Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-08-21
TIVE NORMAL INsr,rure

TINE NORMAL IMsrIrUTE.
Reported for the Courier by G. w. Buckner.
Quite q number of the teachers
were absent on Monday morning,
owing to the fact that many who had
returned home on Friday or Sstur-
day previous, could not get TO town
by half past eight a. m.
After the opening exercises the tw
classes, A and B, passed to their
rooms, class Il rcciting in Geography,
conducted by H. G. Hollingsworth,
and class A reciting in Arithmetic to
Miss Bell. We need not tire our
readers with the minutia of the whole
days work, for it is very similar to
any school exercises, but suffice to
say the recitations were good, and we
sincerely believe the teachers were
verv much benefited.
On Tuesday the regular work was
carried on until noon. In the after
noon Miss Sarah Harrie taught class
Of small children, which she had col
lected for the purpose of illustrating
how she would instruct primary pu-
pills. She used the word and phonic
method combined, and while she Ia
bored under some difficulty. as her
class was not well graded, still she
did well, evincing ability and apt
ness to teach.
In Physiology Miss Bell had pro-
cured beef's heart which was mi
nutely examined, thus making book
knowledge practical knowledge.
A word for our conductors is prob
ably due. Prof A. Hull, ofthe Agen-
cy City schools, is an old and ener-
getic teacher; although like other
men, he may have his faults, vet he
is doing good work and the teach
ers highly appreciate the thoughts
they are receiving. Mr.. Fl. G. Hol-
lingsworth and Miss Bell are young
but thorough and active teachers.
For the past two days we have had
quite a number of visitors. This
speaks we'll; we heartily thank them
for their presence and hope they will
call again. Directors, patrons and
friends, we cordially invite you to
come and inspect our work.
Seventy-two teachers are now en-
rolled.
BY mistake, or base ignorance, we
omitted an exercise in our last re-
port, for which we beg pardon. 1t
was a recitation given by Miss Hill,
teacher of the Second Primary grade
in the Agency City schools. She
chose members of the Institute as her
class, and illustrated how she would
conduct Il recitation in the Second
Reader. Though the members Of her
class We're rather large for this grade
and entirely too old to act rs chill
dren, yet, as she is an old and expe-
rienced teacher, her work was nobly
done.
On Wednesday there were several
teachers absent from roll call.
The opening exercises were con-
Quoted by Miss Bell. The recitations
in Arithmetic, conducted by Miss
Bell, were both profitable and inter-
esting. Subject, fractions.
The subject of the recitations in
Geography, conducted by Mr.. IL. e.
HOllingsworth, was water, and, as
there are but few more interesting
topics, it was very easy to create
great enthusiasm in the classes. He
also presented to his History classes
an excellent method to be used in
chronological, historical, geographic
cal and biographical reviews, and
recommended that such reviews be
used in connection with advanced
lessons, as often as convenient.
The recitations in Grammar, con-
Quoted by Prof. A. Hull, were excel
lent The subject being presented in
a simple and practical manner.
In the afternoon Miss Rena Postel
conducted a recitation illustrating
her method of teaching class in the
Third Reader yet she labored under
difficulties similar to those expert
enced by Miss Hill, as her class was
composed of young ladies'. Miss Pos
tel is too we'll known by our teachers
and the community, to need common.
dation here.
The recitation in Didactics, con-
Quoted by Prof. Hull, was somewhat
more animated than common. He
emphatically claimed that q pro.
gramme for study was advantageous
to both pupils and students, hence
he insisted on teachers making out
such programmes for small pupils
and causing larger ones to do SO for
themselves.
The question, elbow shall we secure
q regular attendance in our schools p
was then discussed. This is one OF
the very worst evils in our schools
inasmuch, as teachers cannot reach
: it, owing to the fact that the difficulty
, often lies with the parent. W.
would that parents would think earn
estly of this matter and fully realize
the great detriment to the child and
school by keeping it out even one
day Of each week.
In the forenoon, on Thursday, the
work was carried on vigorously and
all seemed to be alive and active.
In the afternoon Miss Squire tool
charge of class of young ladies fol
the purpose of illustrating her meth
cd of conducting a recitation in tht
Third Reader. The exercise was very
good, and she evinced thoroughness
aptness and ability to teach; yet We
very much question the propriety o.
keeping pupils of this age in stand
ing position upon the floor for Is OF
20 minutes.
In physiology Miss Bell gave the
chemical experiment to her classes
proving that carbonic acid is breathed
forth from the lungs She had also
procured an eye, which was very
closely examined by one Of her class
es. She is doing the very best work
possible, for which she deserves mucf
credit.
I. f. Jenkins, County Superintend
ent of Davis county. was with us fol
short time in the evening. Judg
ing from the number of terms he hal
served his people in this capacity, WI
believe him to be an active and earn
! est worker in the cause Of education
| 8 Per Cent. Money.
can loan in sums of $500 and up
wards, to suit borrowers, at per ct.
and smaller commission than any
person in the city.
sl7wtf W. II. c. JAQuEs.
| OUR BIG PORK HOUSE.
| We have taken occasion to find out
and lay before our readers something
about the dimensions of our nam.
moth pork-packing establishment
now being erected by Messrs. Morrell
u Co., of Liverpool, England, under
the direction of Mr.. Z. d. Foster,
their general business manager in
this country.
The pork packing hous, will be
96xl6O #. with wing 96x48 #, three
stories high above ground. First
story (Which will be basement, So
called) 10 1T. high; End story, IL #.
high Sd story, l6 it. high The roof