The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1874-02-05
The Sth Annual Report of the
Monroe County Teachers
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presiding. Al ter dlsposlng OF the prelm-
mary business general topics were taken up
and discussed by the teachers. These dis
cusslons occupied the remaining time OF the
morning session.
afternoon First in order were general
remarks on the use of the blackboard, fol-
lowed by short exercise in dramatized sub
traction; Spearing Kresge then addressed
the Institute on the subject of Grammar.
He touched on the merits of different text
books, and earnestly urged the necessity of
thoroughness in teaching the elements of
grammar Methods of teaching, spelling
sented by several teachers. The last eXer-
else of the day was an animated talk on
School Government by the teachers.
Tuesday,
Morning. The opening exercises consisted
of reading of the scriptures and prayer. Mr..
Krcsge began the work of the day by show
ing 'How to make the School-room attrac-
tive
Methods of teaching compound proper
ton were given by Messrs. Van Horn and
Alsop, the latter of whom solved several
problems by cause and Effect. This sub
jcct seemed to awaken considerable interest
among the teachers. The remainder of the
iOICDOOu WAS OCCuptCu III SiiOn4ilS iiOh tliS
blackboard should be used in teaching the
different branches, Samuel Alsop giving
the method Of teaching reading, b. +.
Morey, geography and grammar; NJ. 4. L.
De Van Horn, writing j. K. Andre, mental
arithmetic, and Spearing Kresge, history.
Afternoon. calling the roll, Prof
A. r. Horne, Principal of the Keystone
Normal School, was introduced to the
teachers of Monroe county. He presented
his method of teaching the alphabet and
reading. The Prof strongly advocated the
word Method of teaching the alphabet
Objections against the word Method were
offered by stranger who failed to produce
anything better. :.
woman, without her man is savage, !"
is an example of the sentences written on
the blackboard for the teachers to read
This exercise was not only instructive, but
broke the monotony, so common at lnstl-
tutes, by creating considerable merriment
After a short recess, Prof B. L. Morey gave
an elaborate discussion on the subject Of
Allegation )" Prof Horne then talked on
pronunciation until adjournment.
>, Eyenlng.-A lecture on ~ Illustrative
Teaching" by Prof Horne. The speaker
taught the idea of ladder-by bringing a
ladder into the school. The Professor was
evidently at home with his subject, but
leaned more to the practical than to the trick
plan of imparting instruction, so as to secure
the useful rather than the mere ''Smartness
winch is too much the result of the latter
His lecture was a complete illustration Of the
excellence of Illustrative teaching. The audi
ence was highly delighted with the Lecture
Wednesday,
Morning. After devotional exercises,
Prof Horn presented what he consider
ed the best method Of teaching Geography
The training of the faculties of observation
and judgment in map drawing, and the coup
ling Of the deeds of prominent men with the
description of places, were necessary to secure
correct knowledge of the science. He also
dwelt upon the theory of ''Whirl winds. y
Prof Houck in an interesting speech on
Teachers Institutes and the best method
of conducting them, threw out many valuable
suggestions. After he had concluded Prof
Horn was called upon to explain certain
points in his Geographical theory, but soon
slipped off on ''Pronunciation" with which
he occupied the remainder of the morning
session. The audience was both large and
appreciatiye.
Afternoon. After the opening of the scs-
sion with music, class drill in reading was
conducted by Prof Horne. The Professor S
manner Of rendering the Parenthesis was
criticized by Samuel AlsOp This led to a
discussion, ending III each gentleman remain
ing unconvnced as to the correctness of the
other This was followed by the reading of
''The Pier Pifer, ;" poem, by Jesse Graves,
who appeared to have very fair understand
ing of the spirit of the piece At this point
Prof Houck, after giving School Directors
an opportunity to ask questions on School
Law, made some excellent remarks on Read
ing in Schools-contcnding that stories to be
read should be within the comprehension of
pupils He also urged teachers to give par
ticular attention to spelling in their Schools.
Prof Horn then took up History and the
best method of teaching it-suggesting recita-
ton, topical date, lecture and incident as
proper aids to success After the talk on his
tory an exercise in punctuation was In
dulged in which i'll Prof. Houck carried of
the palm.
Evening. Opened with music. Prof.
Horne delivered brief lecture on Common
Science" which proved very interesting.
He proceeded to exhibit some Of the phe-
nomena in nature kingdom and thought by a
little effort in this way teachers could, with
out much expense remove many superstitiouS
llcdo IIDlli luC vi iuC gOuuS OuS
dread Of snakes was one Of the superstitions
which a proper understanding would remove.
He also advanced theory for our present
mild winters, and his ideas on Indian Sum
mer and coal iii lamp explosions proved very
satisfactory.
On the conclusion of the lecture the Insti
tute resolved itself into Normal Schoo
meeting. which was addressed by Professors
Houck, Morey and Horne Professor Houck,
went into the merits of the proposed establish
ment of Normal School at this place, anC
warmly urged our people to awake to the
work. Geographically, he contended, this
was the point for the school in this district
and instanced the present prosperity o
Miersville in Lancaster county, as a sample
of what we might expect Normal Schoo
would do for us. Thousands of dollars nov
spent in educating our children abroad woulC
be saved to us, and other thousands woulC
come to US with the scholars who would com,
here to be educated. The speaker exhausted
the argument In favor of the measure, anC
hoped at the conclusion that as every thinl