The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-12-29
GREAT CONVENTION
OF NJ. E. A. CLOSES
TEACHERS OF MINNESOTA SEEK
NEW LAWS TO AID SCHOOLS.

NEW LAWS TO AID SCHOOLS.
Minimum Salary, Stability Of Tenure,
and Age Limit Legislation Demanded,
With Better Professional Training
Required Of All Teachers In the
State Juvenile Court Extension
Sought.
yesterdays late proceedings on
Placing itsa ZEE on f4y record =. ..k;na
for new legislation for the bettermenf
Of education in Minnesota, the Mime
sofa Educational association closed to-
day the most important convention in
Its history. The sessions have proven
most interesting and profitable to all
who attended and the officers are great
~ encouraged over the success Of the
meeting. The final act was the presen-
tation Of number of resolutions pre-
sented by James M. Mcconnell, chair
man OF the committee and newly
elected president Of the association,
Ihe resolutions are summarized az fol
lows: q. =. =
That there should be- state inspec-
cial state aid. I'm -
That a minimum salary, stability of
] tenure and age limit law should be en-
acted. %s<,@.~ .,
&"That at least one year of profess
sional training recognized by the state
department. of public instruction should
be required Of all teachers in this
state.
s"That continuous sessions be main
tanned at each of the state normal
schools:
EsThat the legislature at the next
session pc requested to make sufficient
appropriation for a building for the
college Of education and model school
and equipment at the University of
minnesota where. teachers for high
schools may receive the training SO
much needed for efficient service.
That the juvenile court be extended
to. the entire state; that state truant
officers be provided; that adequate pro-
VISION pc made for school census, in
order that enforcement of our COM
P91lsory school law may become pos
:"That a memorial be directed thru
the secretary to the Minnesota dele
cation In congress urging their SUP
port of national child labor law.
! ''That we commend the state labor
commissioner for his energetic enforce
ment OF our child labor laws, which has
resulted in material reduction of the
child labor evil in this state.
That in this connection the duties
and powers of the proposed state
truant officers shall include those of
the factory inspectors.'
| - Want to Come Again
+ Minneapolis has made such a record
for hospitality in entertaining the
Minnesota Educational association that
many members Of the association at
the closing session of the convention
today announced that they hoped that
Minneapolis would be made the next
meeting place-that they would be
pleased to have it made the permanent
hall and courthouse are we'll adapted
| to meetings Of the various sections.
The university buildings, always avail
| able during the holidays when the as
ISOLATION meets, are ideal for the work,
and there are plenty Of places where
the general sessions may be held. =,
| Besides being a pleasant meeting.
the present convention has been a rec
ord-breaker in every way. The largest
registration in the history Of the asso-
| citation is shown, more than 1000
educators registering and paying the
membership fee. The convention was
secured with some difficulty by the
Commercial club, after the association
had met for twelve successive years in
| st. Paul. "
The Committee Reports.
Reports of standing committees were
favorably acted upon at the closing
session today. R. E. Denfeld Of Du-
luth, chairman Of the child labor and
compulsory education committee, rec
commended that the age limit in COM
pulsorY attendance be raised to 18
years, instead Of 16 as at present
w. W. Charters, Winona, reported for
Chairman Julius Boraas, recommending
compulsory professional training for
rural schoolteachers, and minimum
age limit of 10 years for teachers ap-
plying for certificates.
sinplifed Spelling o. I'd.
Laughter was evoked when the report
on simplifed spelling was presented by
| w. A. Shoemaker Of st. Cloud, who
recommended the simpliied STYLE but
chung to the old form for himself. The
resolutions follow:
- lnasmuch as we, as practical edu-
Gators, deprecate the severe trial, the
waste Of time, and the intellectual in
jury which our illogical spelling and
the process of it's mastery entails upon
our children; and
'1nasmuch as we, as patriotic citi-
Zens, approaching the supreme import
ance. of Intelligent citizenship in our
republic, daily see how our intricate
spelling handicaps our foreign-born
citizens and their children in learning
to read our language and to comprehend
and take an interest in our newspapers,
IN our political discussions and our lit.
erature, thus hindering them from be-
coming; speedily and truly American
Resolved, That we do hereby express
our gratl1lcatlon at the creation and
wise policy of the simplied spelling
board and what it has already accom-
pllshed, and we assure it Of our earnest
cooperation. =. ...s... E
mThat we heartily approve of the
action Of President Roosevelt in com
uniting the executive department Of
our government to the encouragement
of this movement to accelerate the sim
pli6cation Of our spelling.
That we believe, as a matter of
true educational policy, that all super
intendents and school authorities
should not only give the option to
pupils and teachers in their school
work of using the shorter spellings rec
commended by the simplifed spelling
board, but they should encourage their
pupils and teachers to use these spell
| inps 5sE{.& Z. assa