The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1875-06-03
THIRD DAY.-MoRNING SESSION.

Institute was called TO order by Supt.
Bradshaw, and was opened with music by
the choir, under the direction OF the Rev.
Robt. Brown, followed by prayer by the
Rev. ]. b. McCleery. Prof. A. p. Schuer-
man then gave instructions in vocal music,
after which State Supt. Fraser spoke on the
supervision of district schools. The first
great topic presented was, need of supervis-
ors, and qualifications for the Office. Part
OF the subject has also been presented. A
supervisor of schools should have good
education, should be an experienced teach
er, should hold diploma in evidence OF
competency for the office should be well
acquainted with State school laws should
be well acquainted with approved courses
of study, and methods of instruction and
discipline should be well acquainted with
APPROVED plans and appointments of school
buildings; should have nice sense
of duty, the judgment and
courage requisite for enforcing success
fully upon teachers and District Boards a
compliance with the requirements of the
school laws; should be acquainted with the
most approved methods of assisting and
stimulating to mutual and self improve
ment; should be acquainted with the forms
and uses of school records and with the
forms and uses Of the several blanks con-
nected with educational statistics.
In the absence of J. NJ. Wilson, instruct
or in reading, A. r. Van Eman presented
the subject of Fractions Common and
Decimal.
The speaker said that he came up
from the District school, while some of the
instructors came down from thesUuiversity.
He was not disposed to find fault with the
instruction, but thought that district teach
ers should endeavor to attain the higher
standard presented. Fractions are classed
as simple" proper" Improper"
mixed" compound" and Complex" A
text book on arithmetic is advantageous to
teachers and pupils, because a version and
explanation of topics suitable for use in
class room. In conclusion Mr.. Van Eman
asked the question Is it necessary that
the pupil should be able, in every case, to
demonstrate the principles involved in
question, and to give the reason for every
step taken This elected some discussion,
after which the Institute took a recess OF
| ten minutes.
After the recess the choir sang the piece
entitled "Music in the Air" H. Miles
Moore then continued the subject of the
State Constitution. The speaker excused
himself from placing his analysis on the
blackboard, for the reason that he was
afraid some of the teachers would not be
able to read it,-not that he was the worst
writer among the members of the bar. He
did not claim the palm in this respect. He
| then proceeded to speak of the organiza-
ton of the Legislature, the qualifications
of members, and the pay received by them.
Three dollars per day is not sufficient to
procure the services of competent men.
The number of State Senator'S and Repre-
sentatives, and the period for which they
shall sit, is determined by the Constitution.
The speaker then discussed the functions
OF the Legislature, special and general laws,
the right Of women to acquire and hold
property and transact businers, and main
tanned that women should be invested with
the elective franchise.
The programme was again departed from,
and Prof. Wherrell spoke on Instruction on
English Language in District Schools. After
a pupil has been in school three years, it is
presumed that he is ready for the study Of
81 oAuuai' A<otcis, pOOAs puoiisncu nave
caught new idea, and insist that pupils
should begin the study OF language when
they enter school, and offer the Language
Lessons for this purpose. The speaker
claimed that this was a matter of business
with publishers and book-agents, and did
not approve Of the plan, preferring TO nse
readers to teach language in the district
schools. The first point in learning to read
is to associate the name with the sound
the second is the association of the idea
with the name. All there is of grammar
as taught in the common schools is the re-
lation of words to words. Study the Inn
guage in your readers, and you will not
find 4 better language lesson in
the world than in the First Reader. Pupils
often do not understand what they read,
and it is wrong to teach them TO recognize
by sound words Of which they do not know
the meaning. The speaker said he made
one point, and that was showing where we
fail in our reading, in not comprehending
the words and terms used.
Institute adjourned to l:30 p. u.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Institute was called to order BY
Sup&. Bradshaw. Music, under the direc-
ton Of Prof. Brown. Instruction in vocal
music was continued BY Prof Scheurman,
followed BY Supt. Bradshaw, on the subject
Of School Disirics. School meetings are
aanml AID @pecinl fhe fFzf bein9 hid th>