The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-07-28


3enslbly draw them back to second
'eading He urged also that they keep
4 big dictionary close at hand in all their
reading and to use it often.
SHORT TALK.
Following the essay came series of
three minute talks called out by President
Parker.
INSTITUTES, ETC.
Afterward came paper on Mental
Culture and Refinement" by H. A.
Brown, of Waupun- It was not very
stirring paper, and its virtues pretty
much escaped our attention. Following
Mr.. Brown came an essay from l. N Stew
art, teacher at Waukesha, who discussed
the Best Forces to Strengthen Teachers
After discussing Normal Schools and
other utilities, he decided that the most
available and effective instruments were
local associations and Institutes These
could be made to reach every teacher.
They were the cavalry and sharpshooters
Of our army whenever they entered the
field, ignorant teachers and old fogyish
methods must leave the ground. They
opened the way for our solid army Of
trained troops, organized by the Normal
method, whose good drill and good ma
terial would thenceforth hold the ground.
And further he said, these local associa-
lions could correct, to some extent, the
defects of the Superintendent. They
would encourage the timid, stir up the
lazy, and give those who wish a chance
to do something.
During lull in the afternoon exercises,
Mr.. Alden, a young elocution teacher
from the Whitewater Normal school, was
called to the platform, and read the "Dif-
fculties of Courtship." 1t was scream
lug piece between two deafyoung lovers,
and made one of the teachers roll over
on his seat in an agony of delight. 1t
was fault OF the original programme,
not providing for any Evolutionary exer-
cises. The best contribution that could pos
sibly be made to hall full of Wisconsin
teachers would be specimens of good read
ing is hoped that Mr.. Alden will
"come again and give the association at
least three hours reading exer cises. twill
be far preferable 10 dispositions on
American civilization.
DIR. HAvEN's LECTURE.
Prof Haven, of the Northwestern Uni
versity at Evanston, lectured before twelve
hundred people in the hall tonight. His
subject was "The Relation of Public
Schools to Civilization" The professor
mas good delivery, and treated his sub
ject in the broadcast platform style. And
why can't these college professors give
US less of the spread eagle, and more di-
RICHNESS and simplicity. These big words,
these immense distractions, have no poiut
to them, and leave us no wiser after we
have heard them The professors lecture
sounded well, but the first three-fourths
Of it would hardly raise thought in the
minds Of the teachers afterwards. He
touched ground at the close and found
the use of our common schools.
Our children, he said, were simply bar
barians IN their natural state, and the
most important use oftEe school is to civ
ilize them, to teach them manners, morals
and the virtues Of good order and subjec-
ton to law. This suggestion of the Pro
fessor had the merit OF freshness, and is
a point worth thinking about. If he had
with the race of Montezuma if he had
sojourned a year among some of our abo-
riginal nations before they had come in
contact with and been improved by our
white civilization, he might wish to re-
wise his fundamental idea.
So far the female sovereigns, who num-
Der three-fourths of the Association, have
not uttered a word during the exercises,
and have not expressed wish to,
GEOGRAPHY.
18th. The last day'swor of the asso-
citation was one of lncessant and hurried
activity The exercises opened with a
paper on Geography, by Prof. Bernard,
principal of Watertown High School.
The professor is cultivated ana highly
educated German. For many years he
was the intimate. friend and correspon-
dent of the great Alexander Humboldt.
He has made Geography speciality
He believes with Humboldt, that the true
geographical interest lies in showing the
action and reaction of the earth's surface,
and mankind upon each other. He re-
CARDS Geography as fundamental sci
ence, or, as it were, the great boarding
house of sciences, to which they resort
for daily food History or natural histo-
~ had little value or interest apart from
it.
MATHEMATICS.
The clearest and closest paper of the
session was read by Prof. Loyewell of
the Normal School at Whitewater. One
third of our school training, he said, was
devoted to mathematics, vet examinations
show great deficiency in elementary
knowledge. This deficiency was referable
to detects in teaching. The methods of
teaching should be characterized by SIM
plicity, the definitions precise, and the
la fi0uc oioor We oho,,1I hoos,