Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-07-04
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STATE NORMAL.
The second annual meeting Of thu
State Normal Institute convened a
Dcs Moines, June 26, continuing il
Session during tho week. The objec
of this organization is to improve anG
unity the work of institute conduc
tors also to make more efiicien
county and city supervision through
out the state.
ID. w. Lewis, of Washington, wa
elected President; Mr.. King of De-
Moines and Miss Kate Upper, of Mar
shalltown, Secretaries. N. II. Dixon
Des Moines, j. II. Sweeny, Waterloo
and Mrs. M. A. Peck, Ottumwa, en-
rolling and auditing committee.
Superintendent Won Coelln, gave
the address of welcome. d. w. Lew.
is, Prest. responded in behalf of the
Institute; Supt. johnson, of Mahaska
in behalf of the County Superintend.
ents; Prof. Piper represented quite
humorously, the book agency. The
exercises were varied by music, the
most entertaining being the very
skillful performance of little Nellie
Raglan, eight years old. A very en-
joyable social closed the session Of the
first day.
| SECOND DAY.
Messrs. Cary, Pickett, Long, Mrs.
McGonegal and Mrs. Peck were ap.
pointed committee on employment,
to whom all desiring teachers or pc.
sitions were referred.
/
sented methods in history. In the
study of the Declaration of Indepen-
dence she observed the following or
der: l Causes. 2. First publicly ex-
pressed. 8. Resolutions in Congress.
1. Drafting committee. 5. Adoption.
6. Result. From the study Of the
declaration is easily led to the study
Of different forms of government and
to the articles Of confederation, for
the latter she used this order of top
les; !, Original draft. 2. Debates.
l3, Agreed to by Congress. 4, Ratifi-
cation by states. 5, General charac-
ter. 6, Provisions of government.
II, Defsets, This course leading to
the constitution. The teacher should
keep constantly in view causes and
effects, History should be 80 taught
that the word history would recall to
the mind events and not books.
Some criticisms were offered upon
the lesson, but upon the whole the
lesson was heartily endorsed by the
Institute.
Miss Lucy Curtis, Of Wheatland,
conducted q class exercise in third
reader, dwelling especially on work
in sounds, viz: spell by letter, name
sounds, represent sounds, read by
vowel sounds. Reading by subjects,
giving attention to natural tones,
breathing, pitch, rate, force, etc. The
lady's closing remarks indicated q
thornugh acquaintance with the needs
of the work.
Miss Mary MCGOWAN, of Waterloo,
conducted . class of little folks in
reading. She would Insist upon
thorough knowledge of worda, cor
rect phrasing aud cheerful tones of
voice. Subject discussed by Wedge
wood, Shoup, Rogers, Stuart. Peck
and many others. The subject Of
teaching grammar was opened by A.
W. STUART, who gave model, Ian
guage lesson In 0 ciase exercise. lie
believed that language work should
always precede Textbook work and
that grammar proper SHOULD come in
High School,
Miss Graham, of st. Louis, present.
ed the subject of EtymolOgy, and X.
a. Gibson, of Fairfield, the subject of
advanced analysis.
The subject of Normal Institute
organization was opened by Mr.. VAL
entinc, of Mason City, who answered
questions asked by members of the
Institute. l.. T.. Weld, of Cresco,
gave a fine practical lesson in primary
geography.
The remainder of the session was
deyatcd to the County and City Sup
erintendent'a departments. The
principal subjects considered were
County Normal Institutes aud En-
animation of Teachers.
Over one hundred and twenty
members enrolled, Lectures were
delivered by Hon. 8. Il. Thompson Of
Nebraska, and Nv. HOLLYWOOD, of Illi-