Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-06-27
Teachers Institute at Martinville

EDITOR HERALD :-Feeliag that
the people of Grant County should
know what efforts Superintendent
Holford is making to benefit the
schools of the county, and what good
he is doing, | shall venture to give
you something of an account of the
Martinvillo Institute, held June 9th
and 10th. After calling to order
Mr.. Holford commenced by speaking
of the duties of teachers to pupils, to
patrons of schools and to the profes.
sion. He then told us that we can
do whatever we have to do, better
by knowing just what il is, and how
to do it after which he showed us
by many illustrations that such is q
fact. But all who think, know this
yet the trouble is too many don't
think as much as they should, and |
am glad that he realizes the fact Fur
ther, he asked us many questions in
various branches of study, causing us
to prove to ourselves that we can study
any branch to much greater advanta-
ges by being good readers and spoilers
From this he led us back to the first
principles, giving US very practic-
al lesson in Orthoepy and Orthog-
raphy; and from that he gave us
another lesson on teaching reading
and spelling, which was equally
important because as practical, being
a deduction from the lesson on the
two branches above named.
In the afternoon session Mr.. Hol-
ford reviewed in part the lesson of
the forenoon for the benefit of some
newcomers, as in the morning lesson.
Thus those who came late lost by
incomplete illustration and those
who were there at the appointed
time, by listening to that which they
had heard before while they desired
to hear in advance. Just SO it is
with pupils who are absent now and
then day, and those who are al
ways con hand" Well, we are
country teachers" and therefore
somewhat timid I; and as we seemed
more inclined to listen than to talk,
our Superintendent went on to give
US instructions in tho use of the Die
tionary in Schools, telling us how to
teach pupils to use it and how to
understand the marking of the let
tiers. Then followed some very use
full suggestions in teaching Written
Arithmetic, English Grammar and
Penmanship. We were to have a
lecture in the evening but heavy
rain came on and prevented it. Next
morning we had another lesson on
the peculiar marks of some of the
vowel letters, then one upon the
Theory and the Practice of Teaching,
The remainder of the forenoon was
devoted to Spelling and Grammar,
Upon the manner of teaching these
branches we received some very use
ful suggestions.
In the afternoon before recess, we
had very good and practical lesson
on the subject of Reading, another
on U. S. History and another on
Geography. Atter recess, our Super.
intendent spoke upon the questions,
"For what purposes should children
be sent to SCHOOL," or "What is the
object of our common schools ?" Next
came Penmanship again, and thon
Just as the teachers had become free
to talk and to work, our Institute
had to be closed as Saturday night
was upon us. But Mr.. Holford gave
us the lecture in tho evening, 1t
was upon a variety of subjects per-
tanning to school houses, school
teaching and school patronizing, all
of which we felt to be good that we
should hear, and better that we
should heed.
We hope that when next an Insti-
tute shall be held here, we shall
have larger attendance; and as
there are other Institutes yet to be
held in the county we hope that all
teachers within reach will attend if
possible, for we are sure it will do
them and their schools much good.
Martinvne, June T. 1871. ATHTIE.