The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-03-24
TEACHERS NEE TING.
SUBJECTS OF GREAT TIMPoRTANCE
DISCUSSED BY THEM.
The Oransebu1g County Teachers
Association Held a Most lnstruc-

The regular meeting of the Or
angeburg County Teachers Associa-
tion was held at the Courthouse on
last Saturday week with the Presi-
dent. Prof. L. W. Livingston, presid
ing. Several very interesting SUBJ
jects were discussed. The first sub
lect taken up for discussion was
How to Keep the Plow-boy in
School,"
The first SPEAKER introduced was
Mr.. J. G. Lowry who said in part:
"A complete solution of this pro-
blem remains hitherto undiscovered,
but the success of keeping boys of
this class in school would be more
ideally SO if the teacher were aided
by a compulsory educational law. p"
Such law would most assuredly be
for the general welfare and safe
guard to our future liberties" The
root Of the trouble was here pointed
out as laying in the home influence.
Parents should be very careful as
to this" "A stream cannot rise
above it's fountain and the boy above
his home training"
The parents as we'll as the teacher
should labor to instill into the boy
those lofty ideas Of character and
the incompatible returns of the edu-
Gated mind; they through "co-opera-
ton should impress upon the boy the
great need of intelligence in this
onward age of ours behind the plow
as we'll as in any other vocation of
life" THE teacher should endeavor
to grow a deep affiliation between the
pupil and the school," He should
strive to make the school just lit
tie more attractive than the home
surroundings, and the great work
just begun here by the State School
Improvement Association WILL. in
deed, be a great factor for good.
A compulsory education law was
rather favored as being bridge to
aid the teacher in crossing an other
wise, in many respects, an impass-
able gulf.
"The boy, too, must be made to
look farther than through the vain
struggle Of this life. as it is here
that the soul: the mind, is prepared
for the glories of that better life be-
yond the veil that separates us from
eternity"
Prof. w. S. Peterson Of the o. c..
l. was the second speaker to discuss
this question. The speaker had been
country school teacher for four
years previous to his coming to Or
angeburg. He pointed out that his
patronage comes mostly from the
country homes, and that he was
here placed in fine position for
knowing the difficulties that confront
the teacher in this problem. 1t is
not so hard to keep boys in school
during the first part of the year but
it is in the latter part that the trou-
BILE begins" He suggested the good
in coming in direct touch with the
parents and the making of parents
ito see their duty from a business
point of view That it is unwise
after the expense if keeping a boy
in school during the first part OF the
year, to take him from school When
often as the case may be, the pro-
gress of the boy is unsurpassed
His experience in country school
had taught him the great value OF
entertainments as partial remedy
for the evil. Out of seventy pupils
in country school he had actually
succeeded in keeping 60 in school
until the end OF the session by this
means.
The fault OF the decrease OF at
tendance often lies with the teacher
in his failing to keep up the proper
interest Tack, work and plotting
are here needed" And if this is
done from year to year for an extent
of ten years by the right sort OF
teachers in the school room, then no
compulsory education will be needed.
In was clearly shown that the teach
ers could be of great benefit in rem
edying the evil.
The next subject taken up for dis
cussion was "Discipline. The first
sneaker was Prof. c. ]. Rast. The
speaker said that he had not pre-
pared any set speech but would ven
tilate the subject from the school Of
experience" The profundity OF the
subject was pointed out. Out OF
1O7 pupils in school he had fifteen
boys between ages Of sixteen and
eighteen to which the question could
be applied in it's truest sense. The
Importance Of this question commen-
ces around the fireside, the true
source of all greatness. v The dis
cipline received here Will most aSsur-
edly show itself in the school and in
life of the man after he leaves schon!.
1.-The father should be very careful In
unfolding his son in devilment. The
teacher also is much responsible IN
this most important question. he
should teach the pupil to do r1ght
and be obedient." "These ar+ bound
to show themselves. ."
The second speaker on "Disclplinc
was Trof. i. H Houser. He was
glad to see some at least interested
in this question and would give US
. small little talk" "Dicipline COM
monced under God millions OF years
ago and continues down to the pres