The annual meeting of
the teachers of Norfolk County was held in the public school, Simcoe, on
October 7 and 8, 1915. The attendance was very gratifying, there being
present 103 out of 110 in the inspectorate, and the general opinion as
expressed, was that the convention was a profitable and an enjoyable
one.
After the usual routine business
the convention divided into the following sections: Primary, first book,
second book, third book, junior fourth and high school entrance. The
teachers attended such sections as they were especially interested in.
Here they were able to discuss questions pertaining more particularly to
such grades of school work and from the reports brought in by the
chairmen of the sections, this part of the program was found very
profitable.
The address of the chairman,
Miss Maud Price, showed careful preparation, and was highly appreciated.
The education department sent F. F. Macpherson, B.A., of Hamilton Normal
School, to give two addresses. Mr. Macpherson is a favorite with the
teachers who have been trained in the Hamilton Normal School.
The first of his subjects was
composition. He emphasized oral composition from the fact that the most
of a child's composition in after life woud be oral. He deplored the
fact that teachers were compelled to teach so many works in spelling,
the majority of which the child will never write throughout his life.
Mr. Macpherson in his second lecture showed his method of teaching a
lesson in literature.
Chas. P. Alvord, supervisor of
grammar grades, Buffalo, was present, to the delight of the members of
the convention. Mr. Alvord was present a year ago, and the teachers of
Norfolk County would be delighted to have him again. In his two
addresses of about one hour each, on "School Management and
Methods" and "Activities of the Child in Relation to School
Life," every sentence contained some practical thought such as the
following:
The home is retreating from its
influence over the children in moral discipline, manners, etc., and
relegating it to the teacher, who has the child for only six hours a
day, along with an over-crowded curriculum of studies. A teacher may be
controlling a class in school and yet not moulding [sic] the
minds into right lines. Discipline a child so that when it is over he
will feel that he has had a fair trial and received just treatment.
Sarcasm and irony toward a child is the work of a bully.
Scores of such thoughts as these
were discussed thoroughly by Mr. Alvord. The teachers should receive a
great deal of help and inspiration from these addresses.
The following are the officers
and committees for the ensuing year:
President: Morley Knowles
vice president: Miss Margaret J. Hair, B.A.
secretary-treasurer: H. S. Macpherson
executive committee, the officers and the following --
Miss M. Price,
H. F. Cook, B. A., public school inspector
W. H. Smith
J. D. Christie, B.A.
auditors: Miss Maude Collver and Miss Eva G. Haddow
committee of management of Strathcona Fund:
H. J. Alexander
H. J. Case
Robt. G. McKercher, and
H. F. Cook.
The thanks of the convention
were expressed to P. G. Marshall, assisted by Misses Helen Perry and
Ernestine Dutton and A. Witham, for the very enjoyable music with which
the program was interspersed.
The convention closed with the
singing of "God Save the King."
