The State Journal

THE TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION OF MISSOURI.

The annual meeting of this Association took place during the week, and was attended by about 200 teachers. The people of Warrensburg showed the greatest interest in the proceedings and not only turned out large and appreciative audiences, but very many of them kept open house and welcomed the stranger to their midst. The teachers assembled manifested a deep interest in their work, and their intelligent appreciation of it augurs well for the growth of our State. Many very valuable papers were read and discussed, making the proceedings interesting. The resolution passed directs the attention of the Legislature to matters affecting the working of the public school system.

Two things received special attention, the filling up by high schools of the gap between the public schools and the colleges and universities, and the necessity of increasing the power of County Superintendents so as to secure harmonious and effective work. What was specially declared to be necessary—the better supervision of the public schools—is to be obtained by the County Superintendent's office being made more important; and for the purpose of simplifying the machinery of the system, it was suggested to abolish the office of township clerks and letting the County Superintendent do their work. It was claimed the work would be more effectively done and at less cost than now. In a county with 25,000 inhabitants, well organized for school purposes, these clerks by various fees and commissions are paid from $12 to $1,500 annually, an amount more than paying a qualified person for his time and labor. The main thing, however, was agreed to be the engaging of well-qualified persons for the work. The Association, after finishing its business, adjourned to meet at Jefferson City some time during next winter. It is proposed to hold a kind of educational congress here under the auspices of the Association, for the purpose of uniting and harmonizing the educational work of our own and other States.

The Normal and public schools of Warrensburg are in a flourishing condition. Normal School building ought to be finished by all means. The rooms now occupied are altogether inadequate for the instruction of those in attendance. We observed in each room a large number of flowers, giving the whole a pleasant family appearance. Apparatus is sadly needed in the school and an extension of the library would be of great benefit. Small as the library and room in which it is found is, we were told that the locality was crowded daily by students using the scant means on hand.

A laughable and yet in a measure annoying occurrence took place at the hotel. It seems that the hotel keeper refused to conform to the published reduced rates, whereupon the teachers united, offered the rates as published, and refused to pay more. The arrival of the train settled the controversy, which at one time threatened to become serious. How it was settled we did not learn.

Of Warrensburg it may be said that it is a thriving place with an intelligent and hospitable population.

Our neighbors of Sedalia were well represented at Warrensburg by a corps of first-class teachers. Let our people bear the matter of the coming educational congress in mind, and take early steps to make it a success.