Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-10-14
SUCCESSFUL
CONVENTION
CENTRAL WIS. TEACHERS
ASSOCIATION FRIDAY
AND SATURDAY

Central Wisconsin Teachers associa-
ton met in Wausau on Friday and
Saturday of last week. 1t was the
first time the convention had been
held in three years and it was the
most successful one ever held by the
association as we'll as one of the most
| interesting and helpful. There were
over 700 delegates present from the
district-from Central Wisconsin.
| The general session was held at
the Wausau High school, Friday at 9
a. m. The principal speaker of the
morning, was Reuben Post Halleck of
| Louisville, KY. His theme was "Prac-
teal English" The essence of his
| talk was to find out the most common
| errors and to correct them. Not to
try to make Emmerson's out of the
children but to have them write in
telligent letters and intelligent SEN
fences, on any subject-in fact to get
down to earth.
T. w. Costing from the department
of education at Madison, gave an ex-
Training in Citizenship" The Com
| munity Singing was led by Miss
Whitman. Supervisor of Music in our
city schools.
Friday Afternoon
On Friday afternoon the city graded
school section held meeting at the
High school at 2 O'Clock, Miss Ger
trude McGuine, presiding. There was
music by the children conducted by
Miss Whitman. Reading by H. w.
Kercher of Merrill He emphasized
ran inc Of limo opa 70
have innumerable books from which
to read. He believed in arranging the
reading so that the bright scholar
need not wait for the slow ones. He
dwelt especially on group reading.
Diagnosis as Basis for Method in
Arithmetic" was the theme of an adj
dress by Miss Maybell Bush, from the
State Dept. of Education at Madison
She said to find out what the trouble
is in the class; if a few do not know
the multiplication table, do not stop
the whole class, but let the better
ones go at other work so as not to
waste time" She recommended the
same course with fractions and other
problems in the study.
Physical exercise, dancing, ETC., was
directed by Miss Marilla Zelhoefer.
P. ]. Zimmers, Supt. of schools of
Manitowoc, Wis, gave an address on
THE Problem Project Procedure" He
advocated socialized study, shifting
the responsibility from the teacher to
the scholar; formerly the responsible
ity was 80 per cent for the teacher
and 10 per cent for the scholar In
every class, he said have the children
give out thought question; this de-
velOped reasoning and Judgment.
Miss Bush conducted a round table
talk to primary and kindergarten
teachers. Miss Bush had worked with
Prof. Patty Hill in Columbia Universe
ty and was we'll. fitted to conduct the
conference.
High School Section
The High School Section was held in
the First Presbyterian church, begin
ming at two o'clock. Edward F. Mer-
bach of Amigo presided.
In his discussion of English in the
High School," E. G.. Doudna of Grand
Rapids, suggested wiser selection of
the literature to be read in the English
classes. He maintained that much of
the material selected tended to kill
reading. Some of it even teachers
would read only under compulsion.
The fiction shelves of our public Ii
braries are overworked, while books
on history, biography and poetry gath
er dust. He referred in particular to
Thayer's two volume work. The Life
and Writings of John Hay as the type
of book really worth while. Mr..
hot frof ,,sx H.
in oral and written expression was an
important phase of the English teach
er's duties but that teachers of other
subjects should cooperate, by calling
attention to faulty expression in their
particular branches of work.
A. j. Herrick of Stevens Point,
spoke on the subject, Relating
Science Teaching in the High School
to Life" The speaker called attention
to the fact that the war had brought
home the need for more science teach
ing than ever before. In keeping with
the present trend in education, the
high school must offer the preparation
necessary to fit pupils to function
properly in this scientific age. There
should be a closer relation between
the teacher and the subject. Too often,
science classes have been assigned as
filters" to teachers of other subjects.
Properly prepared instructors are
needed in the science work. The work
in the science laboratory should be
closely related to the outside world.
Less attention should be paid to form
ula and more to the actual application
of principles to everyday problems.
c. S. Snyder of the local high school
contended that much of the success in
"VitaliZing the Work in History" must
be attained by the individual pupil.
His ability to read intelligently; to
analyse his material and to express
his thoughts are absolute essentials.
The field of history is so large in
comparison with the amount of time
allowed to it, that the teacher becomes
more and more a director of activity
rather than imparter of knowledge.
The class period should resolve itself
into a problem-solving procedure;
period for mental growth. where the
pupils may apply the principles &C
Quired to the work in hand. Too of
ten, it has become simply a rehash of
| textbook material, narrowing their
historical vision in a field which is in
finite Emphasis has shifted from
textbook teaching to teaching boys
and girls. Historical problems be-
come interesting as well as under
standable only when developed in the
light of their own experiences.
r. w. Fairchild of Stevens Point
took up Some Phases of the Junior
High School" He explained the pur-
pose of the Junior High school as Of
fering a place where adoleseent youth
might find itself, and at an age when
hundreds leave school under the pres
ent system. develop an interest in
some field of learning. He advocated
the 1913" plan:-Junior High, 7th. Sth,
and 9Th grades; Senior High 10th. 18th
| and 18th grades. The speaker said
that the plan had gotten far beyond
the experimental stage, and prophe-
sled that within FIVE years the major
L ffx Of Snhnn1 SuSfarnc in fha country