The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1905-03-22
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Attends The Teachers Conven-
ton in Denison Last Week.
PRESIDENT sEERLEY SPEAKS
The Great Educator Makes a Pro-
found Impression and Teachers and
Patrons.

On Friday and Saturday OF the past
week the teachers of Crawford county
held the most notably successful meet
ing in recent years. Some two hun
dred teachers were in attendance and
many others availed themselves OF the
opportunity to attend the various
meetings of which there were three
general sessions and as many round
tables.
The teachers from other parts of the
county came in early Friday morning
and spent the day visiting Denison's
schools and in the evening. they. with
many of our towns people assembled
at the Presbyterian church to enjoy
the program arranged for that even
ng. Some splendid music from the
grades and High school of our city had
been provided and Miss Edna Olive
Randall gave one of her pleasing read
ings.
DR.. h. 81. Seerley, President of the
Iowa State Normal, who had just ar
rived. was then introduced and pro-
ceeded to give most practical and
admirable educational lecture on Prob
lens of Progress" He presented with
clearness and force some of the unsolv-
ed problems of educational progress.
He urged that the problem of progress
is the problem of the people, that the
onward movement can only take place
when demanded and sustained by the
people and is limited by their interest
and support. The same democratic
principles that govern the advance
ment OF civilization govern the pro-
gress of education.
President Seerley dwelt upon the
problem of the school curriculum and
took the position that much of the So
called practical study is wholly unprac-
tical at the stage at which it is given
and that the languages often thought
Impractical furnish the proper mental
training for the grammar school per-
iod. He considered also the problem
OF Leadership through the proper de-
velopment of original power, and the
problem of undivided evolution through
persistent self-cultivation of natural
talents. Mr.. Seerley illustrated his
thought throughout by instances in
lives we'll known to him ana thus made
simple, lecture that was in itself
psychological and philosophical. All
who were privileged to hear the lee
ture we're impressed by its sound and
vigorous thought and by its helpful
and encouraging spirit.
Saturday Sessions.
Saturday morning at nine o'clock
the round tables convened in the Cen
trail building.
The Primary Teachers section was
of unusual interest and was very much
enjoyed by all. The attendance was
good, about forty being present.
Mrs. Sands OF Dow City. was the
efficient leader. The first paper by
Miss Abbie Cook was on the topic. The
first two years in number work; guam
tity and quality. The paper was dis
cussed by Miss Christine Anderson.
One OF the principal points given was
that no more lumber work should be
crowded into the first two years as
most courses of study contain more
than the immature mind of the child
can grasp.
The topic on Sense Training by Mise
Craft was illustrated by the work of q
dozen pupils from the first grade. This
part of the program was especially en-
joyable. The different exercises were
intended to develop the senses of hear
ing, touch, and sight.
Miss Schneider gave some very help