The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-08
TEACHERS LEAVE
 FUR THEIR HOMES Meetings at Meridian We're a
 Great Success OFFICERS ARE ELECTED Committee Is Appointed to Draw Up New School Laws for Mississippi
 and to Memorialize
 Legislature.

Meridian Miss, May -(special)-The great convention of the Mississippi State s Teachers association closed this morn ing, and this afternoon the visiting teachers to the number of fully 800 de- parted to their homes delighted with the success of the convention and the flood of eloquence and erudition to which they listened. The meetings were thoroughly enjoyed by both teachers and citizens of Meridian and the many thoughtful pa- pers presented left lasting impression upon all hearers. At the close. of this mornings session the following officers of the association were elected for the ensuing year:
 President-E. L. Bailey, Jackson.
 Vice President-E. c. Saunders, Green- wood
 secretary-T. P. Scott. Brookhaven
 Treasurer-Joe Cook, Columbus.
 The closing session of the state teach CTS convention was convened at the opera house by Presiednt Saunders and the department of high schools began their session. The first paper read was by Principal W. T. Foster of Lexington, Miss, who discussed "Elementary Science in High Schools" He had an able paper and said, among other things, that the high schools of Mississippi are only in their infancy as regards the teaching of sciences He gave statistics to show that only two per cent of the boys who enter the first grade of the high schools of Mississippi ever get to the finishing year
 He decared' that elementary science should be taught in the lower grades. The schools of the state, he said are for the children of the state and If science deserves a place in the public school curriculum it should be where the children can get it. Among the studies In science which Professor Foster de- clared should be included In the public school curriculum were natural science and hygiene, physics, chemistry, botany. zoology. physical geography and agricul- ture. A schedule of study in these sci ences was outlined and he declared that a beneficent result of such a prescribed course would be the unfying and system atizing of science instruction
 superlntedent Bass Reads Paper.
 Following this speaker Superintendent E. F. Bass, of Greenville, read an excel lent paper embodying the report of the committee of seven on history for the high schools. Chancellor R. B. Fulton of the University of Mississippi, arrived last night from Oxford, and gave his address this morning on "the work of the university in the educational develop ment of Mississippi"
 He made an interesting and forcible speech which was received with great appreciation. Following this speaker State Superintendent Whitfield made the announcement to the teachers that summer school would be conducted at the University of Mississippi beginning June IA for advanced work and another for primary work at the Industrial Institute and College at Columbus. Superintendent Whitfield made stirring address to the teachers urging them to ann always to rise higher in their profession and avoid the shoals and quicksands of poor scholarship.
 Superintendent J. T. Cornell of Gulf Port read a paper on Course of Study for Rural High Schools" which was good presentation of the subject. A visitor was anpounced Superintendent P. r. Clax- ton of Knoxville, who invited the teach srs to attend the summer normal there this summer. J. Reese Iin chairman or inc high school committee, made re- port which recommended parallel course for high schools of the state. and the pdoption of commercial course wherever expedient Prof. j. H. Woodland or Me ridian and J. P. Carr of Vicksburg were selected as president and secretary re- spectively of the department or high schools. The report of the committee on The presidents address was received, read and filed The committee recommended that the incoming president appoint committee of three to investigate tne cause of the disparity of boys to giris Ill secondary schools. and If possible 10 sus pest a remedy; also that strict rules anu
 
 school teachers. Other recommendations or minor importance were made.
 Election of Officers.
 The next place of meeting was left to the executive committee and altef election, of officers the convention ad- iourhed. The customary resolutions SUD ,,itted ,,y the committee thanking the oeonls of Meridian for their hosptable treatment ard thanking the press for the attention eiven, were passed atter which was adopted the following resolution or fered by Superintendent kemper or NlcKs- burg: ,be. Mssissippi State Teachers as- sociation be empowered to appoint committee of revision of the school laws .aof Mississippi to the end that II may make a thorough and exhaustive stuuy or said statutory provisions afore mention ed with a view to certain amehuihen's that may be found necessary to the best interest Of the puphc euuoa'iV"ei s'S'ON of our state.
 .Resolved Second, That said committee be in its turn empowered to memoralze inc Mississippi legislature at Its next session as to these points having always in view an equitable, logical and phil s osophical set of statutes to direct and control that most important function of = bi,h and general civilization, public