The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1921-09-16

two days session. County Superin-
tendent Akers had set the time Of the
meeting on that date in order that
the great number of teachers who live
outside of the county, but'teach with
in the county, might have an oppor-
tunity to participate in the confer
ence. That Supt. Akers reasoned well
was amply demonstrated throughout
the meeting. A great. throng of
teachers was present at every session,
and great interest was manifested
from the beginning to the end Of the
programs. Practically all Of the
county schools had begun on the Mon
day or Tuesday preceding, and teach
ers almost without exception closed
school on Friday and attended the
meeting with the school problems Of
each separate district vividly impress
ed upon the mind of the teacher. 1t
~ was indeed a great and representative
group of over two hundred and fifty
teachers that greeted Supt. Akers and
listened with intense interest to his
opening address. He explained his
purpose in holding the meeting at
that time, and plain indicated that he
expected the attendance and coop
Grafton Of every teacher in the coun-
ty to make the meeting a success and
to lend inspiration and enthusiasm to
the cause of education in the county.
Immediately after Supt. Akers' ad-
dress, Supt, 0. j. Matthias, of Desloge
schools, was introduced as the inspira-
tional speaker of the first session, and
he certainly lived up to his enviable
reputation as an inspirational speak
er.
Supt. Matthias discussed present
Day School Problems" and his adj
dress showed that he is a close stu
dent Of educational progress and that
he has some very pronounced ideas
regarding school work and school
ideals. lie seemed to strike a chord
Of sympathy in his audience when ne
advocated the organization Of County
Junior Colleges supported by public
funds. He very forcibly argued that
our young people who graduate from
our high schools should have the op-
portunity for higher education without
having to go entirely away from the
care Of the home.
Another number on the morning
plcgram was "The New Geography
by Principal I. A. Porterfcld, of
Bonne Terre. This address dealt with
the new phases of geography empha-
sized by modern inventions and chang
es brought about by the World War.
Supt. Akers followed in very inter
esting discussion of the question that
both practical and helpful.
The principal speakers of the af-
ternoon session on the first day were
R. F.. Laidlaw on Missouri History
Prof. Elliot on Writing in the Public
Schools, and Hon. B. H. Marbury on
Education and Community. The dis
cussion of Missouri History proved q
most entertaining topic and did much
to arouse the interest of the teachers
in the real Importance of the History
of Missouri especially in relation to
other epoch making events in Ameri-
can History.
Mr.. Marbury was introduced to the
audience without warning but instant
ly warmed up to his subject and de.
livered very pleasing and practica
address that went home to the hearts
of the teachers.
The program opened on Saturday
morning with vocal solo by j. Ton
Miles of Pennington who sang in his
usual easy and delightful manner
Tom has a voice that is the delight OF
his acquaintances and he is always
ready to assist in every public enter.
prise. Pennington folks are proud Of
him and always give him hearty
hearing.
Allen H. Hinchey, Field Secretary
of Southeast Teachers College, was g
popular speaker on tho program al
the Saturday morning session anc
succeeded in delighting his audience
with stories of the progress of South.
east Missouri and the development Of
her educational institutions.
One of the strong, helpful papers
presented in the conference was, "The
Relation Of the Principal to the Su.
perintendent, the Teachers, the Pupils
and the Community" read by Mrs
Amelia Blankenship, of the Elvin;
schools. This paper showed very care.
full and scholarly preparation and was
a helpful treatment of an important
problem in education.
A demonstration of Methods il
Primary Reading, by Miss Nellie
Humphrey and a part of her clas: