The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-10-18
TEACHERS INSTITUTE
IN ANNUAL SESSION
State Commissioner Walter E. Ranger Prssdss in The Absence
Of President Keith Addresses Made By Mr. Ranger, Or.
Nathan c. Shaee State Superintendent Of Pennsylvania,
President Faunce and Dr. Luther H. Gu|iCk Of New York.

With weather conditions that accom-
pany all its sessions the Rhode Island
Institute of Instruction opened its
sixty second annual convention at In
fantry hall this morning. The sessions
will last three days and Will be held
at Infantry hall. the Classical high
school building and at Sayles hall.
Brown university.
As in former years teachers from all
parts OF the state began to arrive early.
and previous to the opening OF the
meeting occupied themselves at tho
publishers display in the rear Of tie
south gallery.
In the absence OF Allen p. Keith,
president of the institute. Walter Y.
Ranger, state commissioner OF public
schools, presided. az q when he arose TO
deliver his Introductory address tins
l5rsc hall was f led and many wero
unable 10 secure seals.
The exercises were opened at $50
with an organ recital by Mrs. Alta l..
Small. Rev. George S. Wheeler follow
ed with devotional exercises, after
which there was a short intermission
MIR. RANGER SPEAKS
At 10 O'clock Mr.. Ranger delivered
a short address In which he extended
hearty welcome TO the teachers lie
told how important part tro t"ather
plays in making the upright citizens
OF the state and added that His Excel
detained from being present this morn
ing, but would preside at the evening
session and deliver the address that
he intended to make at the morning
session.
ON behalf Of the state MIR. Ranger
extended an invitation 10 all the teach
ers to visit the state house between
tie hours of four and six, wnere they
will be welcomed by the governor. He
then introduced the first speaker, Er.
Nathan G. Schaeffer superintendent of
public instruction Of the state of Penn
sylvania.
The doctor delivered a very scholarly
address on Work and Play i'm Educa-
ton" In part the doctor spoke as fol-
lows:
WORK AND PLAY"
1T is characteristic OF man TO work and
be dissatisfied II he is out OF It. The saw
age, on the other hand. prefers play, sport
and gambling. In one respect the child
is fife-tf he latterrit- dislikes- -weFk.-It
must he taught at school 10 work and to
take pleasure out OF work. II Is well for
a teacher TO fool the children at school
into the blieving that they are at play.
was present at the anniversary OF
prominent college and the students there
made il a point never to allow their
studies TO interfere with their edncation
1
high ball. every ball etc, and when they
were not thus occupied they studied
'Srhe laws OF all states say that each
cha. shall attend school, TO fit him for
his life work. The product OF school work
we display on the wall. and many medals
came to every state from the exhibit OF
school work at st. Louis.
I'm the county to which I belong many
OF the children are employed in the to-
bacco factories while their evenings |
understand are spent at the roof gar
dens. II is known fact that leather
passes through some 60 odd hands before
IL Is ready for the market Lord knows
how many hands the cigar passes through
before II is read, for the smoker. The
fact Is that nature rebels at this small
amount OF work that each one takes in
the making of this product and 1t Is no
wonder that the people seek rest and
quiet at the theatre.
'In the case OF the student OF telegra-
ply when he starts out he progresses
rapidly but OF a sudden his advancement
Is checked and he feels that he can go
no further Immediately he wishes to give
up and II he Is not persistent he may do
SO If he continues I'm moment there is
a change, the click of the machine has
now n meaning to him. So with the stu
dent OF languages. At first he goes ahead
rapidly and he finds pleasure. but as soon
as the difficulty appears he wants to
give IL up.
THE teacher must then keep him at his
work and finally he will become accus-
toned to the strange language and from
then on his progress is rapid The work
Of a teacher must exert an influence and
the longer the experience the better the
instruction.
"The children have rights as we'll as
duties and the work affects the DISPOSE
one right the pupil has is to he happy AZ
school. The teacher should not be ham
pered by continual examination to prove
her efficiency for her present position.
Frequent examination enfeeble rather
than strengthens the mind. At first they
level from below up but later they level
from above down.
"In my state tell the teachers to get A
permanent certificate and then they will
not be hampered by the yearly examina-
ton.
'1n Pennsylvania the teachers sought an
Increase In salary. one speaker pointed
out the expense of clothing OF a young
lady II teacher has want staring her
I'm the face how can she take pleasure in
her work. II living expenses have In
creased from rs to 40 per cent. why should
not the salaries of the teacher receive "A
proportional increase?
when you consider the teachers in
structing 40 or more children who are not
all we'll behaved, IL is readily seen that
there cannot be much pleasure taken out
OF the work. II the pupil can be made
to enjoy his school work as much as his
play the road viii be much caster for
both teacher and pupil. Teachers should
also view their work I'm this light that
the school Is the medium through which
the masses are reached ~
PRESIDENT FAUNCES ADDRESS.
At the conclusion OF this address
short intcrmission was allowed. after
which President Faunce OF Brown uni
versty was introduced.
He said that he came merely To make
statement OF "a fact ON request of a
committee he submitted To the Faculty oil
the university the desire OF some 400
teachers OF the city schools that they be
permitted 10 pursue a course OF study az
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