Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1904-11-17
schcsl Nstes

MISS bessie Swan, VINO LeacheS
in the Third Ward school of
this place, was last week offered
a position in Phoenix at $500
per month, but refused to ac-
cept at this salary. She re-
ceived a telegram telling her
of her election. She had no
application On file.
The teachers VIM visited the
schools in Omaha came back to
work encouraged and enthus-
iaslic for their own work. 1t
WA; a day valuably spent. The
same may be said of those who
visited the Blair schools.
The preliminary programs
are out for the State Teachers
Association to be held at Des
Moines, December q, % and
%. This is the iiftieth ami
versary of it's organization.
The S. w. |. I. A. that was
held at Red Oak week before
last was one of the most sue
cessful associations ever held
in this part of the state. The
attendance at last inquiry was
6GG paid enrollments. 1t is
safe to say that it must have
reached very nearly 700. Ii
would be safe to say that the
average cost to each teacher
was Sc. This means that the
teachers of Southwestern lowe
paid out over $4,000 for the
benefit of the schools that they
represented at this meeting.
A very noticeable feature OF
this convention was the punctu-
ality of the teachers at the
various sessions. The last ses.
sion on Saturday morning was
much better attended thar
usual. The audience room was
packed.
At this last session Supt.
Greenwood of Kansas City, Nc.
spoke of Grading in Element
ary Schools. The method that
ne commended most was the
same method that is used in
he schools of this city. The
idea to be kept in mind is tc
respect the individuality of the
oupil; to let him go as fast az
ne can and at the same time do
The work we'll. The pupil is tc
be given as much freedom as
possible in pursuing his studies.
He criticised the lockstep sys-
tenn, quite sharply. This was a
very sensible and helpful talk.
He was talking from practical
experience and not from his
study of philosophy.
The last address of the meet
ing was given by the State
Supt. of Public Instruction. He
outlined plan for state and
county examinations somewhat
different from that in practice
1T present, following somewhat
the plan now used in New York
and Minnesota. His idea is to
nave the examinations held but
FOUR times a year. All papers
would be graded by the state
department., those getting q
grade very close to the require
nent would have the papers
given to a review board for a
second grading. In this way
he applicant would get all the
chance deserved. A certificate
'nce granted would be good in
my county. Certificates would,
lnder this plan. be renewed
lpon condition that the teacher
is successful in her work. This
occurs to us as the only weak
less in the new plan. 1t may
Ne said that it is in the main
much better than the plan now
lsed- This plan would relieve
he county superintendent of
much clerical work and give
MIN the opportunity of super
vision.
President Bradley had been
assigned to the subject, "What
is it to be educated?" The prin-
cipal idea brought out by his
address was that we should be
able to use the accumulated
experience Of the ages. His
discussion was mostly theor-
etical but we'll received.
The hand work round table
manifested an unusual interest
in the samples of work from
the manual training depart
ment of the high school of this
city. 1t is different from any
other work in the state in this
line. We believe that all were