The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1881-11-18
IUPVTtoW JW VIC II.
The Teachers Institute.
HAyRE DE GRACE, No
MORNING SESSION.


MORNING SESSION
Very few of the teachers being present at the
morning session, and owing to the lateness of
the hour in organizing, no subject was taken up
for consideration.
The President, W. H. Harlan, informed the
teachers that as the boundaries of each school
district had been submitted to their respective
schools, he wished the teachers to call the at
tention of the school trustees to the matter, in
order that they might examine said boundaries,
and if any change was necessary to forward their
objection to the present boundaries to the Board
before its meeting in December
Adjourned to meet at 2 p. NJ
EVENING SESSION.
The Institute was called to order by the Ex-
amner, VIM. III. Harlan. The attendance was
much better than in the morning.
The question for discussion was "In what re-
spect do our schools fail to meet the wants of
the people, and how can the defects be remedied?
The first speaker, Mr. j. b. Scarborough, said
that in many cases, what the people ~dRted
was not really what they needed, He objected
to the use of Quackcnbos' Elementary History
of the United States text book in the
schools, on the ground that many parts of said
history are not history but fable He thought
that the teacher should be thoroughly acquaint-
ed with the subject before he attempts to teach
it, He was, also, very much opposed to that
mode of teaching in which the teacher constant
ly refers to the book during the recitation.
Among other suggestions, Mr.. Scarborough
said that the lower grade, should be represented
at the county fair. He believed that the cxh-
bits at the Fair is n very good method of bring
ing the work of the children before the people
The next speaker, Miss Mary Gibson, thought
that each grade represented at the fair should
have premiums offered for the best work in that
grade.
The subject was further discussed by Messrs.
Stokes, Amber, Jones and Burkns.
Mr. n. o. Stokes thought that the people
wanted good teachers.
The next subject for consideration, GLOW can
the number pupils in our public schools be
increased and the attendance be made more reg
uar ~ was opened by Mr. John d. Worthiur-
ton. He said that the teachers must use great
deal of ingenuity in dealing with the parents ::
that it is generally best to get some person who
has more influence than the teacher to urge
| negligent parents to see that their children at
tend school.
Mr. Worthington was followed by Miss Lizzie
Adams and Mr., f. p Suj'k. NJ, TUESDAY. .,,,,,
10. -'' =
MISUNDERSTANDING SESSION.
Music was rendered by the Choir, and Rev.
VIM. Cooke offered prayer. The roll was call
ed and IS members responded
Miss A. s. Barron gave Glass Exercise in
Reading in the first grade, illustrating the Word
Method Her interesting exercise led to an ami
mated discussion, which finally brought up the
question whether or not lines should be used on
the blackboard on which the pupils NAV wriIr
or print the words. Many objected to. and
many were in favor of, the use oflneS
MIR. Harlan spoke approvngly of the Word
Method, while many teachers thought that a
combination of the Alphabetical Method and
the latter would be conducive to good results.
The discussion was carried on still further by
many teachers, until Prof. NJ. A Newell came in
and gave the teachers some instruction on the
subject He regarded the word Method as the
method for teaching children in the first grade
discardng the old Alphabetical Method, and
nnEi Inrtp I'm =.
child's comprehension. He also stated, embha-
tically, that the pupils should always be taught
to understand what they read Music. Adjourn
ed to meet at p. NJ
EVENING SESSION.
The examiner called the roll u goodly num-
Der of teachers answering to their names The
subject for discussion was 'Can teachers do rood
work, who do not read educational works. do
not study, and do not meet together for con-
sultation ~
Mr., X. W. Eubank, first speaker, said that
study develops the mind and accurate scholar
ship is positively necessary, as erroneous ideas
are difficult to eradicate.
MIR. Amber said that the most accurate
knowledge comes from the most learned; and the
necessity of study on the part of the teacher is
obvious.
Misses Ofley and Parker discussed the subject
farther, and Miss Martin read an essay thereon.
Messrs N. o. Stokes and c. w. Burkins also
made some remarks.
There being no Others who had anything to saw
lpon the subject, Prof. NJ. A. Newell gave some
instructions concerning it,
He said that when teachers cease to learn
themselves, Others cease to learn from them
Teachers are prone to assign too large lesson
for the pupil to learn They (thc teachers)
should study ; ii does not matter what, but they
should invariably read school journals and edu-
catonal works.
The next question was, Letter writing as n
test OF good work on the part of Teachers and
Pupll Written examinations, when the exam
iner visits the school,"
MIR, N. o. Stokes opened the discussion lie
said that If pupil writes a letter with incorrect
punctuation, disregard to the use of capitals,
bad spelling, etc, we conclude that there has |
been something wrong in the intellectual train |
ing OF that pupil. He thought written eXami- |
nations would have tendency to make more |
practical the work of the teacher; also, that |
they produced good effect in stimulating the |
pupil to do his best.
Mr.. Lavender stated that his pupils showed |
an inability to express their thoughts in writing |
at nrst. Thought the pupils should be well |
drilled and have much practice in writing from |
The Examiner said that, as the result of the
written examination when he had visited the
schools, he had noticed that the majority of the
scholars were deficient in writing from dcta-
ton; also there was much bad spelling.
Mr.. j. Eghert Smith said that the best way TO
teach spelling is to make the pupils write their
lesson, when 'getting" the same, as they will
derive double benefit therefrom
Music was rendered by the choir Adjourned
TO meet Wednesday, at . A. NJ.