The Mankato free press., 1912-11-15

y Vies, St. James; w. 3. :
Thornburgh, Cwatonna. !
= ! j. + + i. !. = I. + : + + + +
We hereby extend our hearty and
sincere thanks to President Arp
and the members of his executive
committee for the excellent pro-
Sram provided for this session of
the Southern Minnesota Educational
association
We wish to thank the members
of the chOruseS and glee clubs and
the ladies and gentlemen who have
contributed so much to the success
and pleasurable entertainment of the
meetings, also the Commercial club
and business men OF this city for
the generous financial assistance.
Resolved, That We favor the ap-
pClntment OF an educational COM
mission to revise and codify the
school laws as outlined by the state
department, and urge the legislature
to provide such a commission.
We invite the cooperation of the
Minnesota Educational association
in this matter
Resolved, That we favor the en-
actment Of just and equable teach
ers' retirement law, similar to those
IN force in some of the other states.
We recommend that this assoca-
ton ask the Minnesota Educational
association to cooperate in bringing
this before the legislature. George
a. Franklin, J. c. Davies, Edia A.
Headley.
With the election OF officers and
the adoption of resolutions the
convention Of The Southern Mime.
sofa Teachers association came to
an end just before noon today. The
sessions were marked by the dis
cussion of subjects designed to as
sIst the teachers in their labors
The attendance was large
Address BY Dr.. Burton.
DIR. Richard Burton of the Uni
versity of Minnesota gave one of
the most interesting addresses of
the entire convention. The closing
session was given over to his ad.
dress and one song by the normal
glee club.
DR.. Burton's subject was "The
Teaching of Literature" He said
in his address that he was intense
ly interested in literature and the
teaching of it, and his talk proved
that statement conclusively. He
said: There are a few fundamen.
tai things in teaching literature sue
cessfully A teacher must know his
subject; he must love his subject
and he must be interested in his
class. If | were not so much in
fprpGfnI
ested in my class | should not
teach literature at all.
"Literature is the best that has
been thought and said in the world
Teaching literature is leading a
student along the paths of an en-
Joyment and pleasure in those
things. Even to have a bowing &C
quaintance with the facts is
good thing, it is a social asset. But
the fundamental test of a love and
appreciation Of literature is whether
people laugh and cry in the right
places. Literature is a religion of
love, and what a teacher gives her
student he receives.
Many teachers, and even college
presidents, object to teachers read.
ing literature to their classes. | con-
slider that an important thing. The
proper reading of something power
ful and good is the sure test of
Students appreciation of it. A
course in literature should also in
ciude voice culture. A teacher
should be given great liberty in
teaching this subject. The teacher
whose aim is the contagion of
beauty is happy"
This meeting Of the Southern Min
nesota Educational association is
considered by the instructors pres
ent one of the most profitable
which has been held The speakers
from away were all excellent and
helpful. the sectional meetings were
instructive. Many who were pres
ent expressed the opinion that the
grade teacher, particularly, derive
more benefit from the attendance at
these meetings than at the state
meeting.
Seek Increase in Salaries.
An increase in teachers salaries
and pensions for retired teachers
were subjects discussed last night
at the convention of the Southern
Minnesota Teachers association. The
Schoolmasters' club of Brown, Cot
tOnwood and Murray counties pre-
sented a resolution based on this
movement which they asked to be
considered by the resolutions COM
mittee Of the convention.
This is the resolution adopted by
the club:
Resolved, by the Schoolmasters'
Club of Martin, Jackson and Far-
bault counties, that we favor a leg
islative enactment authorizing state
wide pensions for retired teachers
under such rules and provisions as
shall be determined by a competent
commission to be appointed by the
State Educational association. w. G.
Tull, chairman; c. J. Timms, secre-
tary.
President J. B. Arp, in introduc-
ing this important subject, took
moment to give the comparative
amounts spent for education and
other things in Mankato. Among
the figures were these: Education,
$3.50; automobiles, So, and tobacco,
S12
Miss Frances Smith. public
school teacher from Winona. then
asked that the convention take some
action regarding the pensioning of
school teachers. The Winona teach