Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-05-26

does require effort. knowledge which
cannot be used is a burden. Therefore
the highest moral teaching is the
doctrine of work.
NOTES
The "Big Five" Teachers Association
which held it's sessions here last Friday
and Saturday was the largest and most
successful gathering in the history of
the association, ana reflects greatcredit
upon its officers and the committees
who had charge of its arrangements.
Some of the papers read were of de-
cided merit, as were the discussions
which they brot forth. The evening
lecture by Prof. Mcbride of the State
University of Iowa upon cart Out
doors" was novel, interesting, and in
structive. 1t is matter of regret that,
owing to a lack of time, the latter half
of the lecture, cart Indoors, had to (
be omitted. The lectureris master
of his subject and also of the use of Ian
guage in conveying his ideas to others.
The reception, after the lecture was
we'll attended, both by the visitors and
by the citizens of the town. BY some
OF the visitors the reception was con-
sidered the great feature of the meet
ings.
The members of the committee on en-
tertainment are to be congratulated
upon the ease and readiness with which
they took care of those from abroad.
The visitors themselves were warm in
their praises of the efforts of the local
teachers and the citizens to entertain
them. Tho the number of visitors was
unusually large, all were taken care of,
and they went away at the close of the
sessions with praises for Cresco and her
citizens
Cresco ought to have more of such
meetings; they are beneficial to the
town in general, as we'll as to those more
directly interested. 1t pays people
to visit with their neigh bors; they grow
broader and more tolerant in the pro-
cess Cresco and her people have many
more friends as a consequence Of the
meetings just closed. They were good
. for the visitors; they were good for the
town.
L e A. LING
4 The topics discussed at the meeting
of the big Five" we're, of course closely
connected with the problems of public
| school teaching. In this it resembled
the ordinary teachers meeting, but in
some very important ways it was not an
ordinary teachers meeting.
We believe that, as rule teachers
have been slow to appreciate the sacred
ness OF their work and the great trust
+ which society places in them. Too
much time is often taken in discussing
the meagerness Of teachers wages but,
while very little was said directly upon
, this question at this meeting it is evil
: dent that the teachers of the Big Five"
! are on the right road to secure.not only
. this much needed reform but also what
is OF much greater consequence-make
D themselves worthy of such advance
ment.
e One could not help being impressed
s with the high moral standard demand
k ed by the papers and the discussions.
e 1t appears that the teachers are coming
to realize more than ever that their pro-
fession demands high ideals and sincere
!, and earnest effort in striving toward
;, their realization.
: Not all teaching is from the text book.
: To quote an old maxim used by one of
g the speakers; Example is better than
= precept." rs
= Another feature of the meeting was
= - the attitude shown toward high school
athletics. 1t is quite evident that the
! superintendents and principals Of the
!, big Five" propose to 80 control the
!, athletics that they will cease to inter-
!, fere either with good school work or
~ good morals. Sunday contests are doom
:. ed and unless ball playing can be kept
4 separated from cigarettes and beer
4 which is too common feature OF many
- "events" the so-called athletes must go.
The meeting was instructive and In
spring and the teachers will return to
~ their work with new hope and energy
= and redouble their efforts to become
= truly successful. A. r. McCook.