The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1903-02-14

. CeacnerS OF LdIdyeUCc parish 1OF
the session 19O2-19O3 was held
on Saturday, Feb. Z, 1908, and
the following teachers We're pres
emit: MIR. Motley Arceneaux.
Miss Mary Webb, Mr.. Philip
! Martin, Mr.. e. A. Edwards, Miss
! Leslie Carter, of the first ward ;
shall Thompson and III. H. Hays
Christian, Edna Close, Alicia
Dickson, Fadra Holmes, Maggie
Bagnal, Emily Horton, Jeanne
Where, Messrs. LeRosen and
J. G. Martin of the third ward !;
Messrs. G. J. Young, Ed. Parent,
and Miss Odile Smith of the
fourth ward; Misses NJ. E.
Trousdale, Annie Candy and
Vivian Fair of the fifth ward !;
Messrs. G. J. Jordon, w. H.
Smith, G. J. LabHuve and Miss
SWEET of the sixth ward; Mr..
Alcibiades Broussard and Misses
Younger and CASTOR of the
seventh ward; Misses Agnes
D. Hays, Edith l.. Mayer and
Mr.. O. J. Poland of the eighth
ward; thirty five teachers in all.
When the inclemency of the
weather on last Saturday is
taken into consideration this is
an unusually good attendance.
Some of the teachers, especially
some of the young ladies, deserve
special mention for having rid
den many miles in order not to
miss anything discussed at the
teachers meetings. Among the
young ladies' who rode long dis
tances may be mentioned Misses
Smith, SWEET, Younger, Mayer,
Carter, Trousdale, Fair, Candy,
and Hays. Miss Smith rode fif-
teen miles.
The teachers all displayed an
active interest in the exercises
and each contributed to their
success. Each teacher answered
the call of his or her name with
a quotation becoming education.
Most Of these quotations showed
careful selection.
The reading lessons by Misses
TrOusdale and Holmes were
models and deserve special men
ton. They showed how reading
can be taught to best advantage.
Much emphasis was laid on the
most important thing in reading,
thought getting.
Much stress has been placed
on the proper teaching of read
ing because it is the most i'm
portant subject taught in school
and generally the one most
abused. The teacher who sue
ceeds in teaching children to love
and to read good literature has
done her duty.
The debate: Resolved that
the word method and the phonet-
ic system have been productive
of better results than the a, b, G,
method, was ably represented
On both sides. On the affirmative
were Miss Dickson and Mr..
Broussard; on the negative,
Mr.. Young and Mr.. Arceneaux.
No judges were appointed to
decide the merits Of the arSu
ments, but a vote of the meeting
disclosed the fact that majority
of the teachers favor the word
method.
The subject of attendance was
brought up again at this meeting
for the benefit of those who were
not fortunate enough to be pres
ent at the previous meeting.
10 WQaC eXCenC IS Ueeiclei
responsible for her attendance?"
was discussed by Miss Christian.
Her paper was thoughtful and
full of practical suggestions.
Miss Christian has always had
such a good attendance in her
room that she was able to give
the teachers practical sugges-
tons on this very important sub
ject. She laid much stress upon
the necessity of visiting among
the patrons. Her plan is TO
make the children fell that they
are missed when absent. Much
stress was also placed on the
written excuse which is the only
method Of ascertaining whether
the children actually go TO school
when sent from home. Teach
ers could not be blamed," she
said, for absence on account of
such course as mumpS and mea-
sels.' On general principles,
she believes a teacher gets the
attendance she deserves.
The next meeting will be held
some time next month.
DR.. Tolson and Miss Breaux
were present as the guests Of
teachers. Visitors are always
welcome al the meetings.