Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-11-04
TEACHERS MEET
At SAGINAW
Alma Well Represented At
State Teachers As
sociation
Ex-PRES|OENT TAFT TALKS
Former President Delivers Interest
ing Address 10 Large
Audience

the Michigan State Teachers Asso.
citation surpassed all previous con
ventions both in attendance and ex.
cellency of program.
Fully six thousand teachers attend.
ed the convention. Because of the
fact that the convention was held sc
near to Alma, it gave the students
and faculty of Alma College an ex-
ceptional opportunity to attend it
We are glad so many students as well
as faculty members, availed them
selves of this opportunity.
The convention was addressed by
such men as Ex-President Taft
David Starr Jordan, President of Le-
land Stanford University, II. b
Hutchins, President OF u. of NJ, anc
many other prominent educators
throughout the state.
Preceding the convention, an excel
lent organ recital was given by c. II
White.
1t was shortly after two oclocb
when President Edward p. Cummings
called the assembly to order. There
was singing by the seventh grade
pupils of the west side schools, which
was enjoyable indeed Then followed
the invocation by Rev. II. r. Stark
pastor of the FIRST Presbyterian
Church of Saginaw.
The chief interest of the session
centered on the address of William
Howard Taft, former President, and
now Professor of Law i'm Yale Un-
iversity.
Discusses Education System
NJ. Taft's address TO the association
was on the question whether there is
waste i'm our system of education in
this country. In opening the speaker
emphasized the duty of the state tc
provide for the youth Of the country
at least a common school education
in order that they may understand
not only their own rights but alsc
those of the whole people. The liber-
ality of the American people to educa-
ton was commended, but the laxity in
public scrutiny of amounts and meth.
ods of expenditure for school pur-
poses was held TO be detrimental tc
efficiency and economy. Partisan
political control of schools was held
to be especially offensive: and it was
stated that reports made by the super
intendents local and state are not
generally informing to the public
Lack of team work between state su.
perintendents was derogatory to pro
gress.
How Government Could Aid
The federal government it appear
ed to the speaker, while having nc
voice or control in state educational
matters, might still assist by offering
through its bureau of education ma.
chinery for investigation of the
schools Of a municipality, a county
or a state, if such assistance was de.
sired. Tests and coniiImatory exam.
nations for teachers certificates were
some OF the methods open to the fed
era body. A previous suggestion OF
Mr.. Taft's made at Cincinnati, that
the bureau Of education might be made
into national university, thus com
plying with Washngton's suggestion
i'm his farwell address, was revived
Such need not be a teaching univers-
ity, but one for surveys, examinations
and the granting of certificates fol
professional qualification.
Mr.. Taft referred to the fact thai
when in office he endeavored to OBJ.
tain larger appropriations for the bur
eau with view to develop this func
ton. Political interference and parti
san criticism would undoubtedly be
had, but the speaker thought that il
the end the desired end would be at
tanned.
Refers to Old Days
Interesting reference was made tc
~ I'll. .