The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1907-12-06

OF the State--Toasts Were Briaht
and Inspiring.
Never before in the history of north
Nebraska and seldom If ever In the
whole state has more representative
body OF Nebraska educators been gath.
cred around the banquet table than
were assembled Friday evening at the
hrst annual banquet of the day.od
North Nebraska School Folks club at
the Pacific hotel in Norfolk.
The first banquet OF the new club
was an unqualified success. Taken in
connection with the short period OF
preparation and the lack of an estab.
lished organization the splendid sue.
cess of the banquet forecasts a bright
future for north Nebraska's latest or.
ganization, something new in Nebras.
Ia educational circles.
The unity OF interests and the broad
spirit Of fellowship that the wide prai.
ries of the big north Platte country
instills in the minds of north Nebras.
kans was evident in a certain feeling
OF informallty and general good will
among the school folks" at the ban.
quet. Meeting on these terms and
with a genuine north Nebraska pro-
gram of toasts the school folks club
had made good" at the close of the
banquet and had become a permanent
institution.
Between eighty and hundred men
and women, the most representative
workers in an important profession,
were seated at the banquet table.
From as far south as Grand Island and
Lexington, as far east as Fremont. as
Tar north as the Rosebud and west be.
You'd ONeill the school workers came
to Norfolk
Il. o. Garrett of Fremont was toast.
master No man in the state Is so
well acquainted with the teaching pro-
fession as Mr. Garrett and few better
supplied with humor or the art OF
graceful introduction. When the ban
Quet tables were cleared at 10 o'clock
Mr. Garrett introduced the first speak
err of the evening, President j. NJ. Pile
OF the Wayne normal. From the be-
ginning of President Piles address un.
til the last toast 'gas given shortly
after l O'Clock oratory, witticism, rem.
iniscence, jest and word of greeting
mingled
President Pile, for the last fourteen
or fifteen years at the head of that
typical north Nebraska school, Wayne
college. said that the gathering itself
was the best response to the toast
"Why We Meet" To jar loose from
the rut, to find problems solved by the
wider common experience, to cultivate
enthusiasm, to develop a wide spirit
of charity in all this and for the good
of self, the good of others, the good
of the boys and girls at home and
through them the good of the country,
Mr., Pile saw the reason and justifica-
ton of the new club.
Speaking on Associations" Superin,
tendent U. S. Conn of Columbus once
honored with the presidency of the
state association, traced the growth OF
the association movement in Nebraska
spirit. Association meant, he said
good fellowship, cooperation in meet
ing common problems, judgment on
new ideas and the more rapid spread
of the ideas that survive, the chance
for ambitious young fellows to get
their notions into action and finally a
balance wheel to safeguard the com
mon purpose.
Superintendent w. M. Davidson OF
the Omaha city schools was to have
responded to the toast, Fellowship
but was detained in Omaha by school
business. His place was taken by SUI
perintendent Gardner of Fremont, who
gave a short impromptu talk with sto
ries and witticisms that matched the
POSTMASTER. The most valuable part
of the club meetings, Mr., Gardner said
would lie in the social side. Highly
as scholarship and the power of dis
cipline are valued in teachers the Ere
mont superintendent still asserted that
ready and true sympathy with the
pupil was really the highest qualityi L
a teacher
Where are we at2' asked Superin
tendent R. ]. Barr of Grand Island in
few pointed remarks. No speaker
was listened to more attentively thar
Mr.. Barr and none deserved to be
Coming straight from the University
of Michigan to Grand Island twenty
six years ago the splendid schools o.
that Nebraska city are an enduring
monument to man with strength Of
purpose to see his work and do it.
State inspection of schools thai
meant inspection on paper with stoI
of IN hour or so in town, a super
abundance of red tape" binding "dec
laration of intentions" from higt
school normal class pupils, system
of first class high schools" that sweep
I'll everything under one meaningless
head with a dozen subdivisions all re