The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-05-23
THE TEACHERS
IN CONVENTION
At APPONAUG

| This morning at Apponaug the teacherc
OF the south section Of the state. as well
as a number OF visitors from other towns.
assembled TO take part in the Teachers
Institute
The session opened with prayer and
singing by chorus traineg for the occa-
sion from the high school.
The principal address was delivered by
Hon. Walter E. Ranger OF this city. the
! head Of the school system OF the state.
who spoke interestingly upon the subject.
Fundamental Principles OF School Gov
ernment."
He started with the likening OF the au-
thority OF the school system 10 that of
the principles OF government I'm dem
ocracy. His subject was divided into four
chief points. Interest versus authority;
the growth OF the child from an external
TO a self-governing being. through ii.fiu-
ence OF authority. the chief aim OF school
government, and the relation OF school
laws 70 citizenship and the laws that gov
ern there
In treating OF the first sub-head. he lik-
ened the school TO democracy such as
the United States represents, with Presi-
dent Roosevelt at It's head, ruling not
with absolute authority but by virtue oil
his influence over the people. The rule or
man like President Roosevelt or any
one In the executive chair at Washington
was not like that OF the czar OF Russia or
any other monarchy where the authority
was absolute. The control OF the govern
ment here was not so much by lear or
punishment as by influence.
IL was 80 In the schools. IL should be
the object OF the teacher In the school
room. her small democracy, 10 rule by her
influence and such authority as contact
and respect creates, This was the first
step In making citizens and hence was
very important, for from the rule 81 au-
thority TO that OF influence the child was
made TO grow from an externally govern
ed into self-governing being.
Mr.. Ranger said that the school gov
ernment changed from the lower TO the
higher grades. and gave several illustra-
tons or what was meant. The chief aim
OF all school government should be the
development OF the power OF wise self
direction, and every teacher who had
tho true interest OF the pupils at heart
aimed all efforts toward that attainment.
Constraint and punishment are some
times necessary. but should have that in
II which tends 10 make the child see for
itself what II right. and TO follow more
closely 10 what II has found TO be right.
All punishment has It's limitations but
the recognition OF authority Is essential
TO proper citizenship; and the teachers
should not err on the side OF leniency
any more than on the side OF too much
harshness.
Those pupils who are gently but firmly
kept IN touch with authority learn TO be
law abiding. while at the same time max
ing use OF the opportunities for free self
acting and the expressions OF their own
voltfon. This training which the pupils
receive at the hands of those who have
made the choice OF teaching them their
calling is the one factor I'm preparing this
great community for the opportunities OF
freedom
Following a song by the high school
chorus. Miss Harriet s. Hayward. prim-
airy supervisor OF the Brockton schools
spoke on Ideals In the Schoolroom. At
the AFTERNOON session one OF the principal
speaker was Superintendent w. II. Small
OF this city.