The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1883-12-28
Teachers Institute.

Pursuant to announcement, the ninth an
uual session of the Institute of the teachers
of Benton county met in the lecture room of
the Agricultural College in this city at $50
A. N. Wednesday, December, 26, 1883.
Suot. E. A. Miner called the institute to
order, and organized by electing the follow
ing officers: Supt. E. A. Miner, Piesi-
dent; Prof I. L. Dugger, Reporting Sec. i;
j. ]. Bryan, and Harry Holgate, Secretaries
for the institute. Owing to the prevailing
bad weather the attendance was not large
Institute adjourned to L. p NJ
| AFTERNOON SESSION.
Geographical teaching" by joseph
Bryan was discussed by him quite thor
oughly. He selected the subject because it
was one of most import of common school
studies, aud in order that he might give
some of the reasons for it's neglect and to
give his method of teaching it, Among
other things he said in sub tame, IS follows:
During my experience as a te chc.' I have
noticed that this subject has not been ap-
preciated. Probably there are few teache {
|
cious methods Of presenting it to pupils
Few if any subjects taught in the common
schools upon which the same amount Of
time is spent with such disproportionate
results. The ma jority of pupils commence
this stu ly as soon as they can read sufi-
GENTLY to do so, and continue it until the
age of IA or Is; yet most of them at 20 can
nos state the precise location of few i'm
portant places, have indistinct IDEAS OF the
relative population and characteristic re-
sources of different countries, and know
little of the Importance of different nation.
alities. The reason of this detective knowl-
edge of this subject is because it has been
presented to the mind as a collection of
unrelated facts, each of which must he re-
membered Independently, each of which is
easily forgotten. Surrounding circum-
stances must be consderel in teaching any
subject. The best possible method in the
study of any subject is that which shall
give the most perfect knowledge of the sub
ject and shall also furnish the best facilities
Cor the complete and symmetrical develop
ment of The mind. The faculties of the
natural mind do not come into activity
simultaneously, but successfully. The ear
liest to obtain full activity are the percep-
tive or observing faculties which are ex.
tremely active i'll a young child and con-
stitute the only means by which the images
of the external world can enter his mini
and give rise to thought. In Simultaneous!
action with this faculty is the conceptive
power by means of which the mind grasps
and retains the impressions it receives,
By the analytic power of the mind the ger =
eral knowledge acquired i; considered anil
arrayed and new IDEAS are derived. and
astly is developed that faculty os reason
ing power whereby the mind rises to high
genera,isations. attains the knowledge of
general principles and laws, and ascerta;ns
the cause of phenomena observed, and
from known causes predicts results.
Geography and History are twin sisters,
and should be taught together, for the un.
derstanaing Of one depends upon correct
knowledge of. the other. The subject should
be preceded by series of simple converse
tional lessons, and if truthful illusti ations
which furnish material with which the lr,.
aSination may work to create in the mind
a vivid picture of whatever is most char
acteristic of each of the great physical re-
gions of the globe. These lessons followed
by maps in which the child leaves the ap
propriate symbol for the reality he has
been studying, and sees the countries
through which his imaginary journey has
led him, in their comparative size and rel.
ative position, will give to him the correct
appreciation of the nature and Use of a map.
The thorough study of the map and the
mastering OF it, so as to engrave its image
in the mind Of the pupil in strong and deep.
ly cut outlines. never to be effaced, is and
must remain the prominent object. With
this result obtained solid foundation is
laid for the future eelihce Of his geographical
knowledge, and nucleus around which
the varions facts in regard to the peolle
and countries of the earth, (which he may
in future obtain by miscellaneous reaiing),
shall arrange themselves SO as permanently
to enrich his mind, and. in the cad to i'm
part to him an enlarged and intelligent
knowledge of the earth and its inhabitants.
The purpose of the globe is to fix the
child's atten zion ON the form of the earth
and distribution of land masses and oceans.
If it does not do this its use is failure.
From the very nature of geography it must
be conceded that the political divisions can
not b, studied intelligently until knowl-
'ge has been acquired of the physical n
formation of the soil, the climate, the 6.
sultiny vegetable and associated animal lif, -.
1t Is the general custom among teachers to
require the Lessons to be learned first, aid
chen give their Il ustrations and explaua-
tons afterwards during recitation, while We
would assure ourselves that Sas far as t. e
natu.e of The subject admits, it is thorough,
unders sod before the text committed to
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