The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1869-01-28
Teachers Institute.
SrRorpspuRo. Jan. llth. 1869.

Jan. llth, lSOJ, Wnen ). ID. SlOrm, Esq, 70
ty Superintendent. and, er-o6icio, President
of The institute, called the meeting 10 order.
In few appropriate, preliminary remarks,
he spoke encouragingly OF the prospects be-
fore the Institute, and passed high enco-
miums upon the educators, expected to be
present.
In assigning The teachers 10 their respec-
tive homes for the week, he appeared to
think Monroe county had not yet advanced
So far, as to recognize the Teachers calling.
as Profession. At the conclusion of his
remarks, the Institute proceeded to elect a
Secretary, after which the roll was called,
when 81 teachers answered TO their names.
The hour Of noon having arrived the In
stitute was adjourned, TO meet at o'clock.
p. IN, at which time, the roll having been
called, 80 members responded
On motion, Messrs. Eiwin Gerhart, A. w.
Cox. and Il. F. Smith were appointed COM
mittee 10 select question for discussion
While this committee was out, The time was
occupied by an address from The County
Superintendent, " who reviewed The history OF
The schools during his perintendency. Be-
ginning back of his term of Office, he said, in
1854, Mental Arithmetic was unknown in
the county. and it wns a rare thing to find
Grammar or Geography studed-reated an
anecdote-his predecessor having inquired
of teacher of good standing Cat that time)
concerning his advancement in Arithmetic,
was answered that he had got as far as the
rule OF four. Coming up to his Own time
though not quite satisfied with the status Of
the teachers, yet great progress had been
made. In 1862, only % per cent. of the
teachers had any knowledge of Arithmetic,
30 per cent of Geography and 20 per cent.
of Grammar At this time the condition of
things has been reversed, now only about
ID per cent of The teachers are deficient in
Mental Arithmetic, 10 per cent. in Geogra-
ply and 90 per cent. In Grammar. But the
standard of qualifications has also been rais-
ed, or the per centage of qualifications would
be still higher. About 30 per cent. Of the
teachers of to-day have knowledge of the
Theory of Teaching" and % per cent. of
History U. S. On the whole progress has
been made. la 90. serious obstacle in the
way 10 improvement in the western end of
The Co. was the German language. To-day
only about 20 are studying German or Ger
man and English, and In two years time
with proper care, we may hope to see the
difficulty entirely removed. Ofall obstacles
the prejudces of a people are the hardest to
deal with, here great progress is shown,
prejudice against The school system, is be-
ing rapidly removed.
In the matter of textbooks. in 60, we
had in the schools nearly all the textbooks
exlant. Now we have uniform series of
Readers, and, also, a nearly uniform series
Of Arithmetics. In Grammar and Geogra-
ply. mol unform in the Co.. yet nearly so by
Townships. THIS state of things has been
brought about, mainly by the action of the
Sup't., together with the cooperation of the
tea achers.
He was sorry to say no progress had been
made in teachers salaries, the teacher is paid,
substantially the same salary, he received in
years gone bye. Also there was no increase
in the School Term. To these facts he
would invite the attention of each teacher,
that these defects might be overcome. A
poorly paid corps of teachers will soon show
itself. either the teachers will be poor, they
will leave the profession or they will go
where their labors are appreciated, and more
literally rewarded. Only - per cent. Of
the teachers of 1862 are with us now. The
Cd uses lust named have taken The other S5
per cent. In whatever direction the teach
er goes from here, North, South, East or
West, he will receive a better salary. We
can not keep a good teacher with US over 9
or terms, and we can not blame him. If
the mechanic may 20 forth for better stu
alton and better pay, why not the teacher.
What is the remedy! That man will be
entitled to the everlasting gratitude of the
profession, who can persuade the Directors,
and the people to a greater liberality in the
cause Of Common Schools.
In closing, the Supt. paid neat tribute 10
the telchers as class, and highly compli-
mented them for their moral worth, and gen.
era intelligence.
On motion of Mr. Gerhard, the thanks of
the Institute were rendered Mr. Storm.
Committee now reported a number of
questions, from which the Institute slected
the following, viz:
1st. To what extent should the Black
Board be used in the school room!
I'd. What constitutes successful Teach
er1
Sd. Should History be taught in our Com
mon Schools.
Prof Sanders, who had previously arrived,
having been introduced to the Institute, now
proceeded to address il. In opening he said
time was too precious TO waste in apologies,
he wouldn't opologise and say he had bad
cold. l"st they might take him for singing
master. who is never known to be without
cod, besides he never knew a person with
a good cold. Proceeding with his remarks
he said:
Teachers this is your Institute, not mine,
you want good one, good time-then
make it-belp me TO make it. help your Su-
perintendent 10 make it so. Lend your aid.
TO make this institute profitable, note the
ideas you may receive. 1t is useless to hold
the County Institutes unless we make some
practical use of it. (Here the Lecturer
thought the teachers looked Disappointed
and perhaps it was because they saw so poor
a Specimen of Humanity in the Professor
before them.
He next called attention 10 properties and
powers Of the letters of the Alphabet. We
mi>spell Woids for lack of the knowledge |