Smyrna times., 1878-12-18
Kent County Teachers Institute.

The annual session of the Kent County Teachers
Institute was opened IN the Court House Hall
dent Groves There about 80 teachers present at
the opening. The Dover people, although not IN
formed until within few days previous to the lnStl-
tute that it would be held there had made generous
and hospitable arrangements for the entertainment
SUPERINTENDENT Groves in opening the Institute
made somewhat longer address than usual, in sub
stance as follows:
FeIOlU 7cachers:-Of all occupations there is none
more responsible than that of the teacher. The bar
traction and are more remunerat1ve; they may be |
more inviting because in the sight OF the average
man more honorable; but what profession subservcs
the interest of the State of society than ours?
What grander work of lifting from the slough of gno-
and eevating the mind than that OF the teach
er. When the ringing anvil is quiet, the work IS
done; when the mechanic retreS his labors cease.
But the teachers work is mperishable-the ideas i'm
planted so ringing down the ages, and the unborn
the succeeding generations-wi rise up and call him
blessed, long after his body has decayed. Humble
and unappreciated, neglected possibly, poorly paid.
given a secondary position iii society," while wealth
with ignorance is coured and feted, he works i'll his
weary path to bless the world i'll all coming time.
Years hence when Morse Edison, a Whiteteld or
SpurgeOn Shakespeare or Milton, shall light up the
world of Science, or sare the pulpit or strike the
beautiful chords of poetry, memory Will point back to
some humble teacher, and will pay fitting tribute to
him whose duly was love whose pay was q crust.
What an astonishing fact that every truth presented
every word spoken every act done will tell for time
and eternity. teacher must keep in mind at all
times the true idea of education. 1t is not to fill the
"the natural bent" Whether boy girl is bril-
liant possessing WONDERFUL quick pCGccI
tOn or is dull and plods daily i'll the routine OF du
ties the model test should be SO applied as to gently
restrain the one, and pleasantly prompt the other TO
bring out the ideal in the average man. or make the
careful scholar or business man. Nothing helps
teacher in carrying out his method or system of gov
ernng, so that he may successfully teach, more than
decision. If he is vaciating, undecided, the quick
comprehension of the youth detects his weakness.
There are crises in every mans life when the Rubcon
must be passed, when the hero of Waterloo must not
and charge" BE decided be prompt be ready and
tho will he wonderful Re prOnDt
on time. Grouchy not being on time and Blucher
prompt lost Waterloo to Napoleon, and won 1t to
Wellington. EXiling the one to st. Helena and max
the other the hero i'll history who never lost battle
Punctuality, akin to prOmptness is another Of the
that too many teachers have watches like Cap
tain Cuttles: if they can only remember to set
| it ahead half an hour i'll the forenoon and back
quarter of hour in the afternoon, it would keep
| time with anybodys watch. The reputation of John
Quincy Adams was such that when an old man, SeTv-
ing his people i'll the House OF Representatives. every
| one knew almost the exact minute when the House
wOu be called to order, by seeing him take his seat
Mall. persons have no higher idea OF teaching than
the horTd routine of class duties is as much our
duty to teach children good manners as good gram
/ mar 1t is as much our duty to look carefully after
the morals as after the advancement i'll arithmetic.
In short, we should teach our pupils to be ladies and
gentlemen in all that those terms imply. If we desire
to oHr pupils observe neat personal habits, we
should ourselves observe the same. If courteous and
kind to each other and to ourselves we must be- first
of all, courteous and kind to them We may always
safely conclude that if We have sefcOntrOl rugalty
good manners. patience, Kindness, temperance, &c
must stand before his school as model pattern
showing by his everyday life that he embOdies the
highest moral principles, and act of his must III
any way lower the great moral standard, up to which
it is not only his privilege but his duty to elevate the
| immortal heart and mind i'll his keeping.
At the conclusion of the address, the Institute was
organized by the election of the following officers:
Lr-OticiO neutrality-suspicious. Groves
Nice PresidentS-Herman Roe, j. ii. George, W. IL
Pumel
secretaries-J. s. Bradley Lizzie Mcdowell.
Committee on Finance-J. L. Marcy Ella Cranor
| Emma HOugh.
Committee on Enrolment-D. S. Ellis Maggie Car
| tee, Anna Griffith.
} Committee ON Resolution. W. Knapp H. Bessey
| A. d. Harrington, Emma Cooper.
| Executive Committee. p Cowgirl, J. X. Jester
Molie Richards Annie W. Lord.
An exercise upon reading was taken up and MI !
D. johnson addressed the Institute upon the lmp0r
tance and advantages of the cultivation Of the hAbi
) of good reading. Mr.. II. Roe made few remark
and the session adjourned until evening.
There was large audience assembled at 7.3O clocl
: in the hall The entertainment of the evening con
sisted of select readings by Mr.. H. Roe and H. C. Con
rad, Esq. Mr.. Conrad read by request, Darius Gree
and His Flying Machine" which was received witt
great applause Mr.. COnrads reading is graceful am
lie has made quite reputation as a reader down tn
: Peninsula.
Institute called to order at Q o'clock President il
the chair, and opened with prayer by ID. :. Ellis.
+ On motion of Mr.. Roe, Mr.. J. w. Whitaker was ecC
ted member of the finance committee in lieu of Nj
| Herman BcSSey excused.
0 Mr. J. H. George introduced the subject of Ments
= Arithmetic with lecture and class drill The subjec
1
= Roe Knapp, Ellis. Harrington and johnson.
i The subject of Language Primer and Lessons
was then introduced by Mr. Roe. which he lecture
= upon with considerable force and in mastery mannt
i The discussion upon this subject was participated
S by Messrs johnson, Harrington, George, ELS, Ro
!, | ROsin and the Superintendent
. The roll then called, when s. teachers r.
), sponded, and upon motion of Mr.. j. II. George III
Institute called to order at O'clock President
. the chair and opened with prayer by Rev Mr. Bra'
# ford. Minutes of last session read and approved
a Mr. Roe offered the following resolution which WI
- unanimously adopted
h Resolved That committee Of four teachers. calle
10 Especial committee be appointed by this Institute,
confer with the committee for the same purpose fro
A. New Castle county, and with the Executive Commi
l. from Sussex county TO take measures to petite
the Legislature of the State of Delaware to make
appropriatiOn of funds for the use of the Teacher
e Institute of each county at their succeeding meC
'S On motion Messrs Roe Gooden, Bradley and Georg
IS were elected said committee.
J: On motion of Mr.. J. ii. George, Miss Lizzie NJ
= | Dowell was added to the committee.
10 Miss Mary T. Richards then read an essay upon Il
t, subject of Teaching Small Children" which W
rendered in q style that attaches Importance of 4
greatest magnitude both to esSayst and subject. II
subject was further discussed by President Grove
Is MeSsrs Roe. Knapp. Kaufman, Cowgirl Harringto
- | George, Harnish and ROthwell.
10 EUening SeSsiOn-The Institute convened at
ID O'clock and was opened with prayer by Rev. VIM
10 Davis Of Dover. After singing by the choir, Nj
e Lizzie X. Pennington, a student of the Conferen
III Academy, read selection entitled The TramI
of Singing followed by the choir, and by Miss Mary
Cannon, who responded to the encore of the audien
u" u" with another beautiful solo.
it The Superintendent then introduced to the aut
no ence w. L. Schofeld, ESQ.,, of Philadelphia who
4o livered an eloquent address Language and La
ST guage Influence" After singing by Miss Cannon t
at meeting was dismissed by the Superintendent
n. FRIDAY.
az. Institute met at 9 Am After the opening eXerc
=. | D. S. Ellis read an essay npon English Gramma
10 which was discussed at some length by the teach
hO present
ho A. D. Harrington read essay upon "Scht
NC Government" and general discussion arose up
m the best mode of school government in which Prof
l
vi Evening Sessi6n-In the evening Rev. Enoch Stub
ed of Philadelphia delivered very interesting lecu
le- which was listened to by a crowded house.
The Institute closed Saturday morning. The after
ance was large and those present enjoyed the p
ceedings very much
ci. So -----
he THE ABSURD HABIT OF MOURNING APPAREL
| Philadelphia clergyman, the Rev. Mr.. Macleod c.
rn tends that there is neither health sense relg
he in full mourning. He tells his congregation that
l. | of black ribbon, worn in way, will tell
lo- story of bereavement Just as well as a cOmpl
Op. mourning suit bit of Grape on the bell pull ri
nix the hint to those who pass by and it is not conside
necessary to the whole front with black drapt
od Why then will not a bit of ribbon on cloak or C
NO. answer the purpose and weight of useless expe
g and costume that is always gloomy and in wa
ne weather. very uncomfortable, be taken from
1r. shoulders of bereaved mOurners. Christians he
aid convinced, ought not to take gloomy view of def
:, There are glorious hopes linked with the sorrOws
de- symbOzed rather than the of those who
- left behind. He would have cheerful garments W
hS by mouTners in token of the triumph of the gor
on ones and bit of ribbon or Grape as simple memo
TO- of their own sense of bereavement. The rest of
w full mourning he would send to the heathen, whC
their sorrow at the grave have no hope.
sti. is this air-tightP" inquired man in hardw
e store as he examined stove. No. SIR, replied
OF clerk air never gets tight" He lost customer.
ary --'-----