The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-10-19


Mrs. Alfra l.. Small gave an organ re-
cital' after which Rev. George w. Rigler
conducted devotional exercises.
David b. Hoyt, principal Of the English
hlgh school, read a biographical sketch
ana appreciative memorial OF Thomas b
Stockwell, closing with the resolution
ADOPTED by the Central Congregational
church.
John w: Cass' superintendent OF public
schools OF Dayton, o., spoke on Teach
ing as an Occupation" as follows:
Ihere is a higher compensation TO
every true teacher than that afforded nv
money or any OF the opportunities IL Is
the compensation OF Intellectual and
vice. 'N' VI "oDie ser
me fact that each year teachers de-
80 tnemseNes in private study and
sadIg on regular course OF reading. and
from the fact that many leave the ranks
yearly TO enter a learned profession dem
onsttate that teachers do grow intellec-
The teachers opportunity for moral
and spiritual development surpass even
| those Tor intellectual growth. The limo
cehce or children make the school room q
new Eden over which the teacher Ia the
guardian. The responsiveness and prog
ress or each child causes hope to spring
| eternal In the heart OF each teacher, hope
Tor the betterment OF the race through
education OF the children; hope for his
| own salvation by helping 10 save others.
These are some OF the higher compen-
| satlons which money can't buy and
| which brighten the pathway and gladdens
| the heart OF every noble teacher.
The chief greatness in teaching Is In
| what IL gives society and not what IL re-
| ceives for II. The final test OF greatness
| Is I'm what benefit II Is. This is so In the
| case OF the individual. and IL you search
| the pages Of history you will find that
| truly great men render great service. 1t
| is not what they received. but what they
gave that made them great.
what have the American teachers
given TO the American people for the
millions OF dollars that they have received
In eXchange2
"They have first established and main.
tained the democracy OF learning. In all
other countries learning is a special priv
ilege reserved for the children OF few,
I'm this country II is for all. In 1880 the
per cent. of illiteracy OF the country was
H. in 1900 IL was 107 per cent, or thanks
to the American teachers, a decrease OF
63 per cent. This was general and nor
confined 20 a particular part OF the coun-
try
"The work of the teacher is the founda-
tion upon which every art and profession
rests. No nation succeeds whose people
are not educated and no nation has sue
ceedede in producing an educated people
without great system OF schools, taught
by corps OF teachers"
Miss Katherine b. Taft, principal OF
| the Harrison street special school, took
| for her subject THE Bad Boy In the
School Room; and her paper was re-
| ceived with much applause. Miss Taft.
among other things. said.
| '''By the bad boy mean the moral de-
| linquent; the unruly. disorderly, dishon-
| est. dsobedent boy; the boy who Is cruel,
sullen. suky. defiant profane, vicious.
| stubborn, etc. II. very words by which
| we characterize - m are negative. show
! ing the absence OF the qualities II Is de-
| slrable to inculcate.
Before we can remedy these evils, we
| must know the causes. Some OF these
| Inequalities OF temperament are due to
! one cause. more OF them TO a combination
| OF causes.
| ''The most evident OF these causes are: :
| Malnutrition. n poorly or badly fed body
| incapable OF furnishing the brain with the
| proper blood supply for mental action.
| Educators everywhere are agreed that by
| far the most important cause of back
wardness and inefficiency among our pub
| lie school children is the chronic under
feeding OF which so many are victims.
| Late hours, attendance at dime shows.
| where irreverence for old age, disrespect
| for authority. false ideas OF life are In
| culcated reading of dime novels which
| make crime attractive vice alluring, and
| truth and honesty 10 be despised; III
|
| natural affection. makes them hard and
! mrutish; willingness on the part OF par
! ents to have state care for children until
they are self-supporting. are among the
| many causes The wonder Is that we
| haven't more bad boys.
| "These boys should be selected and put
| together under teachers OF special skill
| and understanding who will he able 70
| differentiate the kinds OF bad boys. Just
as specially trained teachers are required
for the blind and deaf so these morally
| sick bows should be ministered unto. Thus
| only will they have the best chance ot
! Improvement. OF being saved from becom-
| ing a failure in life.
| The teacher holds the key, Is the Key
| Of the situation. The personality OF the
! teacher is all important The power
| TO change the centre OF interest from
] est disciplinary ability. a teacher can
| possess 1t will require close study
| OF children's interests 10 do this enec-
| lively When changing the childs IN
! terest the teacher should lead to the
| new interest without making the child
! conscious OF the interference.
| ''The expert alone can safely deal
! with these moral delinquents. A prep
! aration by the study OF the science is
| necessary. n preparation OF the nnucr-
IN tbis work II is necessary to study
! these children in a scientific manner
! i'm order TO know how best TO train
| the dCNelOpmentS In nllnu ahu w. AhH'
| thew may grow up with sound con.
! stItution and full mental and moral
/ power. -, A..
! knack': the skill that comes mostly by
! practice, added 10 a certain mental Mt
] ness and common sense. In a great
majority OF cases the boys are not
! understood YOU can, do almost any.
! thing with children " you understand
] them. II takes patience. sympathy and
/ skill 10 handle this class OF boys sue
/ cessfullv There needs TO be GER
| toin amount OF love between the boy
! and the person dealing with him
/ Many OF these boys have hardly ever
! had n kind word spoken TO them or
] the slightest interest shown In their
! affairs.
che means OF education must be
/ adapted TO the boy. He must form
habits OF obedience. habits OF self-con
| troll. order. cleanliness. diligence, pune
| tuality etc. not by mere resolution.
not by a single EFFORT, or by a series OF
/ htful EFFORTS but hy repeated and con-
/ tinued activity, -,
''The hoy must learn 20 obey for this
/ lies behind and beneath all other lessons
| lie must learn TO look upon oh"d'eno" y
his narents and teachers as stern neces-