Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-12-26
SUPPLEM EMIT
Reported for the Democrat.
TEACHERS INSTITUTE.

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nual Convention Of Teachers in Oxford
County met at Gould's Academy in Beth
ell. Friday, Dec Is, 1892.
DR.. y. T. True, of Bethel, President
OF the Association, in the chair.
Prayer was offered by Rev. ID. Garland
Of Bethel.
A severe snow storm the day before
had blocked the roads, but teachers
Hocked in and the frs, forenoon exhibited
= fine assemblage Of teachers and friend 8
Of education.
The first subject in the Programme
was on
OPENING EXERCISES :--PURPosEs; CHAR
AcTER; METHODS or CONDUCTING. By
DR.. y. I. True, OK BETHEL.
deem this one of the most important
exercises of the school day. Children
are generally full of glee before the open
ing of school. They need something
10 calm their minds and fit them for
study. They should learn 10 feel and
recognize the existence Of God as the Su-
preme Being, and themselves as depend
ent on Him for everything, and should
learn to reverence and respect everything
that is good.
After trial Of many methods of con-
Quoting these opening exercises for many
years past, ! have adopted the following
for two or three years, which has worked
so admirably, that | wish to give 1t IN
detail. Ny first Objec, is to enlist every
scholar in taking part. This requires
some tact at first. Instead Of reading
long chapter from the Bible, myself, |
spend only very few minutes IN the
whole exercise. ask each scholar that
can read a. all 10 be provided with a
Testament. They now turn to the Beat
itudes How shall | begin Many Of
the children in our mixed schools canno;
read fuen,ly. A good teacher Ikea good
general looks out for the rear of his army.
The great point IS to secure the attention
of the poorer readers. simply say TO
the school, will read the FIRST half Of the
verse and you may read the last half in
concert. So far this Is nothing new in
many Of our schools, but as soon as they
have finished the verse, now ask them TO
read the ,rhOis verse again in concert. In
this way encourage the feeble scholars
TO read with the rest. follow this plan
until they can do it with readiness. II
any point in verse requires special at
;ention, explain j, TO them, and kindly
ask them TO read II again, and they al
ways eheerfally comply. frequently ask
the class 10 tell me what the writer was
thinking the mos; about when he wrote
that verse To illustrate. They read
the verse, Blessed are the meek, for
they shall inheri, the earth What word
in that verse show. what he was espec-
tally thinking about: They readily see
and answer, meek. then give them
simple rule, Whatever the writer Is think
ing about, i, always emphatic, and re-
9uires the falling infection. Or IN
briefer form, The Emphasis Of Force re-
quires the falling infection. keep thi.
rule constantly before them, because /;
serves better than any commentary, and
soon breaks up the old red school house
sing song style Of reading. allow them
10 read only few verses at a lesson, and
select the easiest passages al first. Some
times call on some older and advanced
pupil to rise and read q verse, and the
whole school repeat It in concert. Some
times call on several in succession TO
read, care being taken 10 select those at
frst who can read with some facility. II
any scholar allow his mind 10 wander.
call on him 10 read, and his confusion
from losing his place will prevent a repe-
tition Of the offence. All thi. exercise
should be done in cheerful and pleas
ing manner on my part, and | strive TO
inspire confidence in all to do a. well as
they can. Sometimes | select a single
favorite verse, as Come unto me, Let no,
your heart be troubled take out my
watch and say TO them, want you all
to study tina, verse just two minutes. so
you can repeat it from memory. | hold
my watch in my hand. and study the
verse with them. thus setting the exam
pie. At the expiration Of the time the
word Position" brings them at once in an
erect attitude, and at the signal, they re-
peat the verse. The next day take the
next verse and ,rea, i, in the same way
and review the verse of the previous day,
and so on until have several verses COM
mitted to memory. These may be used
occasionally instead of the Lords Prayer.
Any word mispronounced, or wrong in.