The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-10-16
RAISE
OF Wages For the
Teachers in Sew
eral Townships
Resulted From the Agitation
Which Was Started Last
Year For Better Pay.
Teachers Bi. Monthly Meeting
Saturday an Interesting
Occasion.

Logan County Teachers Association
was held in the teachers hall in
Memorial building last Saturday.
The usual faithful few were in at
tendance for the devotional exercises
which were conducted by Rev. Jesse
Swank.
Prof. S. l.. Smith conducted the
discussion OF the Round Table topics.
The first OF the questions taken up
was uWhat efforts are being made to
organize the Township Reading Cir
cles?" The reports from both town
and country districts show that large
circles have been organized and good
and profitable work is being done in
the o. T. K. c..
The most important topic on the list
was c,lled for and discussed, what
good, il any, resulted from the effort
to secure an increase in teachers
salaries?" 1t was reported that Perry,
Bokescreek, Monroe, Washington and
Jefferson townships are paying higher
wages this year as a result of the
movement last year on the part OF the
teachers to secure higher salaries.
These encouraging reports were graft
Tying indeed that any move has been
made in this direction, for the teacher
is the poorest paid laborer in our
country.
| UWhat school-room practices, il any,
are injurious to the eyes OF the pupil"
was OF vital interest to every teacher.
Ii was said that too great care cannot
be taken OF the lighting OF the school
room. Too long continued work
should be avoided. In this age Of
poor vision much attention should be
given the eyes so that in a measure at
least this condition could be remedied.
The next question was UHow may
we awaken in the minds OF children a
love for the best things in literature?r
The best way suggested was to give to
them, and enable them to see the real
beauty of the best literature, and they
will early learn to love and crave that
. sort OF reading. One teacher said he
had given to an eight year grade the
lrAncient Mariner" and was surprised
to find how much they enjoyed it
Another teacher gave the ULegend oi
Sleepy Hollow" to a seventh grade
with the same success. The evil done
the boys and girls to-day by bad books
? was said by one of our popular anC
successful teachers to be even greater
, in his estimation than the use o
tobacco, and he considered this habi
OF tobacco one OF the crying evils o
the age.
The papers recommended for boy!
especially were rThe Youths Com
panion and UAmerican Boy the latte
being especially good for older boys
1t was recognized that the craving 10
reading matter must be salts fed will
good literature or the bad will be takei
in and fill and poison the minds of th,
children and do irreparable harm.
The attention was directed to tn
important topic OF vHow may tn
school grounds and house be mad
more attractiye?" The condition Of on
country and some OF the town schoO
premises are such that it makes on
weep to look upon it. Some goo,
remedies were suggested for this.
cThe exhibition at the Logan Coun
ty Fair. opinions OF the success thi
year and prospects for better result
next year." was the next topic. Supt
II. X. McVay, of Sidney, who wa
one of the judges of the work thi
!. year, said he appreciated the displa
OF school work and was much i'm
pressed with the evidence OF good wor
done in our county. He describe
some OF the displays seen in othe
counties and gave some very helpfr
advice as to the arrangement of wor
next year. He said these exhibits wi
stimulate the schools especially in til
country to better work and th
premiums awarded will be the mean
OF distributing good literature.
The revival OF the old fashione
spelling match was urged, and it WI
suggested that an oral spelling col
test be prepared for and held at OF
next County Fair.
The plans for the work next yei
should be given earlier than last
that the teachers could begin work 1
soon as possible.
vHow improve our knowledge OF Il