The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-12-23
Tcnrhe,s' Institute.


lumbia county. was called to order by Supt
Grimes, in Normal Hall, Dee. IL, 1891, ai
p. IN.
The address of welcome by DIR. Waller was
cordial and spicy. lie advocated longer time
than one week for the holding of sn Institute,
also u complete grade, founded upon the
ability, experience and position of the mem
bers of the Institute. This would raise tho
standard Of its hopes and attanmcnts, and
bring the best knowledge of each within the
reach Of ALL Responses were made by Messrs.
Albert Bevan and Pealer The last speak
er's remarks called forth an animated reply
from Prof. Nocting on the subject of Com
mon Sense in Teaching"
The instructors provided, at the county's
expense, were Miss Smith, of Shippcnsburg,
Pa; Miss Partridge, of Philadelphia; Prof.
Geo Il. Little, of Washington, ID. G. The
instruction given by them was respectively,
Language Lessons, Quincy Methods, Draw
ing" The instruction was almost entirely
confined to primary work. We have been
accustomed to think that almost any one can
teach primary school, and that 1t is not nee
cssary for Il teacher of the elements of know
edge to know more than the elements them
selves That idea no longer prevails, but on
the contrary, the foremost educators are in
favor of selecting teachers of the best talents,
the most extensive learning, the greatest
skill, and the largest experience in the most
elementary schools. Wherever this is done
we may expect that the first steps in clc-
mentary instruction will be intelligently
taken, and that our young pupils will be start
ed off in the right way toward the end they
should be led to attain.
The instruction given by the forcnamcd
instructors was good; but If the teachers
availed themselves of the instruction offered
at our Normal School If they visited many
of the schools throughout the county, they
would find similar methods put in practice.
Miss Smiths paper on composition and
letter writing was well received. In place
of grammar so-called, she would give practice
in speaking and writing English, Less pars-
| ing, and fewer technical terms. A well-stud-
| led plan for all composition.
The drawing by Prof. Little showed great
| artistic skill The universal sentiment of the
| Institute was one of appreciation. The re-
| lations that art education holds to the indus
| trial prosperity of II country; the relation it
holds to complete development of the fac
ulties and capacities of the mind, and the
| demand that II high civilization always makes
| for perfection in art, renders the education
| itself IA necessity and consequently the intro
| duction of the art-eemcnt into our schools
II necessity.
Prof Noctling presented many valuable
points in arithmetic, which could be taken
into the school room. To illustrate his meth
cd, class of young children went through
the process OF rapid addition. More of just
such work is needed, yes, demanded by the
| Teachers Institutes of the future.
| Questions were asked, discussion awak-
enel, remarks made, papers read by teach
| ers, directors and citizens of the county. In
strumcntal and vocal music, gymnastics and
marching, together with short operetta,
"Puss in Boots" were furnished by Normal
School pupils. These added much to the in.
terest of the weeks work.
Rev. Jesse B. Young gave an excellent ad
dress on what our children are reading.
The reading matter in the hands of the you'll
Justly demands the attention of parents and
teachers. The speaker denounced the
trashy literature sold on the cars and at news
stands. so demoralizing in itsiniiuence upoi
the young.
One of the main features of the Institute
was the earnest talk that DR.. Waller gave OF
Importance of District Institutes" liz
said raise the standard of qualifications anC
the pay and positions will correspondingly b'
increased. Before any one goes to work t'
better existing circumstances he must b'
made to see thpt they need bettering. Th
may be brought to the notice of the peopl'
through the medium of educational meetings
which must be gotten up with special refer
ence to improvements in methods of teach
ing, and in arousing the interest of parents ant
children, rather than for the testing of tn
teachers text book knowledge.
The evening sessions were devoted to lii
erary treats. Tuesday evening Miss Patrdg
gave readings and recitations.
Wednesday evening. Col. Sanford delight
ed the audience with his far-famed lecture
''Old Times and New" Another rich tres
. of the evening was the drawing done b
!, Prof. Little to the exact time kept, by Pro
. Niles and the Misses Niles and Stiles, on p
ano and violns
On Thursday evening, Rev. Jesse b. ioun
delivered his fine lecture, Battle of Getty
burg" to II pleased audience.
Friday evening, Prof. Curran gave nun
Der of successful and instructive philosopl
ical experiments. Prof. Little again Shove
) his great power in the use of the crayon.
e Throughout the entire weeks work, u
= teachers were shown that the true object
t all school education should be to devclC
t humanity-to cause the mind to grow,
S deepen, to broaden to give man high
+ reach stronger grasp. Above all, bcil
r II man, to be wiser, better, more usef
: man; less like brute--more like an angt
d more like God.
l. AMELIA ARMSTRONG,
| Spprntnrv "a