Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1917-05-16
IOWA WOMAN
GIFTED THINKER
Supt. Fleming, President Iowa State
Teachers Association Delivers
Address at Iowa City.
AT INAUGURATION OF
DIR. w. A. JESSUP
ine' New President of State Uniyer-
sity of Iowa, Whose Formal
Inauguration Took Place
Friday and Saturday.

l
Friday and Saturday.
Supt. Eva M. Fleming of the De-
corah public schools was in Iowa
u-,y last Friday and Saturday, in
attendance at the inauguration OF
Dr.. Walter A. Jessup, the new presi-
dent of Iowa University. Mrs. Flem-
ing and number of other noted
educators We're on the program. The
following with reference to Mrs
tleming's address is taken from the
Iowa City Daily Press:
Mrs. Eva May Fleming, president
of the Iowa State teachers associa-
tion, was one of the principal speak
ers, at the pre-inaugural exercises
this afternoon.
Her theme was, The Fundamen-
tai Idea of Common School Educa-
| tion in Iowa
Mrs. Fleming declared that Iowa
is something more than geographi-
cal portion of the garden of the
country; more than a physical area
| of wondroLs wealth and power
more than one OF the political units
that go to make up nation.
The master-word of the 18th CEN
tury was Liberty" of the 18th
Knowledge, and of the goth,
Service.
Every teacher. especially the
teacher of the country school, must
catch this spirit of service in the
Twentieth century.
Of greater Importance than the
high cost of living" is the question
of the "high cost of wasting" OF
greater importance than both is the
question of the high cost of ignor-
lance"
A Remedy for the Poor House.
One of the best remedies for the
poorhouse is the teaching of Home
Economics. in all it's phases. Of all
the agencies the neighborhood teach
er with agricultural and economic
ttrainfng, and the right spirit of civic
service ought to be the most effec-
tive.
Function of the School.
The function of the school is to
teach efficiency, so that no people
shall know poverty; teach health, so
they shall not know disease, and
teach respect for law so they shall
not become inmates Of jails and pen
itentiaries y
The fundamental ideas or basic
principles of all education-elemen-
tary or higher, in Iowa Cr elsewhere,
she declared, depend always on the
fundamental ideas of the State and
Nation. Our ideas are apitomized il
what we call Democracy. AS our
ideals of Democracy are changed,
our ideas of education are changed
also. Education, the complement
of life, itself, should be within the
reach of every person.
The common schools may render
great service by discovering, en-
couraging and developing those who
give evidence that they possess lead
ership and ability-but why not give
great care also to the gifted child
and thus secure the praise of the
world for another name added to its
roll of leaders.
Elimination of non-essentials and
| introduction of interesting, valuable,
and helpful courses Of study, are
becoming more aid more fundamen-
tai phases of Iowa's educational
Iideas.
Welcome to President.
I extend a hearty welcome to the
lnew president of Iowa university
and pledge him our help and CO.
operation.
"We are greatly pleased that he
has chosen this place for his home
1t NAV sometimes be matter OF
doubt whether entrance upon the ar
duous duties of a president OF any
university is a fitting occasion FOL
congratulations Most teachers agree
with the poet:
Uneasy lies the heads of all who
| rule:
His worst of all, whose kingdom is
| a school"
my congratulations are for the
state university of Iowa. May she
prove worthy Of her newly-choser
president.
Long life to you, Dr. Walter A
Jessup, president of the universit!
Iof Iowa."