The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-01-12
Teachers, Institute.
[CommunIcated.l

The teachers institute Is over and
all the teachers are no doubt again at
their respective places of operation in
the practical field of work. The ques-
ton therefore naturally arises, What
have 1 learned at the institute? We
hope every teacher can says much
every way" Yes, If every teacher
has not learned something it has not
been the fault of the superintendent,
nor the fault of the instructors,
neither the fault of the institute.
Enough has been said and done to
overload any ordinary mind. But
what have learned? Not the multi
plication table for knew that before.
Not certain number of practical ex-
amples in the arithmetic, for DO one
undertook to teach that. Neither have
l learned to parse certain difficult
sentence which has bothered the mind
of many able men, who have not
come to an agreement yet. What
then have L learned? Thus may
many teacher solilloquize. We hope
that all of such mind will come to u
favorable conclusion. For it certainly
has done every teacher good, both
physically and mentally for a time to
leave the school room, to get into
another atmosphere and compare
notes with his fellow-aborers in the
nd ii hn l,n la..,.t ri Ia I'm.
more than that there isa vast field in the
science and practice of teaching with
which he is absolutely unacquainted,
he has learned much. This will in
the active teacher arouse a new zeal
for study and investigation. Many
things presented ut an institute can
not of course be taken into the school
room i'm the same manner and exact
words as presented, g. g. it would per-
haps be difficult for q teacher at present
to obtain wild flowers, clover blossoms,
&C., with which to commence to teach
aesthetics, as did Col. Copeland's old
maid; yet the general thoughts taught
remain the same. Make an effort to
teach love for cleanliness and for
the beautiful. For this purpose the
teacher is supposed to have mind of
his own and to take such steps and
measures as are best suited to the
place, season, and circumstances.
Neither are teachers supposed to have
fans and cats in the school room, yet
that other idea presented by Miss
Keller is IL most excellent one, viz: to
have small scholars learning the alpha
bet and commencing to read to COM
pare letters. 10 have scholars search
out the same letters in different words
Of a sentence or i'll the same words is
an excellent plan to get them to re-
member letters with which they may
have some difficulty. The writer can
here speak from experience as having
been teacher as long as teachers are
in that profession on an average. So
many other examples might be sighted
wherein there is something for the
teacher to consider and TO practice
with such notifications as will suit
his special case.
Prof. Coopcr's instructions have
been most excellent in their nature.
Although the subject matter Of much
that he said has been touched again
and again at institutes under different
heads, as must naturally he the case
under the circumstances, yet his mas
terly way of presenting matters has
made them especially impressive, and
by closer examination we find that
after all that there was much in them
which was quite new and fresh.
Then when we think of the rich
literary feast we had i'm the way of
evenings entertainment it would
seem as though no one could have
cause to regret having been three
Indeed, the entertaining and instruc-
tive lectures of Col. Copeland the
sweet, melodious voice of Miss Nc
Clintock; and the spirited recitatiOns
of Miss Keller have been all that one
should desire. We cannot help but
congratulate the superintendent in be-
ing so fortunate in his selection Of in
structors. Because it is matter OF
fortune more or less. The superin-
tendent is not supposed to be person
ally acquainted with all the instruc-
tors and lecturers he employs. Many
of them he knows only by recommen-
dation; and who cannot get papers of
recommendation in our day? / think
we all have reason TO be well satisfied.
Let us have some more such institutes.
STUDIOsUs.