ARE THE PROFESSIONS OVER-CROWDED?

"The professions are over-crowded," is a declaration one frequently hears. Too many lawyers, too many doctors, too many teachers, too many ministers. F. Carroll Brewster, an eminent Philadelphia lawyer, in a recent letter says: "For ten years to come, no man should dream of studying the law unless he sees directly before him a certain opening as partner, helper or successor to an established and lucrative practice." According to the testimony of this prominent lawyer, the legal profession is over-crowded. It may be true in the legal profession, but it is not so in the other professions named above. "There is always room at the top" is true of every business and profession. There may be too many quack doctors, but there are not enough good physicians. What of the ministry? The Pauline cry comes up from three-fourths of the world, come over to Macedonia and help us." The call is for more men to proclaim the truth that shall make men free. There are too many pettifoggers in the law; too many quacks practicing medicine; too many men are in the pulpit who ought to be behind the counter or following the plow. But what of the teacher's profession? There are not more than half enough professional teachThe demand for industrious, energetic, thoroughly trained teachers, much exceeds the present supply even in Iowa. Competent teachers are never without employment at fair salaries. There are a great many persons engaged in teaching who do not intend to make it a life work, and hence cannot be said to belong to the profession. There are far too many one-year to three-year teachers in the business.

ers.

The man could not be looked upon as belonging to the profession of law who had not studied Blackstone and Kent, Parsons and Story, Greenleaf, Bishop, Schouler and Cooley. Neither can one be called a professional teacher who has not studied Pestalozzi and Spencer, Bain and Page, Wickersham and Swett, Currie and Compayre. Not more thad one-tenth of those engaged in teaching really belong to the profession. Hence there is an abundance of room in every department of teaching for those who are prepared for the profession, and desire to follow it. Of the 400,000 necessary to fill the positions in our public schools, a vast number of them are merely unskilled "school-keepers," in stead of skilled professional "school-teachers." There is demand for 20,000 professional teachers each year, to take the places of those who leave the business. In the profession of teaching there is plenty of room for the professional teacher in every grade of work, from the country school to the college presidency.

ANNUAL MEETING AT CLEAR LAKE OF

SUPERINTENDENTS AND TEACHERS.

CLEAR LAKE, June 29, 1886.

The Convention assembled at 10 a. m., and was called to order by Supt. J. S. Shoup, of Woodbury, president of the convention. On motion Supt. G. S. Mann, of Clay, was elected secretary pro tem of the convention.

On motion the chair was requested to appoint a committee of one to wait upon Mrs. J. Ellen Foster, of Clinton, and extend to her an invitation to address the convention.

Prof. J. Breckenridge, of Decorah, was appointed that committee.

Address by Mrs. J. Ellen Foster. Subject, "The prohibitory law and the proper kind of text-books to introduce into our schools to comply with said law."

AFTERNOON SESSION.

Convention called to order at 1.30 p. m.

"The Teaching of good Morals, and County Superintendent's duty in the matter." General Discussion: Supt W., J. Mitchell, Allamakee; Supt. G. S. Mann, Clay; Supt. O. A. McFarland, Chickasaw; Supt. W. H. Armin, Dickinson; Supt. A. W. Weir, Cerro Gerdo; Supt. S. F. Fiester, Bremer; Prof. J. Wernli, Le Mars; Prof. J. Breckenridge, Decorah; Supt. G. H. Smart, Clayton; Paper, "Text-Books; Uses and abuses of." Prof F. B. Cooper, Le Mars. Discussion: Prof. J. Breckenridge, Decorah; Supt. David Algyer, O'Brien. General Discussion; Supt. A. W. Weir, Cerro Gerdo; Supt. J. S. Shoup, Woodbury; Mrs. J. Ellen Foster. Clinton; Supt. W. M. Welch, Jackson; Prof. J. Wernli, Le Mars; Supt. G. S. Mann, Clay.

Members enrolled for the day, twenty-five. o'clock p. m.

EYENING SESSION.

Adjourned to 8

Address of welcome, Dr. Charlton, Mayor of Clear Lake. Response, Supt. J. S. Shoup, Woodbury. Toasts: "The Public Schools of Iowa." Response, Hon. J. W. Akers, Des Moines. "Normal Schools and Institutes." Response, by Prof. J. Breckenridge, Decorah. "The School Ma'am." Response, Supt. David Algyer, O'Brien. "The People of Clear Lake." Response, Supt.

B. E. Kelly, Palo Alto. "Give us a rest." Response, Prof. Jona Piper, Chicago. Adjourned to 9 a' m., Wednesday.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 1886. The convention assembled at 9 o'clock a. m., and was called to order by the president. The minutes of the preceding day were then read and approved.

Paper, "The Schools of Switzerland," Prof. J. Wernli, Le Mars. General discussion: Under this head, many questions were asked pertaining to the Switzerland school system, all of which were fully and freely answered by the professor, and the subject closed with a few remarks on the subject, by Hon. J. W. Akers of Des Moines. Recess of fifteen minutes.

"The duties of County Superintendents and Teachers relating to the law requiring the teaching of the effects of Stimulants and Narcotics," Hon. J. W. Akers, Des Moines.

Adjourned

Mrs. Dunham, of Burlington, being present was invited to address the convention on the subject, which she did. to 1.30 p. m.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

Paper, "Methods for Primary work," Miss B. F. Nelon, Sioux City. This paper was a masterpiece, and so well received by the convention, that it passed without discussion.

Paper, "Uniform Basis for Examinations and Certificates," Supt, G. F. Richardson, Hamilton. Discussion: P. D. Merritt, Fayette. General Discussion: Supt. W. H. Armin, Dickinson; Prof. J. Breckenridge, Decorah; Supt. J. S. Shoup, Woodbury; Supt. G. S. Mann, Clay; Supt. R. C. Barrett, Mitchell; Prof. J. Wernli, Le Mars, Recess of fifteen minutes,

Report of committee on Course of Study. Supt. J, S. Shoup, Woodbury, chairman of the committee.

On motion, the report of the committee was accepted and adopted, and the committee discharged. Adjourned to 8 p. m,

EVENING SESSION.

Presidents Address. Supt. J. S. Shoup, Woodbury.

On motion, the Presidents address was ordered printed in the Iowa NORMAL MONTHLY. Adjourned to 9 o'clock a. m., Thursday.

THURSDAY, JULY, 1, 1886. The convention was called to order by the President, at 9:00 a. m.

The reading of the minutes of the preceding day was omitted. Paper, "School Exhibits," Supt. J. C. Hadley, Hardin. Discussion: D. W. Walker, Floyd. General Discussion: Supt. J.

S. Shoup, Woodbury; Supt. G. H. Smart, Clayton; Prof. Wernli, Le Mars; Prof. J. Piper, Chicago; Prof. F. B. Cooper, Le Mars; Supt. G. F. Richardson, Hamilton; Prof. A. Armstrong, Sioux City; Hon. J. W. Akers, Des Moines.

Mr. James Edwards, Dubuque, was then invited to give the convention some information relative to the proposed excursion to Topeka, Kansas, to attend the National Teachers' Association.

Paper, "The High School as a part of the Public School System.” Prof. A. Armstrong, Sioux City. Recess of fifteen minutes.

On motion, the chair was requested to appoint a committee of three, to recommend nominations for officers of this convention for the ensuing year. The committee to report at the evening session.

The chair appointed as that committee, Prof. Tom B. Miller, Clear Lake; Supt. G. F. Richardson, Hamilton; Supt. D. Algyer, O'Brien.

General Discussion of Prof. Armstrong's paper: Prof. J. Wernli, Le Mars; Prof. Breckenridge, Decorah; Supt. Weir, Cerro Gordo, Supt. W. M. Welsh, Jackson; Hon. J. W. Akers, Des Moincs. Adjourned to 1.30 p. m.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

On motion, a committee of three, consisting of Hon. J. W. Akers, Supt. D, W. Aupperlee, and Supt. W. M. Welch, was appointed by the chair, to draft resolutions expressing the sympathy of this convention in the death of a member of Supt. John McLeod's family, of Humboldt.

Paper, "Normal Institutes." Supt J. S. Shoup, Woodbury. Discussion: Hon. J. W. Akers, Prof. J. Wernli, Le Mars. General Discussion: Prof. Jona Piper, Chicago; Supt. Weir, Cerro Gordo; Prof. J. Breckenridge, Decorah.

The Committee on Nomiations reported as follows: We your committee on nomination of officers for the ensuing year, respectfully beg leave to submit the following report: For President, J. S. Shoup, Woodbury; for Vice President, Supt. H. T. Toye, Worth; for Secretary, Supt. O. A. McFarland, Chickasaw; for Treasurer, Supt. S. Sturgeon, Hancock.

Executive Committee

Signed,

Supt. D. W. Aupperlee, Sioux.
Supt. R. C. Barrett, Mitchell.
Supt. F. D. Merritt, Fayette.
Tom B. Miller,

G. F. Richardson, Committee.
David Algyer.

On motion, the report of the committee on nominationa was received and adopted.

On motion, Hon. J. W. Akers was requested to appoint Clear Lake, as the place for holding our convention for the year 1887, Recess of ten minutes.

"Queries of County Superintendents." answering queries, by Hon. J. W. Akers.

EVENING SESSION.

One hour was given to
Adjourned to 8:00 p. m.

Paper, A Discussion of School Law affecting Teachers and Officers.' Finley Burke, Orange City.

On motion, the convention tendered a vote of thanks to Mr. Burke, for the very able paper presented.

A motion was then made, that the Course of study submitted by Supt. J. S. Shoup, be printed.

Hod. J. W. Akers moved to amend, by referring the matter to the executive committee, with instructions to print and forward a copy of the Course to each member of the convention. Carried.

On motion, the Paper, "The Schools of Switzerland," by Prof. Wernli, Le Mars, was ordered printed in the IOWA NORMAL MONTHLY. On motion, the Paper, "A discussion of School Law affecting Teachers and Officers," by Finley Burke, Orange City, was ordered printed in the IOWA NORMAL MONTHLY.

The total number enrolled during the session was forty-two. The following resolution was then offered and unanimously adopted:

Resolved: That we, the members of this convention, tender our sincere thanks to Prof. Tom B. Miller and the people of Clear Lake, for the many courtesies extended to us, and the royal manner in which we have been received and entertained by them this session. On motion, adjourned Sine die.

G. S. MANN, Secretary Pro tem of the convention.

ENROLLMENT OF MEMBERS.

Supt. J. S. Shoup, Woodbury County: Miss B. F. Nelon, Sioux City; Prof, J. Breckenridge, Decorah; Supt. W. M. Welch, Jackson County; Prof. Tom B. Miller, Clear Lake; Supt. David Algyer, O'Brien County; Supt. P. D. Merritt, Fayette County; Supt. D. W. Walker, Floyd County; Supt. S. F. Fiester, Bremer County; Supt. O. A. McFarland, Chickasaw County; Prof. L. B. Sunderland, Nora Springs; Prof. E. M. Patton, Mason City; Supt. G. H.