Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-23
"BIC FIVE" HOLDS
INTERESTING SESSION.
THREE HUNDRED TEACHERS PRESENT
Annual Meeting Of big Five" Teachers.
Association Largely Attended and
Very Interesting Lectures,
Papers and Discussions
Listened to.

Five" Teachers Association held in
this city last Friday and Saturday was
one of the most interesting sessions
the association has held There were
upwards of three hundred teachers in
attendance, and the program was high
ly entertaining and instructive.
The program opened with paper
"How Make Grammar Practical" by
Miss Gertrude Kaye of Calmar. She
indicated in very able manner the
Importance of original production in
rhetorical work and the practical value
of this kind of work. We develop
ability in the use of choice language
by constant drills in oral and written
work. The discussion was continued
by Miss Minnie Wilson of Lansing
and Miss Elizabeth Kaye, of West
Union.
The next part of the program was
one of the most interesting papers read,
on the subject "Play as Factor in
Education" The illustrating done by
the pupils of Miss Amy's grade showed
the great Importance of developing
the physical side of our nature.
Helping the Pupil Discover Him
SELF was next taken up by Supt.
Moffit, Oelwein, and Miss Tate, Cresco.
A great many of the mistits in life
come from the fact that people never
discover their proper place. The
school should give CROUCH varied ex-
perience to give the pupil some idea of
the things he can do best.
A vocal solo by Prof Welstead fol-
lowed. The first song May Morn
ing" and second song Dreamy Days, {"
were both very highly appreciated.
The banquet to the visiting teachers
was given at Marsh's Hall at half
past five. Nearly three hundred teach
at the five long tables. The ladies Of
the Unity Circle served a delightful
menu and then there was short pro-
gram of toasts. Mayor f. w. Daubney
acted as POSTMASTER in very amiable
and efficient manner.
Mr.. Caldwell very happily responded
to 'The School Officer HE was fol-
lowed by Supt. Rienow of Elkader
who spoke on the subject of Ideals. -
He brought out the fact that if that
were banquet of pork packers, grain
spectators, or even of politicians. it
would be heralded abroad as great
event; but that since it was merely
a. teachers affair" it was of little or
no consequence. But after all, he
pointed out that teachers were merely
following out the work of the great
est teacher, the lowly Nazarene.
Supt Hook then contrasted "Meth.
DDS. Old and New bringing out
the fact that some methods were in
deed very, very old. DR.. Bennett
gave very clever response to the
toast, "Our Hosts. He proposed a
ringing toast to the hosts of the
evening and called upon all the guests
to arise in assent. Miss Elizabeth
Kaye wittily responded to 1.-THE
Pedagogues. :"
Friday evenings session opened
with music by the DEBORAH High
School chorus which was very much
appreciated by those present.
After the invocation by Rev. Hunt,
Mayor F. W. Daubney extended a
very hearty welcome to the teachers and
all interested in the big Five" AS
sociation.
DR.. Bennett, president of the as
ISOLATION, responded to this address in
behalf of the visitors.
Professor ]. ID. Bryson accompanied
by Miss Bryson, favored the audience
with violin solo,
The appoi ntment of several COM
mittees came next on the program.
DR.. Bennett then introduced DR.. E.
A. Steiner of Iowa College, Grinnell,
who delivered the lecture entitled
1.-THE Trail of the Emigrant. He
iiiS SuDJcCb III a very clever
manner, relating some of his own
humorous experiences while travelling
through Europe. He gave as two
reasons for the almost forced coming
of the emigrant, the dense population
of the mother countries and their
exalted ideas of the pure democracy
they expect to find in the United
States. The emigrant comes here
with honest intentions and great
hopes for the future. Finding he has
overestimated the conditions here,
and becoming discouraged, he tends
to make one of the large crowd of
paupers who live in the congested
parts Of our large cities For his he is
not entirely responsible. Besides
poverty, he has to contend with his
ignorance OF the English language
and the habits of the American people.