Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-04-19
AFTERNOON SESSION,

the secretary and most of the teachers
responded to THAR names
Prof. Stephens spoke of the school
legislation enacted by our last legiSla-
ture. He said that next to oysters, pub
lie schools received the most consider
alton of the law makers. On February
9Th committee of school officials and
teachers met in Annapolis to consider
what legislation i'll behalf of our schools
was needed. All but two or three of
the points agreed upon he said had be.
come law. As to the pension law for
teachers, he said that the bill rs offered
by Senator Moore proposed paying, IN
stead of the fixed sum of 500 year rs
pension, one half of whatever amount
the teacher received the last year he
taught. This plan, Prof Stephens
thought, Disseminated against the poor
er teachers since one-half the amount
some receive i'll year would probably
be not more than 1925. He, therefore,
likes the fixed sum better and believes it
will be possible TO have the law changed
even more favorably TO the teachers.
Another bill passed is in reference TO
the term of office of the teacher. Here
tofUre any board of school trustees could
dismiss teacher after 30 days notice
without specifying any charges. Now,
specific charges must be made and the
teacher be given an opportunity of ap.
peal to the School Board. Sull another
bill passed allows the using part of the
appropriation of $500 i'll behalf of man
ual training schools IN any county for
purchasing manual training supplies III
any graded school that can properly use
| them.
As To Compulsory Education, it was
believed by those most interested in the
schools that ii the bill as first offered.
embracing the state, had passed, il would
have resulted i'll ii largely increased at.
tendance, with more work for the teach
er, but without corresponding extra
appropriations to meet the increased
cost OF the schools. Therefore the in
evltable Consequence would have been IL
shortening of the school year. Thus
the teacher would have worked harder
and received less pay As the law was
passed for Baltimore city and one coun-
ty an opportunity will be given for
noting its effects, and possibly the next
Legislature may enact Il law for the en-.
tire state.
BY another law enacted the State Su-
perintendent of education becomes
member of the State Board of Education
''thus giving the teachers one more
friend on that Board" Another bill
provides for the issuing yearly of such
pamphlets as relate to Arbor Day, In
stitute work, and State Teachers Asso-
citation.
\ bill was passed by the Senate but
defeated III the House providing for the
consolidation of rural schools and con
veying pupils from one to another when
necessary.
! A bill lost in the committee related to
the minimum salary of teachers. The
amount suggested as the lowest that
should be paid teachers was $3.50 per
year. The superintendent said that
teachers must work for themselves and
impress upon their patrons and the pub
lie the need and justice of these meas
ures. Another bill not reported back
from the committee permitted any
School Board to use whatever surplus
there might be from the Free Book
Fund for purchasing maps, globes. etc.
Prof. Stephens then entered upon the
discussion of his topic Some Funda
mentals of Good Teaching One fun
damental, he said, Is good scholarship.
There is necessity for knowledge and
culture of teachers, as the stream can
not rise higher than its source. The
| teacher must be- Il daily student or the
stream will become stagnant. He must
! he good thinker aud able 10 see clearly
before he can make his pupils think and
see clearly. His power lies largely in
| being able to arouse and direct the
| pupils.
/ The laws of association in the mind is
an important essential. Many good
teachers do NOT know psychology as
! such, vet all become better teachers by
i knowing something of applied psychol
ogy. The subject OF child study cannot
be ignored, although heretofore its
Importance may have been much ex-
agurated. 1t has come to stay i'll some
I respects and teachers should study the
character of their individual pupils.
| Personality, or the high character of
! the teacher, Is another essential. The
burden of the teacher is in training the
intellect. but il Is not enough to give the
pupil only great mental power. There
, must be given as well, the knowledge
and ability of directing that power. To
give him great power without moral di
rection simply makes him capable of
greater wrong doing When he was
could determine in measure the char
acter of applicants for certificates by
their hand writing 1t is important to
the state as well as the pupil that we
be careful what we Intervene in the
life of the child: especially those things
that pertain to his moral character
Prof Charles ). Richardson, of the
Maryland Agricultural College, former
| ly Principal of Snow Hill High School.
was the next speaker He expressed
his pleasure in being back in his native
town. The topic for his talk was THE
Four Leaf Clover" He invited the
teachers tn 90 with him i'll quest of the
four leaf clover of the teachers success.
He said that good teachers are ever
ready TO profit by the experience of
other teachers. In this belief he now
addressed the teachers present
The stock of the four leaf clover, he
represented by the proper conception of
the teachers responsibility This is the
most important point i'll the teacher ;
life. The teacher has IA right tn be
proud of his calling the ennobling. ele.
waiting and making better the condition
of our fellow man. Not even the Pres.
ident of the United States is doing
nobler work. The political policies of
the day soon pass; but the work of max
ing better the human race endures. The
future, not only of the State. but of
human souls depend upon our right
teaching The teacher who has spent
etime in the school room may not be