The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-01-01
EDUCATIONAL COLUMN.
By Mabel Horner, County Supt.
Decatur County Teachers A>socia-
ton.

At a meeting of teachers OF the
county held in Leon, Dec. 20, an or
ganizatiOn was effected which should
prove of great benefit to the educa-
tiOnal interests of the county. While
the meeting was not largely attended
owing to the Indictment weather. yet
almost all parts of the county, and
all classes of teachers were repre-
scented. Those who faced the storm
to be present carried with them a
large degree OF professional spirit
and this may be one reason for Or
ganization at this time. However,
there were Othere causes which him
dered the attendance of some.
The moving idea in organization
was that OF cooperation of all the
teachers for mutual benefit, and.
especially, that better service to To-
cal communities and to the educa-
tional interests of the county should
be rendered. Provision was made
for an annual meeting to be held at
the county seat, at which sectional
programs for high school, grade and
rural teachers respectively, as well
as general program should be pro-
vided. Additional meetings may be
held in the several towns of the
county and provision was made for
holding large number OF rural edu-
cational meetings wherever local in
terest of teachers and patrons can
be arranged. While much good will
come from the general meeting, it
will be seen that the most real ser
vice" will be manifest in the local
and rural educa tional meeting. 1t is
hoped that by cooperation OF the
educators and parents OF the county
the school of our towns, villages and
country cross roads shall receive in
spiration which shall result in pl ac-
teal improvement greatly to the
benefit of the coming generation.
The following officers were elect
ell to serve until the holding of the
first annual meeting, which may oc-
cur early in the new year, at which
time a constitution and bylaws will
be submitted for adoption: Presi-
ment of Education Graceland Col
lege, Lamont; first vice president, y.
NJ. Gass, city superintendent, Leon;
second vice president, Miss Ella Gro
gan, grade teacher, Leon; third vice
president, Reese Gittinger, rural
teacher, Garden Grove; secretary,
Miss Aurelie Itchy, principal of High
School, Garden Grove; treasurer,
Miss Maude Slower. rural teacher,
Pleasanton; chairman of executive
committee, Miss Mabel Homer, coun-
ty superintendent. Leon.
sI :: :: ::
The first Decatur County Rural
Schools Exhibit is over. In many re-
spects it exceeded our expectations
both in the quantity and in the quail
ity of the work exhibited. We be-
lieve it has paid 1t has disclosed
both the strong and the weak points
in our rural school work, at least
dreds of children from town and
country, whose consciousness of
their own abilities has been quicken
ed by the sight~of the achievements
of others, and whose ideals of school
work has been raised in viewing
better work than they have perhaps
seen before. The pupils who have
participated in the exhibit have been
strengthened for greater future
achievements. The boy or girl in
the small school where he has no
competition to call forth his best ef-
forts has had his ambition stimulat-
ed by the opportunity to match his
powers with the pupils of other
schools. Parents have had much of
the school work brought to their at
fention as never before and we trust
that their sympathy and interest has
bees strongly enlisted.