The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1867-12-19
COUNTY INSTITUTE.
STRoUDsBURG, Dec. 10th, 1867


Teachers of Monroe County assembled
themselves together at the Court House,
in Stroudsburg, to hold the third annual
County Institute. County Supt. j. Il.
Storm ia the Chrir. Institute opened by
reiHiuy portion. of Scripture, and pray
erby j. B Storm, Esq ID. S Lee, Secre
tsrys being absent, George DUNCAN was
elected Secretary pro tenn. The names
of Districts beiug called in order, the fol
lowing teachers responded [See append
ed list
On motion, Nathan Le>h gave drill
of thirty members in Algebra. The Ia
stitute then adjourned till to morrow morn
ing, "Wednesday at 10 o'clock a. m.
WEDNESDAY MORNING.
The meeting was opened by reading a
portion Of Scripture and prayer by James
Carr, Esq, j. b. Storm, President, in the
Chair.-On motion of d. S. Lee, the
Chair was authorized to appoint com
mittee of seven, on reception.
Next business before the Institute was
the admission of new members
First exercise on the programme was
Geography by Mr. Kuukle, who asked
many important questions, which elected
much discussion, and the ideas of many
were freely exchanged, with, we hope
good, results. Some of the questions
were the following: At what age should
IA pupil commence the study of Geogra ply!
\ How should y scholar be induced to study
Geography? What should be the nature
of questions asked Should map draw
ing be taught in connection with the
study of Geography ? Should the teacher
confne himself entirely to text books,
&c? During the discussion the import
ance Of map drawing in connection with
the study of Geography was emphatically
urged upon the teachers We are pleased
to be able to report that map drawing was
considered of intrinsic value in impress
ing the minds of the young, by the entire
Institute, with but one or two exceptions,
aud those only arose, We think, because Of
misunderstanding in regard to the man
ner of teaching it. We think it would
be well for all who are engaged in instruct
ing youth to ponder well the above ques
tions Institute adjourned until two
O'Clock p. III.
AFTERNOON SESSION
Opened by calling roll, after which Mr.
Appenzeller, the handless man, conducted
an exercise in penmanship, reducing writ
ing to science, explaining and beautifully
illustrating the principles of writing.
After ana y>in- few letters, aud with his
superior skill pointing out, explaining
aud uniting the different principles which
enter into the formation of each, he was
requested by the unanimous voice of the
| Institute, to continue his explanation
! throughout the whole aIphabet, which he
did to the entire satisfaction OF all. Mr.
Appenzeller's skill in the formation OF
! letters, and his beautiful specimens 0i
penmanship, should cause US, who haze
| baudS, to blush because of our ineibcency
After which Hon. 5. G Boyd, of York
gave instruction in Arithmetic and the
manner OF teaching it. Many of his new
aud original ideas, concerning the method
OF teaching that important branch, startled
some of the teachers who have becu
accustomed TO teach as did their fathers
thinking that the old way wash dc pest
way" Mr. Boyd clearly proved that the
only way to teach Arithmetic successfully
was to show that there is why and
wherefore to all soUtIonss That teachers
III conducting an exercise before their
pupils should take nothing for granted.
but demonstrate everything in the simp
! lest way, for the minds of children could
not comprehend facts that might be
pa tent to tbs more matured mind. He
highly recommended object teaching.
Prof. Coburn, of the school department
then took the floor, aud spoke some time
upon Institutes and the object of their
institution, clearly showing the advantages
the teachers of the present day have over
those who taught thirty or forty years
ago, when there was no cooperation be
tween teachers, but jealousy, " the green
eyed monster" was ever ready to dispa.sge
the efforts and render unpopular those
who were self-sacri6cing enough to in
struct youth. He closed that part of his
discourse by urging teachers to embrace
the opportunities afforded by Institutes
to gain instruction.
lie next took up history Of the United
States as branch hitherto almost entirely
excluded from our schools, but which the
wisdom of wise Legislature has now
made obligatory upon Superintendent and
teachers to introduce. He gave some very
valuable instruction in regard to the
method Of teaching it, which course il
pursued, cannot fail TO instruct both teach
ers and scholars. He also showed how
lgnoraut We were of the history of our
own State, whereas many, or all Of US.
could tell the name of the ship in which
the Pilgrim Fathers sailed, but could
not give the name of the ship which
brought William Penn to this land.
The EVENING SESSION
was opened by a lecture by G. S. Boyd
on Geographical Dames, their History and
Meaning The speaker set out by show