The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1915-03-31
Advantage Received From Attending
Laurcns County Teachers
Association,

In brief, we hope to give few prac-
tical, not visionary, advantages de-
rived from our Teachers Association.
To our mind, the advantages may be
divided into three main groups: in
spirational, educational and social.
The first, then, that Of inspiration.
There is a psychological result in the
very meeting and mingling together
Of bodies Of men and women, enthused
with their work. No one can come
away from any meeting, be 1t educa-
tional or religious, without having
new hopes and greater ideals. When
ninety or hundred teachers from
Laurcns county meet together in
body, and each is radiant with hope
and success, the very atmosphere OF
the meeting is full of that spirit. One
cannot help but go away with a
stronger faith in his work. The teach
ing profession, during the last few
decades has risen wonderfully in the
estimation OF the outside world. TcO
! long some teachers have failed to min
gle with other teachers, thus losing
| the opportunity of catching the spirit
! OF their true greatness in the county
| and the state They have been con
| tent to move in their secluded sphere,
| and not TO aid in the movement OF i'm
pressing upon the larger outer world
/ the greatness Of their profession. \
| teacher that attends the meetings OF
| the teachers association is impressed
/ with the forces working together for
/ 4 common cause.-the education OF all
| the children in Laurcns county-and
goes away with a feeling Of co-opcra-
! ton and Inspiration
Not only is spirit Of inspiration
found at these meetings, but also a
/ spirit OF education and progress Dur
ing The past year, there have been mat
tcrs OF grave Importance discussed.
The meetings have been well arranged
/ for by the program committee. Mat
tors relating to the physical welfare
| Of tho children; concerning the best
methods in school discipline; about
l lIlc lcltlNe T. lliil'ol ltIlNc VI vi .o'tus
! in the course OF study-thesc are
among few OF the things discussed,
! In addition, there have been lectures
| given that caused us to think. To
| question our method, to weigh oursels
in the balance has been the result.
| Truly, no teacher can live a secluded
| life from the other tcaclers CT the
county without becoming crystalizcd
to the peculiar conditions in Laurens
county-and no teacher can lead a
life Of real progress who does not in
tcrcst himself in such movements.
Again. such meetings have their SO
| cial advantages. The scholastic year
uShcrs many new teachers into the
county. These teachrs know very few
Of their fellow teachers, and very lit
| tie about The different schools Of The
county. The teachers meeting brings
these teachers together in social
way, and soon the new teacher will
feel that he has circle Of friends
throughout the county. In no other
way, is 1t possible to get the teach
crs Of the county together even in a
social way.
Finally, the teachers who attend the
meetings are those who keep abreast
with the countrywide events, from
the schools standpoint. Those who
attend learn the various particulars
about the school fair, etc. They can
ask questions and get all Instructions
firsthand. They are not, few weeks
before the events, In dense ignorance
about the various particulars. They,
then, do not flood the county officers
with letters asking instructions. There
needs to be feeling Of shame on the
part Of that teacher, who can and
does not attend the teachers meeting;
but instead waits until the next week
and writes page after page desiring
information about those things which
he could have learned at the meeting.
Yet such, we fear, has been the case.