Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1913-02-14
TEACHERS MEETING AT GREEN
BAY

Seldom has there been a larger or
more enthusiastic gathering than that
of the North East Teachers Associ-
ation held in the city Of Green Bay last
Friday and Saturday, at which the Wa
beno schools we've we'll represented.
Many excellent speakers were heard,
among them being DR.. Suzallo of New
York and Prof. Judd of Chicago.
DR.. Suzallo emphasized the import
ance of moral training for the child.
We must have certain definite stand
ard to which the child should conform.
/ 1t is important that the standard be
right The religious impulses of the
/ child must be stimulated and developed.
He compared the school TO an architect.
We want a house built. We have
wood, brick and stone with which to
build. There are Irowels, hammers,
saws and planes Q uses Society wants
citizen. AS TIE builder carefully
beforehand deternsines the style of his
house, sc should society carefully de-
| terlnine the kind of citizen it wants.
The raw materials are tile children.
| The tools to use are the methods of
teaching. First in Importance comes
the type of citizen we want, next is
] the children we have To work with, and
third is the method we use in training
the child
Prof. Judd spoke of reading. He
emphasized the difference between oral
reading and silent reading. His idea
+, is that few people, even high school
graduates, read rapidly enough. Hence
much time is wasted. Speaking of the
relation of interest to reading he af-
/ firmed that no good reading was ever
heard where the reader was not inter-
ested. Therefore, put interesting ma
terial in the hands of pupils. This has
been done in all grades except the 4th
and 5th. AS a consequence there we
find poor readers Take out of the
grades, matter written by adults for
adults and substitute for its practical
materi4l of interest, such as Boat
Building, How to Make Aeroplanes,
The Manufacture OF Lumber, etc.
Then let the children actually do these
things. Get catalogs and advertise
ments. A close study of both means
an increase in knowledge and general
information. Don't drive children out
of school; teach things that will keep
them there.
DIR. Elliott of Madison talked on the
subject, Does the Public Want the
Truth About the Public Schools" He
concluded that it does, but he says it
doesn't always get it. In his opinion
County Normals and County Schools of
Agriculture are both ill-timed and of
little value. The Legislature has been
hasty in establishing them, and ill-ad-
vised in not waiting for the promptings
and advice of the University.
Mention must be made of the Mon
tessori Method 1t has so far been
tried only with children of from three
to five years. Yet it has accomplished
marvellous results where properly con-
Quoted, as shown by lantern slides ex-
hibited at the close of the lecture.
Teachers were advised not to try the
method without at least two years OF
preparation. 1t consists in allowing
the child to follow his own impulses,
checking the unworthy by suggestion.
All instruction is also given by sug-
gestion. No child is ever directly told
or commanded to do anything
Perhaps the most interesting talk
was that given by Miss Jesse Fields.
She spoke of the work done in Page
county, Iowa, among the country boys
and girls. 1t is impossible to get the
boys and girls TO appreciate the coun-
try if the teacher herself does not
She is their inspiration. Many times
there was a strange lump in the throat
of the listener as he heard of the
pride, loyalty, self-sacrifice and devo-
tion of those true hearted country boys
and girls Miss Page has known. We
could see those beautiful, level, well
kept roads compared with their con-
dItion before the boys made split-log
drags and handed together and kept
each group their own stretch Of road
in perfect condition. And we could
almost hear the reply of the little boy
who won the prize when he said in
answer to the question, How did you
do it," "Why, just drug it when
ever it needed it." And we were glad
to hear the story of the boy who walked
sixteen miles that he might be present
when his corn was to be judged, and
got there only four minutes late.
The meeting was an inspiration to
many and delight to all who attedned.
Green Bay is to be praised for the
manner in which it cared for its guests,
and the Teachers Association should
ha comnliueuted fuon the eYcellauce