The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1882-12-29
TEACHERS fNsffTUTH.

fT0c0eQ1ugS OF Gn6 E1SuGQ Annual So6a1on
Of the Teachers Of Benton County:
On Tuesday, December the 26th inst the
Institute convened in the chapel of the
State Agricultural College.
Supt. E. A. Miner opened the Institute
with an address on the Condition of
schools in Benton County" He called at
tention to the vast amount of work per-
formed by the executive committee, viz:
preliminary arrangements, correspondence
with teachers, preparing and drilling for the
entertainment to meet expenses, etc. He
presented the methods of teaching different
subjects by teachers. We present one
illustration, as the entire ground gone over
by the gentleman would be very lengthy.
The subject of reading. Many teachers
assign the lessons in regular rotation, others
assign lessons to suit the subject under dis
cussion. All teachers with one or two ex-
ceptions) give the entire lesson, consisting
of or stanzas for one reading. These
methods, he was opposed to. He presented
his method of teaching reading. Begin with
the pupils in the first reader; teach them to
pronounce the vowels properly; the words
the and particularly. In the second reader,
the ducritical marks are introduced to the
learner; the careful teacher will drill his
pupils until each has a fair knowledge of the
vowel sounds and the marks. In the third
reader the consonont marks are introduced
and the vowel sounds continued. If pupils
are taught properly through this book. the
foundation for a correct pronunciation is
laid indellibly on ths mind of pupils, that
will remain as long As life. The 4th and 5th
readers are but continuation of the work
of the preceding books. Method of assign
ing lessons: Never give more than two
ctanzas; read it for the pupils; explain the
meaning of what ID to be read; select some
style as the colloguial, and drill on it for a
month, OF until pupils have fair concep-
tion of the style, then select some other
ard proceed similarly. After going over
the different styles, then pupils are prepared
to learn the definitions of emphasis, sylla-
| bication, articulation, 10 study about voise
culture, etc., as presented in the first pages
of the reader. The pupils appreciate what
they ere learning. They have had the
practical drill, now they are studying the
the theory. In mathematics we demon
strate principles, and make the application
of them when needed. My experience in
teaching reading is reversion of this prin-
ciple. He congratulates the teachers and
citizens of Corvallis on the feast in store for
| them.
Mics Abbie Wright read an excellent pa
per on the Expression of Thought" It
| showed careful preparation and was well
| delivered.
w. II. Holman showed methods Of teach
| ing mental arithmetic, which he called the
| geometry of the common schools. All reason
| il comparison; the unit is the basis of cal
culation. He entered into . very lengthy
discussion and treatment of fractions; The
| entire institute participated in the discus.
/ sion.
Prof Sneak, of Philomath college, intro
duced Botany in very attractive manner.
By frequent use of the blackboard he exhib.
tied a great familiarity with the text book.
After dividing the vegetable kingdom into
the two divisions-fowering and fowerless
plants-he subdivided these departments
into various departments. Delving into the
truths Of geology, he proved that the first
plantsiwere comprehensive types. Such al
sea weeds-that plants became more import
ant gradually until the close of the Corbon-
ferrous age. The animal kingdom gradually
improved also as ages rolled on-eact
period witnessed vast improvements-ths
same may be said of the mineral kingdom
\ Mrs. Belle Horner read an essay, subject
"The Teachers Mission" the Christian
| church looks on Christ for perfect pattern
90 the schools louk on the tsashF ss th,