The Menard County Teacher's Institute commenced a three week session at the Third Ward School ….., to this city, last Monday, under the immediate supervision of County Superintendent R. D. Miller, assisted by Profs. J.E. Mannix and G.W.L. Meeker.

The importance of attending these institutes has been set forth from time to time in those columns so clearly, earnestly and comprehensibly that little more is left to be said. We, however, requote an extract from an exchange, which contains a good deal of sound truth:

"True it is, now and then, some who aspire to notoriety … at institutes and inform the public that they are hum.., but go and examine the work of such an objector, and you will find he does not know how to grade his school properly; he will contend that ….. Are not appreciated, that his salary is unsatisfactory and if you will further examine into his history you will find that he reads no educational works, subscribes for no educational papers, and still boasts of his ability. Such teachers are a dead weight to our school system; they are clogs on the wheels of progress, they are unworthy of the name of "teacher," and should be banished from the public schools of Illinois, as soon as possible, that money may not be squandered and childish innocence slaughtered by such consummate egotists.

The day will soon come when those who oppose institutes, when properly conducted, will have to step aside and give place to those who attend and incongruent this line of work, who are willing to improve, who do not consider themselves perfect, who believe that earnest effort in this direction will be productive of much good to those taught to those they are to teach and who depend on their own merit as their chief recommendation.

School boards should visit the institute to find the teachers they want, those who mean business and who are ready and willing to prepare themselves for the work."

There is now a good attendance, and the work is progressing nicely. The following are the names of those in attendance.

GOLDSMITH, E.G.	MOHEGAN, Lucy
CURNUTT, C.C.	SPEARS, Pauline
BEARD, Irwin	NANCE, Carrie
WALTERS, J.W.	GUM, W.
COVERT, Alva	SWEET, May
ATTERBERY, M. O.	STEPHENSON, Mary
DOBBS, W.	COLSON, Misa
ENNIS, Geo	MYERS, Ollie
BERCHERT, John	STRUBLE, Lena
CANTRALL, Ed	WOODS, Emma
HARTLEY, I.N.	BUCKLEY, Hester
NANCE, Tom	STEIN, Pleas
HAMILTON, Ed	McGLASSON, Jennie
FOSTER, Belle	FISHER, Mary
MAYFIELD, Etta	HUTCHERSON, Bertha
STONE, Callie	SMITH, J.
HELLSTERN, Kate	EAST, Miss
WORTH, May	FURGERSON, Miss
HAMILTON, Jonnie	MOMYER, Lizzie
McNEAL, Alice	SPEARS, Carrie
SIMPSON, Edith	WORTH, D.
SMICK, Jessie	BENNETT, Katie
WAGONER, Julia	WALKER, R.
SNIDER. E.J.	McKINSEY, Miss
HALE, Anna May	JENNISON, Hettie
McDOUGALL, Lizzie	HUDSPETH, Mollie
McDOUGALL, Chas	MARTIN, Mollie
PIPER, Mrs.	CRAWFORD, Sallie
SPROUSE, Jennie	BROWN, Grace
SPROUSE, Fannie	KNOLES, Alice
SPROUSE, Sallie	BENNETT, Claude
POWER, Fannie	CARVER, Kate
RULE, Emma	CARVER, Nellie
ROURKE, Madge	HELLSTERN, Allie
MILLER, Jube	TRIPP, Bertie
MILLER, Beta	PITTS, Julia
FULGERSON, Alice	ROURKE, Rose
HARRIS, Mollie	KNOLES, Eva
ATTERBERY, Hattie	BRIGHT, Hellen
HANNA, ?	KING, W.W.
HANNA, ?	BIGELOW, Emma
BONE, Wm.	McCORMICK, Mary
WARING, Lizzie	KIRKPATRICK, Maggie
IRWIN, ?	SMITH, Hattie

There will probably be a larger attendance the two remaining weeks, and the Observer will endeavor to keep its readers posted. We would be pleased to publish any suggestions from the teachers or others in regard to the Institute, or school matters of the county.

Transcribed by: Jeanie Lowe