The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-12-29
THE TEACHERS CONVENTION.

, nc meeting OF the Utah ictatc i cacn
y ers Association in this city comprise
Il very large number of skilled cduca
tional men and women, those who no
only have the liveicst kind of intercs
in education as vital forco beneficial
TO the community, but who have tn,
practical application Of that force, il
he training of the children. They are
for the most part, deeply in earnest II
their work, striving TO do il moro cf
fcctively and skilIfulIy all the time
and 10 yield to the community the
greatest possible return for It's conf
dcncc and compensation.
II IS quite true, as President Thomas
OF the association said in his opening
| speech, that there arc teachers who arc
moi as effective as they should be, some
by reason of lack of requirements, 9th
ers because of un6tpess of disposition or
non adaptation to the work. And yet, it
is true that, for the most part, the
teachers tako tho deepest interest IN
| their work, and are thoroughly devoted
| to the advancement Of the pupils put
IN their charge. That some of them do
not do AS good work as ought to be
done, is cause for regret. And yet,
among so many, we believe that those
who are the least effective comprise as
small ratio to the whole as Will be
tound In any class or calling.
MIR. Thomas, while criticisiuc the
teachers in the way that he did, doubt
less felt fully justified therein. And
yet, perhaps he was Il little severe In
another direction, however, his crit
cism was not only quite as severe, or
even more so, but il was certainly bet.
ter deserved. We refer 10 that por-
tion of his remarks where be conveyed
his censure of members Of school
boards, and Of boards of school trus-
tees. There is moi the least doubt but
that this criticism is we'll mcrited. Mr..
Thomas has, unfortunately. come into
personal contact with that sort of in
effectiveness, and even worse, in his
relations TO some of his fellow Nom
bers of the board of education in this
city. 1t is no wonder, in view OF
some of the things which he has en-
countered, that he is emphatic in his
condemnation of some members of
school boards, And yet, we believe
that the people are prepared to show,
and do show, an interest In getting
rid of Ineffective or vicious members
of boards, as soon as the facts relat |
ing to the acts of such members come
TO light In the meantime, so far as
this criticism is valid, nothing can be |
done except TO awaken the people to
the Importance of getting the best |
available membership in the school |
boards. And doubtless it was to ad- |
vance the time when the voters will
take a liveier and more discriminating
interest in selecting the best citizen
ship for this work. that Mr. Thomas
called attention to the need in the Wig,
orous way that he did
In the meanwhile. there can be no
doubt whatever of the very great ben
eft of such assemblages of teachers
as arc with us at this convention The
Of ideas, the criticisms, the
gratulations, the stirring up of
ideas, all tend wonderfully to the ad-
of the educational work,
n that they give all concerned new
point Of view in many respects, and
stimulate all TO the most effective Ell.
ieavors that are possible for them to
make.
The tone attending these meetings
IS. we Judge, Of the most wholesome
character. There is less grumbling
han heretofore: there is more enthu-
lasm. There is gradually being built
lp an esprit du corps which will stim-
llate pride In successful eudeavor, and
IN cumulative comradeship among the
eachers that Will he of vital benefit to
hem in all their work.
The Tribune extends hearty conerat~
Ilations to the teachers, trusting that
hey will find both profit and pleasure
n this convention, and that gradually
heir meetings will come to be looked
Onward to as treat rather than as a
ask