Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 214, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 September 1919 — WEDNESDAY TEACHERS’ INSTITUTE NOTES. [ARTICLE]

WEDNESDAY TEACHERS’ INSTITUTE NOTES.

Trustees’ day brought a goodly number of the trustees of Jasper county out r to the teachers' institute. Two of them, C, W. Postill and John Rush, delivered interesting talks to the (teachers. State Superintendent L. N. Hines was also present and talked for a short time. A fourth speaker was H. Ross. Hume, of Monmouth college, Monmouth, 111., While the two regular instructors completed ithe program. It was a full day. Father Daniels, of the Jocal Catholic church, led the devotionals, after which Mrs. Sage presented the matter of notation in music to the institute. C. W. (Charley) Postill talked on “Growing Efficiency.” He pointed out seven essential to efficiency: Personal appearance—we cannot all be pretty, but we can be beautiful; drpss should not obscure (the personality; self-re-liance —a bluffer cannot succeed, nor can one believe in himself if there is nothing in which to believe; fihdi ng one’s sphere a net filling it gladly, optimism, a cheerful spirit; love of work; consciousness that one’s labor will be adequately compensated, and lastly an appreciation of the importance and sacredness of one’s calling. Trustee Rush spoke on “How a Trustee Judges a Teacher.” The world is depending upon the publie school teacher for the work of reconstruction and for the mqnt of the future. Appearance is not the great thing nor is a great education the great thing. All educated people do not know how to educate. The trustee looks for a teacher who has common sense, good judgment and ability and preparation, one with a good personal appearance preferred. He wants teachers who will co-operate with him, teachers who are in love-with their work and intend to be perma-nent-teachers, teachers with stick-to-it-ability. H. Ross Hume, brother of Mrs. Dean, presented a talk on his experiences in the world war. He was with the 6th infantry in the sth division. He was on many of the fronts, the Argonne forest, St. Mihiel, and others, was in the army of occupation and spent -some—timein—the Duchy of Luxemburg. The French are different from us. The Y. M. C. A. did the best it possibly could. Food might have been better, ibut it could have been worse.. American men were cool and brave, did not know when to stop. Those who

remained in the rear did wonderful things to aid in the winning of the war. Submarine drills were very interesting and he experienced a real submarine scare. As a chaplain he helped bury the dead of his regiment. Out of the 500 burials he believes tha't only three or four errors were made. , An outline for Indiana constituted the talk by Supt. Hines. He desires more cotn-plerte Americanization of Americans. He quoted an instance where in some communities was a strong feeling to renew the teaching of German in the schools, even in defiance of the law. He also said that he would enforce the Indiana law if he had to call out the militia. He desires higher qualifications for teachers, wishes to issue more life certificates and in so far as possible eliminate the dreaded teachers’ examinations. Higher salaries should be paid because it makes contented teachers, and will

also hold the teachers in the profession. A teacher for every 25 or 30 students—is his motto. The retirement. law must be improved .SO that it is state-wide and more attractive. Rural schools, equal in facilities and length of term to the city schools are demanded. Places for the teacher to stay are demanded, even if a home must be built fpr the teacher to stay in. Greater attention to the attendance law is urged and some modifications that will put teeth in the law are urged. Medical attention is demanded for the public school students. Greater co-operation with all organizations which are working for the uplift of humanity forms the last part of the program. Mr. Elson’s morning talk centered on the art of teaching history. He said that interest in history was natural for history dealt with human nature and the development of nations. A good history teacher and student must read widely. Any one author colors, unintentionally, his work. A text book is necessary. Do not be hurried in reading, take notes, study cause and effect, appraise historic values and get full of the subject. Hinge dates upon some central date. Create an inThe causes of the world war were discussed in Mr. Elson’s afternoon (talk. It was especially fitting as I this talk followed the one by Mr. Hume. If the war could have been staved off fifteen years Elson

believes that there would "Kaye “beehj no war because of the growth of peace parties in all lands., The war involved millions of persons instead of thousands as had previous wars, was fought all the year and not in i opportune seasons, was fought in all elements, and was fought day and night. The war was neither a religious nor a racial war. All of the nations originated from the Teutonic .stock. The war was, however, in some measure, an economic war. The real cause of the war was an . v • j» * . * i *Tvy_ schools of Europe had been teaching patriotism to one’s own land and ♦hatred of other Jands, or at least ( Isuspicioh. This was especially true. in Germany. The philosophy of* Neitsche and Tritsche had much tp, do with the fostering .of the spirit of Deutschland über alios. (Germany had alienated the entire war through her methods. American sympathy swerved from Germany to system and idea of domination of

the world. The latter fact had been the cause of England entering the war. Germany made many blunders. Prussia was an army possessing a country. Because of the fullness of the .program Mr. Evans gave only one lecture. Local color was militating against true interpretation of literal ture. A slur at the highbrows was also injuring ithe_£aus£. The cure_ for highbrows is more highbrows and fewer ignoramuses. Literature is the lasting impression, in words; of life. Literature may be tested by its vision—power to penetrate to the innermost of man-7-sincerity—a sort of Hmpirp—anA beautv. which is harmony, balance, proportion and symmetry. Language and literature is more often caught than taught. We are living in a rushing age, in which we see flashes and not whole pictures. tßead ' distinctly, gain the meaning and cause understanding. Interpretation is the entering in upon the spirit of the masterpiece. Soak ourselves in yafs of literature. is valuable for what it calls opt in us. Literature should thrni the ahd ascenfitp the head. - Supt. Sterrett presented the ma.tter of courses in Indiana university and* Announced that on any of the regular teachers’ examination days he would be glad to hold the examination for teachers or others taking extension courses. A number of Jasper county teachers are pursuing these courses and othcourses as soon as their schools are under Still others intend to take 4 work in Chicago university by the correspondence roqte.

P. W. A.