Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-05-26
THE Big FIVE ASSOCIATION
Tine Secretary's Excellent Report Of
the Cresco Meeting Last Week.

the CreSc0 Meeting Last week.
The meeting Of the Big Five Teach.
ers Association was held at Cresco, May
10 and 20, with an enrolment of nearly
300. The meeting was called to order
by County Supt. Hook, of DEBORAH,
chairman Of the Executive Committee.
After the election of Miss Quigley as
Secretary to fill vacancy caused by the
unavoidable absence of Mr.. Arthur
Wilson, of Postville, Mr.. Hook intro
duced Miss HARRISON, the President OF
the Association.
Miss Livingood, of Cresco, opened the
program with paper upon the topic
us there hindrance to good school
work resulting from too many social
privileges permitted to the pupils? IT
80, how may we lessen the evils result
ing therefrom?" Her principal argu-
ment was for the proper example OF
the teacher, whose work must suffer as
we'll as her pupils work if she attend
many social gatherings. Too much in
diligence in fatiguing pastimes on the
part of the pupils, results in failures to
attain desired standards of rank. Di-
rect results are lassitude, inattention,
and inability to concentrate. The
greatest need is cooperation of parents
Children as rule are given most free
dom during the lonesome, awkward
age when wisest guidance is needed.
AS remedies, Miss Livingood suggested
an effort on the part of the teacher to
create and sustain interest; to win the
confidence OF the children because par
ents often fail here; also aid of parents
in helping children carry out pet
schemes. The speaker dwelt strongly
upon the children as the best hope in
correcting the insincerity of society in
general. The paper was ably discussed
by Supt. Russell, of Ossian. Mr.. Rus
sci said development depends upon two
things, the nature of the individual and
the nature Of his surroundings; land
that the proneness to go wrong needs
little encouragement. He then point
ed out two great dangers to the boy CIV
en- unrestricted social freedom, first the
danger to the morally weak Of falling
in with the degenerate present in every
community. Also that which lies in
the dissipating effect upon the mental
powers. In pursuance of this thought
he spoke of the power of attention of
older pupils as voluntary and largely
force, of habit. Hence, that which in
terferes with this attention tends to
form bad habits which cling through
life. He asserted, however, that the
remedy must be found in the home,
where it will be found when parents
, realize that existing social conditions
are weakening and eating away Gus
toms which are held sacred.
The topic was further discussed by
\ Supt. Nc Cook of Elma. The substance
), OF his paper was as follows: There
= are some things the teacher cannot do
i She cannot compel attendance and at
tention, but can help by example
Children in the average school Learn
hypocrisy as a result OF inconsistency
in parents and teachers. The teache,
cannot expect pupil to spend his time
q in home study If the teacher is not will
ling to give like attention to his owl
work.
There followed series Of papers up
2 lon English, how interest may be ere
lated and sustained and instruction
!, made more effective. Mr.. Reinow dis
), cussed Language, Reading and Spell
ing. he contrasted the ability of Pop
/, who could use splendid English at te1
with that of the average student a
Q eighteen. He said further that the in
terest need not be created, but sustain
j, ed after the pupil leaves the primar
]. grades. The pupil must be taught t
visualize" through expression. Th,
!, word must be accompanied by the idea
Remedies suggested were more time il
r assigning lessons less time with spell
ing, pune tuation, and forms to the de
triment of the thought: coordination
j. of language and reading; and NOR
time given to expression than impress
!. sion in reading.
Miss Kaye, OF West Union, in dis
cussing the topic brought out furthe
the need Of hearing less about Englisl
r and never of 1t; also Of greater co-or
J. dinatien with other branches. Th,
= lpresent cry is good literature when th
: fault is in giving too good things at to
q early an age. In reference to spelling
Il Miss Kaye said the need is not TO
spelling lessons better learned, bu
watchfulness regarding careless spell
ing in written work.
FL Miss Miller discussed the need i
: Grammar, Rhetoric, and Literature
!, Ear training is needed to correct errors
q occasioned by the presence OF a larg
ID foreign.born population which eye
III training alone cannot cure. Ridicul
of companions defeats the influence G
: the best homes in habits OF speech
4 Children must be lead to believe obser
vance OF grammatical rules is requis
lite OF good manners. Teach childrel
to realize that there are larger socia
circles than those OF his surroundings
Diagraming is help in English train
Ing; also compositions when the pupi
is familiar with his subject.
Stunt r. C. Johnson NJ naoorob ba,