The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1909-03-16
PARISH TEACHERS
INSTITUTE SATURDAY
Profitable Session Held With 81 Teach
ers Present Out of an Enroll
nient of rs.
GOOD TALKS BY THOSE ASSIGNED
SUBJECTS ON PROGRAM.
Athletic Sports for Children Discussed
Fifty Teachers to Attend State
Teachers Meeting, Alexandria
., April 1-3.

The public school teachers of the
parish held a most interesting and proc
able Institute last Saturday. there be
! ing 81 present out OF an enrolment OF
! 70. The few absent were prevented
| from attending by illness or bad wealth
er. Supt. Wright called the Institute
| to order and briefly but forcibly out
| lined his policy in the administration
OF the schools. declaring his purpose
to thoroughly acquaint himself with
( the conditions governing each school
/ as we'll as the working capacity and
( ability Of each teacher. The resDonsi.
1 blIity of the teacher to his country, to
| the children and to himself was i'm
pressed upon the minds of all, and
/ Supt. Wright affirmed it the honora-
bic duty of one and all to do his best
or quit the profession No teacher
need expect advancement or reemploy-
ment unless there was honest endeayor
to improve professionally and strive
for greater efficiency in the work. The
roll was called and most of the teach
ers responed with appropriate quota
tions, the following among MANY
bright thoughts being very significant:
"A day of strife is worth more than
century of sleep"
Among the visitors present were:
President F. R. Tolson of the School
Board, DR.. N. P. Moss, DR.. G. A. Mar
tin, Prof Swiggett, Prof Woodson. Ed
itor w. A. LeRosen. R. C. Greig and
Rev. Vaughan.
Prof. Avery opened the regular
work OF the Institute with very
thoughtful and well presented exposl
tlon of "The Teachers Work" and es-
pecially emphasizing the Importance
OF discipline and management, which
latter he contended was the key to the
situation. Proper management would
very largely do away with ordinary
school discipline, and the ability of
the teacher here would be the test for
successful work in any community. |
A boys natural energies sought ex-
preston, not from malicious motives, |
but from the very law of his being, and |
the wise teacher should seek to di-
rect, rather than repress the exuber-
ance of the childs animal nature. Prof
Avery dwelt upon the qualities neces-
sary for successful teaching as being,
self-control, power to interpret mo-
tives, courage and personality.
Dr. G. A. Martin gave most instruc-
tive lecture on school sanitation pay
ing particular attention to tuberculosis
or consumption, and explaining how
the germs of this disease were commu-
nicated and people affected by it's ra-
wages. The theory of heredity had
been discarded, and it was now known
that the disease is propagated by the
inhalation of the germs that float
about in the air like dust moats.
Strong constitutions resisted the at
tacks of disease and sunshine and
open air were the best means to ward
off this enemy. DR.. Martin gave spe-
cific directions how to prevent the
spread of the plague among school
children, some of whom might come
from infected homes and bring the
germs on their lips or clothing. The
Doctor expressed his great interest in
schools and said that although not
on the Board now, he expected as
Mayor of Lafayette to use every effort
to lengthen the school term and to
provide literally for the comfort and
happiness of both teacher and pu-
pill.
Prof Faulk read a paper touching
upon many psychological problems in
the school room, showing that a sound
body must bc the basis for all health
full mental activity and effort. Rest
periods should be given when from
SOM cause the children became list
less. Prof. Failk said that ne desir-
ed to present his subject in the form
Of questions to direct discussion, but
had not arranged this for lack Of
time.
at .he afte noon session, Mss Fan.
he G:emblinS open with the subject
of music in the lower grades, supt.
Wright followed with an instructive
.alk on agriculture and home econ
'mies in relation to the school. Pu-
pills should be encouraged to acouaint
themselves with these subjects, not
'nly from an educational point of view,