University of Nebraska Kearney - Blue and Gold Yearbook (Kearney, NE)

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Christmas at Conventions Vacation for students means a rest at home and sleep most of the time, but for a majority of the instructors it is a time to attend meetings and con- ventions, and to correct papers. Pleasure and! business were combined in the trip of Professor Curtis M. Wilson of die Social Science Department, who undoubtedly traveled further than any other faculty member at Christmas time this year. Mr. Wilson attended the National Council of Geography Teachers on December 27 and 28. On December 29, 30, and 31, he attended the American Association of Geographers. Both of these meet- ings were held in Boston. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were guests of Professor and Mrs. Durfee Larson while in New York. Mr. Larson, who was formerly at Kearney college, is now teaching in Brooklyn college and attending Co- lumbia university. Miss Jennie Conrad and Dr. Lyle E. Mantor, of the Social Science Department, attended the Amer- ican Historical Association meeting in Stevens Hotel in Chicago. These meetings are usually held in the east, in Boston and sometimes in Washington. D. C. This year it was held in Chicago. 'T have never before heard so many lectures and addresses given in such a short time as I did in these three days, and after each address we had discussions led by outstanding authorities and authors. I was so tired but I don’t believe I missed one address,” said Miss Conrad. Dr. Lvle E. Mantor, head of the Social Science Department, attended two meetings in Chicago. He was present at the fifty-third annual convention of the American Historical Association, of which he is a member, and represented the Kearney chapter of the American Association of University Professors at the annual convention of that group. Dr. Man- tor commenced on the speeches at the American Historical Association. One of the most interest- ing was held on Thursday afternoon, December 29, when Professor Sidney B. Fay of Harvard, and Pro- fessor Bernadotte E. Schmitt of Chicago discussed 'The World War, Twenty Years After,1 ” said Dr. First Row—Left to Right—Mrs. Nigh, Mr. Olson, Miss O’Connell, Miss Huntington, Miss Jennings. Second Row— Mr, Apprlitian, Mr. Thrall, Miss Conrad. Mr- Davis, Mr. Halley. Third Row—Miss Stubbs, Miss Payne, Mr, Watkins, Miss Gkasman, Miss Larson.

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Mrs. Powell is a busy woman. Faculty in State Education No one was more surprised than I,” said Mbs Conrad to a reporter last fall. She had just been elected president of the fourth district of the Nebraska State Teachers Association. She assumed her office duties in January and attended the executive meeting of the district and state officers in Lincoln, December 9. During the past two years. Miss Conrad has been on the state committee for teacher retirement. She has always been an ardent supporter of retirement for teachers, and believes that it will be the main issue of the next Nebraska State Teachers Association con- vention. Mrs. Gail Powell, who is president of the Nebraska Congress of Parents and Teachers, has to make a great many speeches. She attends conventions, serves on committees, and handles a large volume of correspon- dence. On March 1, she spoke over K.G.F.W. on Nebras- ka.1 ' In her talk, Mrs. Powell outlined the beginning of State Day. Incidentally, Marcii 1 is officially the State Day of Nebraska. She reviewed points of in- terest in Nebraska. She explained its traditions, told of its parks and natural resources, and discussed its problems. Mrs. Powell feels that if Nebraskans are going to preserve their pioneer heritage, they must be well informed on public affairs. She emphasized the need for the support of public schools and for pro- gress in education in Nebraska. A. O. Thomas In education class we learn that Form 357-xyb fits a certain teaching situation, and type p44-w analysis must be applied to the discipline problem, but that is not enough. Prospective teachers muse have experience. That should explain the presence of the A. O. 1 homas school. It has been called at different times a model school, a practice school, a demonstration school, and—much to the ire of the supervisors—the training school. How- ever, it remains an institution in which student teachers and prospective teachers have an opportunity to ob- serve the teaching and learning process. This observa- tion is made under the eyes of supervisors. The time comes when the student gets in front of the class, takes a deep breath, clutches vaguely at Form 730-dvw, and starts to teach. Then there are the weekly conferences with the supervisor. They add to the knowledge of the teacher. At the beginning of the second semester of this year, a new teaching program was inaugurated. Supervisors did all the teaching for the first five weeks, while the student teachers took notes, and perhaps drew a few Mickey Mice on the margins. The student teachers participated in the teaching for the next four weeks, sharing the classroom activities with the supervisors. This might consist of helping with overshoes, wiping noses in the kindergarten, or actually answering questions in the higher grades. Then during the last nine weeks, the student teachers de- veloped their potential teaching ability, making out les- son plans and teaching. Before this definite schedule was started, the super- visors were supposed to teach two-fifths of the time. This rather indefinite amount led to the criticism, on the part of the student teachers, that there was not enough opportunity to observe the proper procedure. Minor changes that took place together with the new teaching program included the changing of rooms for the two libraries, the high school library and the ju- venile library. The fifth and sixth grade rooms were moved from the college to the demonstration school. Student teachers all agree that nothing teaches them how to teach as quickly as actually teaching. In spite of all the theory that has been learned, it is Horatio Algers old words sink or swim that comes to the mind of the student teachei when he finds himself fac- ing a group of angelic demons. Usually the teacher swims; that is, he teaches. 20

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Mantor. These men examined, in the light of present day research, their books on the World War which were published ten years ago. Each stated that within the next four years, some slight revisions of their treatises would be necessary.” Later in the year, President Herbert L. Cushing, Dean Alice ML Robinson, and Miss Jennie Conrad attended the Cleveland convention of the National Education Association, held February 21-25. Dean Robinson attended the meeting of the National As- sociation of Deans of Women, and those of the American Classical League. The underlying theme of the Deans5 meeting was democracy as a way of life, as opposed to democracy as mere academic knowledge. At the same time, Mrs. Powell, president of the Nebraska Congress of Parents and Teachers, spoke at the opening session of the Five-State PTA Con- ference. Mrs. Powell was general chairman for ar- rangements, and spoke at the opening session of the conference on The Relationship of the National, State and Local Parent-Teacher Groups.” The con- ference includes branches of the National Congress from five states, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, and South Dakota. The meeting was open to mem- bers of the state board of managers for the congress, and both city and county council presidents were eligible to attend. First Row—Left to Ri|{ht—Mr, Klier, Mrs. Hansen. Mr. It. L. Watkins, Miss Lynch. Mr. Hansen. Second Row—Mr. Foster, Mins Robinson. Mr, Apel. Mr. Pate. Mrs. Boa sou. Third Row—Miss Ludden, Mr. Ccrny, Miss Morse, Mr. Bruner. Mr. Ryan. Fourth Row—Mb's Enochs, Mr. Doughty, Mr. Stout, Miss, Him thorn. Mr.. Nichols.