The daily gazette., 1880-11-06
WILMINGTON. DEL. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6. 1880
THE COUNTY TEACHERS.
WHAT WAS DoNEIN COUNTY INsTI-
" IL Ii A

WHAT WAS DoNEIN COUNTY INsTI-
TUTE, YESTERDAY.
The session of the New Castle
County Teachers Institute, at New
ark, opened yesterday morning, with
prayer by Professor Mackey. Su-
perlntendent Groves announced the
following appointments, which were
confirmed
Vice Presidents-Dr. W. II. Pur-
nell, j. f. Mclaughlin.
Assistant Secretaries-D. b. Jones
and Miss Julia w. Ellison.
Committee on Resolutions-R. r
May, Miss l.. ID. Hopes and H. j.
Fitzpatrick.
Enrolment Committee-W. E.
Baker and Misses Il. Johnston and
Mary A. Burgner.
Prof. L. &. Mote, of Christiana,
read an essay on "The Situation" !"
being review of the social condi-
lion of the United States, though
raj her gloomy in its conclusions.
Prot. L. ID. Porter discussed the
subject of arithmetic, in which he
was joined by Prof. Herlan, of this
city, and Others.
Prof. G Jorge L. MPris, of West
Chester, continued the die cussion of
grammar which he conducted in such
an interesting manner tho day pres
vious. The discussion became gene
raj and was decidedly edifying.
A. ID. HP''r.n0tOn. of Odessa. read
a carefully prepared essay on "Tea-
cher's Inslitutes," in which he allu-
ded TO their origin, nearly forty Yeas
ago, and smoke at length of their be-
neficial effects. Rev. John France
followed with brief reference TO
Delaware schools thirty years ago,
and their Improvement since.
In the aflerncon Prof. Morris lecLu,ed
on gramma' cal analysis, and Mis-, 4. D..
Frazer, of Wilmington, read an essay
on Language Lessons for Children"
She sad the first article of intellectual
diet, the national fist article of lntellec-
tual diet, the pRtuial milk, is spoken
language, and the strong meat is written
language. Children, before coming to
So DOL, have usually imbibed a great
deal of this milk, though of poor quality.
The teacher must then tone up the
chIld's system by healthful oral lessons.
Teach the child 10 think, and what he
thinks observe, aud speak of what he
sees. Teach small children TO move the
members of the body and describe them.
Get an interesting object and have them
tell all they know about it. Drill in
sentences that correct common errors.
Have the children look at pictures in
books and call on each child to describe
what is going on in the picture. Read
to children. Show children good, not
evil, even for the sake of teaching a
moral. Have children always express
themselves. The mental b. cad is
written language. She would teach
children the capital letters fist by print
ing them on the board. Print two let
ter word such as sat-" and have the
children give letters to prefix aud then
arrange the wo ds into sentences. A
very gool lesson may be improvised by
drawing picture and evolving natural
stories from the objects in the picture.
IN these lessons special attention is given
TO infection. To widen the child's vo-
cIbulary write column of words on
the board aid have them pronounced,
spelled aud defined, if the lpst IS ne.
'ssalj. The CHILDREN thel copy the
words Oh the slat1 and hunt them out
In readers or spelling boofs. Atterward.
Lhe words are spelled, and afterward The
esso containing the wo;ds is read, ex-
pl ession being then an object of special
attention. Have a reading lesson read
ard re-'ead until it is well read. Avoid
questions that may be answered with
a mere yes or no. Encourage TIE pupils
TO commit to memory fine selections,
such as they can appreciate.
The subject matter of the essay was
discussed by Profs. Wiley, Novel; sld
Harlan end Rev. j. N. Williams.
In the evening, Rev. w. w. Taylor,of
Delaware City. delivered his in resting
historical lecture on. "The Swedish
settlements on the Christiana," to a
large audience in the College oratory.