The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-10-08
Teachers, Institute,
FOURTH DAY,

"a FOURTH DAY.
3 The usual morning exercises were conducted
as on the previous days, Prof. Cruttenden &C.
cupying the first hour In arithmetic and gram
mar. He took up his subject where he left it |
yesterday, giving instruction on the best |
method of teaching children how to communi- |
cate their thoughts. He considered it one Of
the most important things to teach children
now best to express themselves and communi- |
cate to others what they WISH A careful train
ing IN narratiug helps one to think. The pow
is not difficult thing to be obtained; it only
needs like many other things, attention and
desire to excel. There is great beauty in
well constructed sentence. Agreat many pub
lie sneakers utterly fail in the power to proper
ly construct sentences.
A short recess followed Prof. C.'s exercise
when DR.. True continued his address of the
previous day on mineralogy. Dr.. True's in
structon are very interesting and instructive
to all those who have any taste for mineralogy
He followed out his classification of minerals
giving their composition, weights and other
properties. The first difficulty of studying
minerals is to distinguish one mineral from en-
other. DR.. True endeavored to show how
ais and the different compositions. DR.. True
is evidently an ardent lover of this study, and
enters into it with his whole soul. He stated
that in every hundred pounds of lime that the
farmer buys he gets twenty-five pounds of
water. Every plaster-paris image Is of it is
water. To stop cracks in a floor mix calcined
lime and alum with water, fill the cracks care.
fully with it and when hardened will make the
floor much better for carpet to be laid down
it will also keep out the cold and insects show
ing on one which is called sulphute of iron Or
iool's gold. He told of man who brought
piece to learn what it was. When told it was
only fools gold he appeared greatly disap-
pointed, drew q long sigh and after some little
time blubbered out "There is woman in our
town who has a whole pile of it and have
married her." Dr. True in the course of his
address gave list OF the rocks in Maine, which
are sandstone, comglomerate, argillacous-
talcose slate, lime stone, mica, slate, gneiss
granite. This address finishes DR.. True's in
structon on mineralogy much to the regret of
all present. None own listen to the DR.. can fail
to catch something of his spirit of enthusiasm
He teaches by his how example what all true
and successful teachers must;I intensely in
earnest and in love with whatever they teach,
they impart some of their love to their pupils
Prof c. took up short time after DIR. True,
in urging the teachers to take some education
al journals and showing the great Importance
OF every teachers taking and carefully reading
teachers journals Prof Mason then gave the
Institute instruction in music. His manner.
pleasant and agreeable in teaching children
was no less so in teaching older ones Prof.
Mason is a skilful teacher and has made him
self a perfect master of his vocation. His at
tendance has been of great benefit to the In
sttute as well as adding much interest and a |
pleasant variety to its exercises After the close
OF the Prof's lesson in music the Institute adj. |
iourned till afternoon.
.L ~ .a AFTERNOON. |
The Institute gathered punctualy at o clock
and was called to order by our County Super
visor, Mr. Webb. First in the order of exer-
cises was an hours instruction from Prof |
Oruttenden on teaching, continuation of his |
former instructions on the subject Prof. G. |
commences every lesson which he begins with |
careful review of the previous lessons which |
he has given, thus impressing upon those who
listen to him feeling of the necessity ola crit
lcal, thorough knowledge of whatever they
nave attempted to learn. The science ofteach-
ing he remarked was beautiful thing. Among
other very good ideas presented to the teachers
was that OF carrying scholars out of the school
room and teaching them lessons from the great
book of nature. D1n't let children grow I'D in
ignorance of the rich and wonderful lessons to
be found from studying nature. Teach chill
dren to give proper definitions, do not let
thAm tn.< |
ing picture, such definitions are like the
mans wishing he could take off his flesh in
not weather and sit in his bones. We teach
children how to express their thoughts quickly.
The more rapidly child is able to express
himself, the more rapidly will his thoughts
present themselves for expression To be we'll
taught, or in other words, tobe really scientific,
will tighten the daily toll of every one, no mat
ter how hnmble may be their lot 1t is a great
mistake that much knowledge will make one
discontinued and unhappy in lowly, unseen
condition of life. At the close of Prof q .
address, a short recess was given to the Insti
tute, at which time the Portland teachers ioin.
ed the Institute, and the hall was filled to
crowdIng with intelligent looking teachers |
the greater number of the teachers bearing
unmlstakable signs of energy, enterprise and
a real love for their vocation, their yery |
appearance and manners telling plainly that
they have entered upon their business with no
mean views of school duties. Mr.. Stone took
up some moments in urging all teachers to
subscribe for the Maine Journal of Educat;o,
or some other good journal. All the gentlemen
united In saying that this journal was the best
journal printed. After the recess Prof. C.took
up the attention of the audience with aritb
metic, very pleasantly and Interestingly.
Frof Y. possesses the rare power of being
able to make the study of arithmetic easv and
interesting to his pupils. He has labored faith
fully to impart to the teachers the secret of his
success. He has no love for much cipherinp =
Thinks much time spent in cipherinc is time
wasted. A fool may ask question in a mo |
ment which cannot be ciphered out in all time
Ciphering means literally the state of one who
does nothing. Prof. G. took opportunity du-
ring this lesson to speak of those kinds of peo.
PIE, VINO can never do anything, independently
OF themselves, they must know before they are
willing to adopt anything either as regards ed |
ucational matters, or matters of dress, how the |
fashionable part of the world have already
done the Same thing In very many respects |
w Cdll IulS q Tree country, /
iree people. a great portion of this people |
cahnoe nave garment made, or decide upon
the smallest matter without knowing how the |
world On the other side Of the water would de-
eide on the subject.
Prof Mason next gave a Lesson on music to
the little ones of Miss Smiths school who CANA
IN for that purpose. Prof Mason spoke AGAINST |
teaching or allowing children to recite their
several lessons in school by singing them He
then gave his attention to the Children singing |
with them and requiring the to sing after him. |
The class of little ones has constantly increased
since the first day. The children listen to and |
follow Prof. Mason's instruction as to a rich
treat. His teaching exercise with the children
is perfect illustration of the manner children
should be Taught in every branch of study
The hour which Prof. Mason spends with the
Children is one of the most agreeable parts of
the day. 1t is very highly enjoyed by all pres
ent Prof. NJ. gave specimen of the very com
mon practice of spelling in a singing tone of
voice. He very justly, and very efiectually
ridiculed it. The rest of the afternoon was
spent in by all practising simple music and in
learning some Of the elements of music.
Rowing to the pressure of news upon our col |
umns we are obliged to postpone the evening |
proceedings for q day. |