 10 A. m,
called to order by the president, Mr.
A. =. Kerr, of the High School in
Lambertvile. After the reading of
the CHI Psalm and the singing of
hymn, business began, in very
quiet, very orderly, Il very social
way and proceeded so free from any
tendency to pickering, wrangling,
jealousy, contention and those other
things so common to gatherings Of
citizens for the promotion Of good
common to all, that ! cannot, upon
this feature OF the meeting, refrain a
commendable comment.
Mrs. Bessie d. Sked Of the school at
Ringoes, read paper on morals, for
which she was deseryedly applauded.
The matter of her essay provoked q
spirited discussion, during which were
made many valuable statements, by
as many keen, observing members of
the body.
Mr.. Theodore A. Sutton. Of the
school near Scrgeantsville, read 4
paper on geography which was dis
eussed Mt considerable length. |
noticed, as the discussion proceeded,
that several of the older teachers still
held some of those wholesome old
tune, utilitarian notions about geog-
raphy and the other way of teaching
that very useful fundamental of an
education, which should ever be held
by firm grasp. Whatever is taught
in the public school, should be severely
practiced- severely utilitarian. The
minds of those in the public schools,
with rare exception, are not sufficient
" matured for fine spun theories, or
I even for nice deductions.
Mr.. Hoffman = paper on school sani-
tation was well-written essay tenn
| ing with the most wholesome sug-
gcstions and SO free from dictation,
trivialness, arbitrariness and dogma
tism that one might wonder whether
the writer thereof could possibly be a
county superintendent. The terse-
ness of statement, the elearness and
volubleness in the reading of this
paper was commendable. The dis
cussion it provoked was spirited and
wholesome, Astounding in inquiries Of
those who are now beset with hygien-
ic difficulties which science and art
have not yet been able to answer; and
will not be able to answer until many
experiments are yet made.
Al 10 o'clock, noon, the body adj
| journed until p. m, to partake of n
collation. prepared and served by the
| pupils of tho school at Ringoes, under
the direction of their teacher, Mrs.
Bessie ID. Sked.
The afternoon session | was not able
to attend, but one of my colleagues, q
teacher of many years standing in
other counties of the State. who was
present, informs mo that the whole
some spirit which entered into all
things during the forenoon. peryaded
everything done during the afternoon.
Those graces characteristics of the
teacher, nowhere else, excepting be-
fore his class, in thorough prepare
ton for the work of the hour and a
wide range of knowledge of the sub
ject taught, so we'll appears as in a
we'll written paper artistically read in
the presence of personages in his own
craft Especially, TO his own advau-
tage, nowhere else does his eccomp-
lishments, Unborn or acquired, appear
as in literary effort in the presence
of his peers. In this capacity, he dis
plays his taste in selecting suitable
theme, his ability to discuss a subject.
and in the net of delivery, his powers
to unfold his theme and himself to
whomsoever may wish to see him as
he is. This then of all places is the
richest field in which an aspiring
teacher may work; the most promis-
ing arena upon which teacher who
wishes to elevate himself in his own
estimation and in the estimation of all
those who desire to know what is
really in him, may enter, Fitting
then, very fitting, for self-improve-
ment, is such and association as this
| visited; proper and rare are the
opportunities in reach of every
member; and were | one of the body.
with what care and pains, with what
labor and nicely of finish, with what
exaetness of statement and precision
of syntax would prepare my papers;
and then. with all the evolutionary
powers at my command, in purest, in
most precise orthoepy, and in clearest,
most voluable utterance, would l,
modestly, unobtrusively, discharge