The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-03-08
TEACHERS INSTITUTE.
society.

BENTON. March 4, 1873
In pursuance of arrangements District Insti
tute met at this place last Saturday. A large
number of people was present. The audience
was composed of the people from this beautiful
little town, and of teachers and students from
this section Of the county.
At ten o'clock A. NJ. the house was called TO
order, and Mr.. w. II. Snyder, county Superin-
tendent, was chosen President and A. l.. Fritz
secretary of the Institute. Mr.. Snyder in his
friendly st,le, addressed the audience. He
stated the object of the Institute, and made
few remarks in regard to the importance Of
awakening an interest in educational matters in
this secto on. The audience was then favored
with some choice music by quartete club Sc
lected for the occasion, after which Mr.. Snyder
introduced Professor Noetling of the Blooms
burg State Normal School, who gave an exer-
else in reading. The teachers and students
were very much interested in his manner OF
conducting reading exercise. He would have
a class read sentence or paragraph until
they thoroughly understand it,before proceeding
any further. This should lead them TO accept
At P NJ. the afternoon session commenced
with music, followed by an exercise in spelling.
Prot. Neotlins gave an exercise in language
lessons. lie was followed by Mr.. Snyder, who
explained the shorter methods of counting in
terest. He spoke lsiehy of the importance of
mathematical studies. Prot. Neolling drew
map on the board and explained the Importance
Of Geographical studies In teachir Geogra'
ply we should go from the known to the un-
know. Teachers should commence at home
and teach the children the Geography of the
neighborhood in which they live, by so doing
they will mole readily comprehend the Geogra-
phv of distant places and counties
The exercises were then turned into general
questions. A question which is very import
ant to the School Directors is the following: Is
il advantageous to have the school year in one
term, or would it be preferable to have a SIM
mer and a winter term? Prof Neollng
answered that il woud be better to have one
teacher for the whole year and have one term,
than TO divide the school year in two terms. 1t
takes at least two weeks to organize Il school
which makes the terms very short by having
two terms year,
| Mr. Snyder urged the Directors 10 take more
interest in regard to having a uniformity of
text books. This is one OF the great stumbling
blocks in our schools, Another drawback is
the irregularity of attendance which is tae fault
of the parents in great measure School time
is money. And every day that a father keeps
his children out OF school, he is depriying them
of that knowledge which will be of more value
to them ia after life than ten times what they
will earn at the present.
Another important item to the Directors is
the manner of taxation for school purposes
which Mr.. Snyder briefly explained. They can
not take both occupation and poll tax but the
tax must in all cases be one dollar Ii the tax
on the occupation exceeds one dollar, then il
must be estimated from the occupation. But il
il is less than one dollar take the poll tax. 4
number of important questions were answered
which were interesting 10 Directors and teach
era The exercises closed with music by Mis-
Hattie McHenry, whose reputation as a musi
cian is well known. Among the many piece
that she sang and played were, Watching b,
the Golden Gates" aud "Mother is the oil,
home lonelyY"
After very pleasant and profitable day ia,
, Institute closed and was, We believe, prodncty
of much good and credit to those who con
Quoted it,
4 TEACHER.