The Baraboo news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1884-1911, 1908-03-04
MANY ATTEND
COUNTY CONVENTION
SUNDAY SCHOOL WORKERS EX-
CHANGE IDEAS AND LISTEN
TO EXPERTS
ASSOCIATION OFFICERS ELECTED
The Next Meeting Will be Held at
Prairie du Sec or Spring Green
Picnic Probable
(From Wednesdays Daily.J

About four hundred attended the
Sauk County Sunday school conven-
ton held in the Congregational church
last evening. The exercises opened
with praise service led by Fred Nehs
of Baraboo. A male quartete and an
orchestra gave several selections that
were we'll rendered and heartily ap-
plauded. The chorus was large and
inspiring.
The addresses of the evening were
given by Prof. w. J. Mutch, professor
of Philosophy and Pedagogy in Ripon
College, and w. J. Semelroth General
Secretary of the State Sunday school
association. Prof. Mutch spoke on
"The Point of Contactlin Teaching. ."He
differentiated between the personal
contact and the lesson contact. The
personal contact must be gained first.
1t may take minutes, hours, months,
but without this personal contact the
teacher will never be a success. He
gave an illustration of teacher gain
ing an influence over a most unruly
class of street urchins by arousing their
curiosity, then their interest. 1t was
some weeks before she attempted to
teach the lesson. By first gaining
their interest and attention through
the personal contact she was able then
to get the lesson contact.
The lesson contact may be gained, he
said by simple question, story or a
few well planned sentences relating to
previous talk.
Prof. Mutch emphasized the impor-
tance of teaching in the concrete rather
than the abstract, bringing all remarks
and illustrations down to the simple
and concrete which the boys and girls
can understand.
He spoke of the pedagogical process
involved in teaching and the il por-
tance of the study of theory to the
teacher but said that when it came
down to actual practice all machinery
must be kept out of sight. In fact the
teacher should forget the mechanical
preparation and be perfectly at ease
and natural before the pupils.
Mr.Semelroth gave stirring address
on the subject, "Co-operative Christi
anity." He spoke of the Importance
Of international, state, county and dis
trict organizations, of the Importance
of graded lessons and competent lesson
helps for the teacher, He awakened
an interest in the international Sunday
school convention to be held in Louis
vile, Kentucky in June of this year.
Then followed strong heart to heart
talk on the i'm portance of the Sunday
school to the community and of the
influence of the teacher over his pupils.
He gave a fine tribute to the teacher
that had influenced him as child and
of the many noted Sunday school
workers who are in the field now
through her personal interest and in
fuence.
The speaker gave illustration after
of the remarkable influence
of the Sunday school teacher.
AS state Wisconsin is among the
foremost in Sunday school interest and
successful organization but there are
many districts throughout the state still
untouched. Mr.. Semelroth is a man
in close touch with the interests
of the Sunday school. He is a man of
personal magnetism and every word is
forcibly impressed upon his hearers.