Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1871-02-17
TEACHERS COLUMN.
A. D. WEBB,
EDITOR.
Institute.

A Teachers Institute was held at Buff
falo Grove, Jan 28th, 1871. The subject
Of Higher Grammar Mr.. Ely explained as
having reference to ideas as well as to
their representative. words. Thought that
a person. in becoming acquainted with
Higher Grammar was becoming acquaint
ed with the soul of the language Mr.
Carr thought that If we must have a
Higher Grammar we might as well throw
away the books which we now use as
they deal more with words than ideas.
Mr.. Quick thought we had to deal with
both words and thoughts in teaching
Grammar. Mr.. Russell said that he who
taught Grammar and failed to trace the
| thought, failed in the most essential part
of his work. Several teachers present
seemed to think that this subject did not
properly belong to Institute work
A paper on the subject of Mathematical
Geography was next read by w. E. Par
ker, which called out very interesting
discussion, after which the subject OF
Fractions, Proportion and Percentage
| were presented. The object of bringing
these three subjects together, as explained
by Parker, was to discuss them in their
relations one to the other.
Mr.. Carr gave an illustration of his
method Of teaching Fractions. After a
short exhibition of thirty minutes, draw
ing and dividing lines, teaching abstrac-
tons effectively, he left the subject clear
Quick: l can, by the use of the line
and its divisions, give the pupils correct
ideas of the unit and it's divisions. can
represent of "a &c.
Ely; The object further than mere def.
initions begets confusion; and for defini-
tions it's use need not long be continued.
The examples which we have had can be
easily explained by simple multiplication
and division. Fractions, Proportion and
Percentage are but variations of simple
multiplication and division.
Carr: If a man should come along and
say that he could jump thousand feet,
l would 60 and see him, and if he sue
ceeded would think him good invest
ment. would engage him and travel
for exhibition. If Fractions, Proportion
and Percentage can be explained on the
simple principles of multiplication and
division, want to see the thing done
On motion of E. H. Ely, w. E. Parker
was called to make the illustration. This
is too tedious to report, but if ever nee
essary the explanation can be given).
Inow give you few sentences from a
paper read by E. H. Ely-"The Agency
of Divine Truth in Mental Culture"
IF in providing for the education of
our pupils, we aim only for the accom-
plishment of a worldly end, as is too often
the case, we must of necessity make them
subservient to that end. If their whole
education be conducted with an ultimate
reference to their success in the world,
the result will be such cultivation Of
their minds only as will shape them to
the particular relations in which they are
to act. The aim will be to make their
powers serviceable for attaining the out
ward object, rather than to provide for
their harmonious and perfect develop
ment. That alone is perfect education
which arrives at the cultivation and per-
feet development of every faculty Of our
complex natures Let us rather strive to
waken up those powers Of the soul from
the lethargy and thraldom of sense, from
the fascination of the present, to con
temptation of the infinite,
Of God, and we have done the most is is
possible for us to do for our pupils"
J. D. RUSSELL, w. E. PARKER,
Pres. Sec'y.