Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-12-30
Institute.

Several teachers and parents met at
the NJ. f. Church at Brandon, Dec. 10th,
for the purpose of holding Teachers
Institute james Jewell was elected Pres
ident, and H. W. Persons. Secretary.
Critics for the day, c. II. Worden and
Ella Worth
The subject of Reading was first pre-
sentcd. Mr. McLcish would give long
lessons and compel the pupils to study
them Mr. Pepons would not allow the
class to criticise each other much, as he
thought it created envy; would do most
of the criticising himself
The subject Of Reading was followed
by the subject of Mental Arithmetic.
Most of the teachers agreed that the an
alysis of the example was of primary i'm
portance, but there was quite a difference
of opinion as to what time the pupil
should begin the study. Mr.. Jewel.
would have pupils pursue the Practical
as far as analysis before commencing the
Mental Arithmetic. II. w. Persons tho't
that after pupils had commenced the
study of Practical Arithmetic it was hard
to pursuade them to take up Mental
Arithmetic; would have pupils study
Mental Arithmetic first. Mr.. Hasncr
would teach Mental Arithmetic first. and
by means of objects. Mr.. Blair prefers
the Mental to Practical would teach it
at first.
AFTEREoON.
Institute called to order by Supt.
Pierce.
% t-.t1,n,os;o cpnfi,,-
ued Mr. Jewell thought that the pupil
should first thoroughly understand the
fundamental rules. as he then would have
the foundation 10 Arithmctic; would first
have the pupil take up the mechanical
and then the analytical part. Mr. Hasner
thought that if the pupil understood the
analytical part Of Arithmetic he could
not fail in the mechanical; would attend
to analysis first. Supt. Pierce would not
use text books in the class; would teach
analyticaliy from the bcginning.
The subject of Grammar WAS next in
troduced and discussed by Blair, Jewell,
McLeish, Persons, Pierce, and others
Most of those who spoke upon the sub
ject seemed to think that Analysis and
Parsing should be used together, but
that Analysis should have the preference
How to teach Geography was mex,
considered. Nearly all agreed that the
subject should be taught topically, and
most of the teachers would use map,
drawing in connection. Several teach
ers would exclude No. 1 and 2 Geogra
phies from the school.
EVENING SESSION.
Geography continued. Supt Pierce
would exclude all but No. 3 Geography
from the schools; would commence &c
ography with small pupils, and commence
by requiring them to map School Dis
trict, Township, County, &c. Would
teach the pupil to measure distances by
means of the eye; would not conform te
any system of map drawing. Recon-
mended the Topical method in connection
with map drawing
Defamation by E. E. Hasner.
Several queries were then answered
Among them: How and in what manner
should text books be used in class?" Sew
eral thought that we should break away
from the text books as soon as possible
would call upon pupil in the class tt
tell what he knows in regard to the les
son in his own language and withou,
questions.
How to prevent whispering in
SCHOOL," Mr. Pierce recommended short
whispering reccsses every hour
Thanks were returned to the citizens
of Brandon and vicinity, for their kind
hospitality; and also to the NJ. +: Society
for the use of their church.
Adjourned to meet at Brandon JAN
18th, 1871.
Number present. Teachers-17. Cit
izens-oyer $50.
II. W. PERSONS Sec'y.