programme would give us an analysis of this subtle power, and tell us whether it is innate, conditioned by circumstances, a germ that may be developed by exercise or lie dormant from non-use. There are those who tell us that this personality is a yet undiscovered physical agent depending upon the action of the mind on the brain; but this has not been demonstrated, and until it shall be, he preferred to believe it a purely psychical influence, coming from the profoundest depths of the soul itself-an unconscious influence, common to all, conditioned by circumstances, capable of development, varying with the individual. A strong personality is usually marked by great tenacity of will power, which in excess develops a tendency to insist upon one's opinions or decisions regardless of whether the matter be properly within our jurisdiction; induces prejudice which clogs progress, bars discussion, stifles co-operation; this tends to tyranny and to the obstinacy best illustrated in the longeared hybrid quadruped. Such a personality is not for the teacher. There are those who make self the central figure of illustration, the ever-successful hero; who receive any intimation of possible error as an insult; this too will not do for the teacher. The personality to be desired, which renders the teacher invaluable, flows unconsciously, and is always pleasing and stimulating, binding together teacher and pupil in love, and preparing the soil for the seeds of knowledge. How shall we develop this? Evidently it depends upon moral conditions and habits. Even if we have the right kind and amount, its outpouring may be hindered by circumstances. The mind must be unhampered; too much organization, too much routine, must be avoided; all possible room must be given by the supervising officer for the teacher's originality in application of his general methods. He would close by placing the personality of the teacher as the most potent of educational forces; the system should be adjusted to it, and not the personality limited by the system. Supt. Kinsley, of Franklin (Venango county), said he was glad to hear the remarks of the last speaker. There are superintendents who feel responsible not only for the whole course from primary to high school, but for the daily work in every school. He believed in approximating as nearly as possible to perfect independence of the teacher in her room. If results are unsatisfactory, confer privately; never interfere in the actual work with the pupils. If advice and instruction fail, the only remedy is a change of teacher; and if a superintendent persistently interferes with the teachers' work, the same remedy should be applied. Miss Lloyd said every teacher must necessarily influence the children with whom she is in daily contact; but we all know there are some teachers who will not be in a school more than a few months till all the pupils will be imitating and quoting her, while with others they will be merely passive. What we want to know is how to impress our personality upon our pupils for their good. This, she thought, required a happy combination of egoism and altruism. Of course the true teacher is unselfish, and her first thought is the welfare of the children; but it is possible so to forget oneself as to cease to grow, and then there is loss of influence. The highly successful teacher should be more than teacher; she should be a power in her community, drawing strength from the strong people around her. She must take time for other than directly professional reading. build up our own lives, not for selfaggrandizement, but for the gocd of others to develop power for the work we have to do. As we grow, we can better help our pupils to grow. GOOD MEMORY WORK. The two gentlemen named on the programme to discuss the question of "Improvement of Rural Schools," being absent, the President requested Dr. J. P. McCaskey to present a subject in which he is known to all readers of The Journal as much interested, namely, profitable memory work. By turning the Association into a school for ten or twelve minutes, he gave a practical test of how readily a good thing may be taught by one who knows it and is interested in teaching it to others who are willing to learn. He used the four key-words, "maiden,' 'pane," "organ,' 'curate," from the first lines of the stanzas in their order, fixing these by quick and frequent repetition, taken in order and at random to locate the verses; then the first lines in which the words occur; the verses in order and at random, backwards and forwards-so that they might be looked at, and, if possible, projected as a picture 99 66 99 66 before the mind-and finally, within the few minutes named, had a concert recitation of the following suggestive little poem, appropriate for "Bird Day," and which cannot be taught too widely: THE BROKEN WING. In front of my pew sits a maiden, And the sheen of the sun upon that. "No sparrow shall fall to the ground;" But the poor broken wing on the bonnet Is mocking the merciful sound. He then read part of a paper on good memory work which had been written for the American Institute of Instruction, to convene the next week at Montreal. This paper was given in the July number of The Journal. President Waller said it was very unusual to find a great man who had not thus exercised and developed his mind upon the great things in literature. REPORT ON LEGISLATION. Deputy Supt. J. Q. Stewart made a verbal report from the Committee on Legislation. There had been no formal meeting, but the work was done by correspondence, and the committee had taken some part in legislation. The bill increasing the minimum school term to seven months had failed, notwithstanding the endorsement of the Department and progressive and wide-awake teachers, superintendents and directors. We want the help of all such to make sure of this advance step at next session. Many other things, good, bad and indifferent, have been proposed, and some useful bills have been passed. Cities are permitted to establish kindergartens for children from 3 to 6 years; some had already done so, but now it is legalized, and this is an advance step. The act permitting cities of third class to pay contingent expenses from the building tax will be helpful. The substitution of the city for county valuation in cities is an improvement. The amendments to the compulsory education law have made it more stringent, but as the bill has been called back from the Governor, it is not yet approved; the extension of the age limit is good. About the appropriation nothing final has yet been done. We hope there will be no cutting of the amount, but even if we lose the odd half million a year we shall not be seriously hurt. There are Directors who defeat the intention of the liberality of the State by decreasing their own tax and making the appropriation pay most or all their expenses; many districts are reported where what the State gives is more than the local tax. This is all wrong, and we must do something about it; but at present we are concerned about keeping our appropriation from reduction. This is about all that demands notice in this brief report. [The more important items of approved legislation mentioned in this report will be found elsewhere in this number of The Journal.] This Supt. Hamilton: There is one matter that has been omitted. This body has uniformly resolved in favor of better supervision of country schools. legislature passed a bill extending to townships the rights now enjoyed by boroughs in that matter, but the Governor vetoed it. I think we should pass a resolution congratulating the Legislature and rapping the Governor over the knuckles. Deputy Stewart: I take exception to that. The principle of the bill was right, but it was ambiguously worded, and the title and body did not consist, so the Attorney-General recommended that it should not be approved. Supt, Hamilton: Perhaps the lack of clearness in phraseology was intentional, since if clearly understood it might not have passed. Sometimes you must pass a law first and construe it afterwards. [Laughter.] It is an outrage that country districts should not have the right to such supervision, if they are willing to pay for it. The bill was merely permissive, and could do no harm where people were not in favor of it. No further action was taken on the matter of legislation, and after arranging to dispense with the evening session, and hold the afternoon exercises in Cascade Park, the Committee on Resolutions made their report, as follows: THE RESOLUTIONS. 1. That we note with pleasure the evidence of progress in all departments of educational work throughout the State during the past year. 2. That we commend His Excellency, Governor Hastings, for his hearty coöperation in advancing the cause of education throughout the Commonwealth, and especially for his wise action in reappointing the present efficient Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Nathan C. Schaeffer. 3. That we regret the defeat of House Bill No. 53, to extend the minimum length of the school term to seven months, and that our thanks are due to those members of the Legislature who gave their labors and support to the extension of the school term? 4. That we enter our earnest protest against the reduction of the annual public school appropriation, as inimical to the highest interests of popular education. 5. That we most respectfully urge upon all school directors the propriety and necessity of raising by local taxation at least as much money for school purposes in their respective districts as they receive from the annual State appropriation. 6. That the present tendency towards a complete high school system be encouraged, and that we heartily commend those districts where such high schools have already been established without the assistance of State appropriation. 7. That the thanks of this Association be and they are hereby extended to the citizens of New Castle for the interest they have manifested in the cause of popular educa tion, for their cordial welcome and kindly reception; and to the management of the various industries of the city for opening their factories to our inspection. 8. That we extend especial thanks to the Executive Committee for their untiring efforts towards the success of the present session. Also to Prof. Young and his able corps of assistants for their excellent musical entertainment. 9. That we tender our sincere thanks to the committee on the Dr. Thomas H. Burrowes Memorial, for the faithful and untiring manner in which they have discharged their duty. 10. That we enter our earnest protest and condemn as unjust discrimination the action of the railroad authorities in refusing to furnish the same rates to our State Association as the same companies have granted and continue to grant to similar organizations in adjoining States and to political or other organizations in our own state. After some discussion relative to the action of the railroads the tenth resolution was stricken out, and the balance of the report adopted as read. The following telegram was received from the Ohio State Teachers' Association, in session at Toledo: The Secretary Pennsylvania Teachers' Association: Fraternal greetings and a hearty "God speed" from the Teachers of Ohio to the Teachers of Pennsylvania. E. T. BREWSTER, Secy. HE electric cars to the Park and re turn were free to members of the Association for this session. Before the hour of meeting a rain drove all those who were enjoying the woods under cover, and the Pavilion was crowded, except the dancing floor from which profane feet were excluded. Dr. Crawford having arrived, read his paper, which was to be forwarded to us, but has not arrived when we go to press. Rev. I. A. Thayer, D. D., of New Castle, followed with a live speech. Since the security of our institutions depends on the virtue and intelligence of the people, it is the right and duty of the State to enforce education by compulsory law, as we are doing in Pennsylvania and elsewhere. He would go a step farther, and have the State take supervision of private as well as public schools. Back of the soldier who carried the flag through the South and brought it back with no star erased, was the march of the schoolmaster, and he must be counted among the influences that broke the shackles of the slave. The words of the splendid colored orator are yet ringing in our ears; but it is not only the undeveloped negro race that needs industrial education, as business people are battling over smaller and yet smaller margins. As we must educate some boys and girls for profes sional work, why not teach them also to use their hands in working wood and iron, in cooking their meals and making their clothes? And in our training of the intellect we must not forget the moral and religious culture, without which all else is useless and may be dangerous. Hon. Henry Houck was loudly called for, and made one of his characteristic speeches, saying we had enjoyed our good time in this prosperous town, and are now fitly closing our session in this beautiful park. There have been many difficulties to overcome in making a success of this meeting-distance, time, and so on-but they have been overcome by the indomitable perseverance of the chairman of the Executive Committee, aided by the other Stewart and supported by a Canon. [Laughter.] It has been a good thing to be here, and especially to listen to the eloquent colored man who is doing the work he told us about, in solving the race problem. There was other good work done here, which we have all appreciated and enjoyed, and now it is time to say good-bye. In conclusion, he led the singing of "My Country, 'Tis of Thee." President Waller said the necessary absence of the President-elect of course preventing his formal installation, the Association would now be adjourned with the Long Metre Doxology and the benediction by Rev. J. Q. A. McDowell, after which he declared the session closed. BRADFORD-3. BUCKS-I. Elizabeth Lloyd. BUTLER 14. John A. Gibson, S. S. Cheeseman, CAMBRIA-2. CAMERON-I. CENTRE 4. C. L. Gramley, CLARION-2. COLUMBIA-I. William Noetling. CRAWFORD-7. DAUPHIN-4. DELAWARE-2. A. G. C. Smith, INDIANA-I. D. J. Waller, Jr. LANCASTER-6. J. P. McCaskey,* LAWRENCE-302. James G. Leslie, Clyde N. Lockhart, R. R. Liebendorfer, Netta C. Chapman, C. F. Montgomery, S. D. Long, G. W. Veach, W. H. Hall, Martin Gantz, Lottie Byers, Luella Kerr, Mame Fisher, Maggie Balph, Lillian Sedgwick, Bell Watson, C. L. Walton, Gertrude McKinley Anna C. Steen, Nora Eighmy, Sue Gageby, Agnes Reed, J. B. Hawk, Margaret Melvin, Mattie Waite, Mrs.NancyMcKee, Clara Patterson, Lena Shields, John B. Brown, H. J. McClure, W. J. Eroe, John Bower, H. B. Cubbison, W. J. Chain, C. C. Dickson, W. A. Stritmater, J. F. Jenkinger, David Jamison, Clark & Co., Brown & Hamilton, Rush Knox, Bess Lusk, J. G. McConahy, James A. Gardner, J. L. Myland, Kerr & McClure, Brown & Thompson Ella Cain, Mattie Aiken, Anna McClain, Annie Aiken, Mary H. Aiken, Co., tric Co., David Gaston, eo. Weingartner, Mary Davis, Alice Neal, Nellie Neal, S. R. Baldwin, Gyla MacDowell, Grant Brown. Mary Coulter, Harriet Phipps, Rebekah Browne, Rev. R. A. Browne, J. A. Lostetter, James Horton, JamesC.Stevenson, Oscar Young, Letitia Elliott, A. I. Bentley, T. C. Blevins, S. H. Shaw, MargaretStunkard, Margaret Jackson, L. M. Burns, George E. Dannels, David Tidballs, Laura Findlay, Cora Cunningham, E. W. Crawford, Madge Reed, W. W. Stevenson. LEBANON-I. Henry Houck. LEHIGH-5. LYCOMING-2. M'KEAN-2. W. J. Petty, MERCER-II. Geo. W. Haggerty, Mary E. McGoun, Mary Stewart, Cora Gault, J. E Campbell, Jas. A. McLaughry, Marg'tE. Bowden, W. S. Mays, Margaret J. Brown, Katie Bailey, Emily Bailey. VENANGO-2. N. P. Kinsley, PHILADELPHIA—I. M.G. Brumbaugh.* OTHER STATES-4. M. R McElroy, Ohio, Louise Stambaugh, Ohio, A. F. Campbell, Ohio, Agnes J. McMollan, Illinois. Total enrollment, including three Life Members, 424. *Life Members. |