The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1883-10-24
Educational Correspondence.

! teachers institute required by section
1859 amended school law to be held in
each county, having five or more organ
lied school districts convened at the pub
lie school building on Monday October
18th, and continued in session three days.
The attendance was good, twenty-three
teachers being enrolled, most of whom
are already engaged in teaching in the
different districts of the county. Much
enthusiasm prevailed and feel confident
that all who engaged in the work were
proited thereby. The purposes of the
institute were set forth in printed cir
cular letter to the county superintendent
some months previous, by the territorial
superintendent, who says: 'First, the
institute will supply to some extent the
lack of normal or training schools TO
teachers. The purpose is chiefly to equip,
strengthen and quicken the teacher for
the duties of the school room. 1t is also
to produce some unity of methods and
common understanding among teachers
trained in varicr,s parts of the states, and
having consequently differences that
should at least be understood if they can
not be reconciled."
With these objects in view each men,
Der of the institute worked with hearty
good will and endeavored ts add his or
her share to the common good. The
subjects treated of during the exercises
of the institute were, orthography, Read
ing, arithmetic, geography, United States
history, English grammar, civil govern
ment, school government and practical
physiology.
Each subject took its regular order on
the programme and received careful at
tention, by practical illustration and
open discussion, the various methods of
teaching each branch, in all the depart
ments of our public schools, being freely
and fully discussed.
The evening sessions were made inter-
esting and accessory to the institute work
by lectures upon educational topics,
Monday evening was devoted in part
to a lecture by Judge H. n. Mcclure,
whose practical, forcible remarks were
we'll worthy the lecturer and received
the hearty endorsement of the institute
especially that portion relating to salaries
of teachers.
Tuesday evening lecture from the
Rev. R. NJ. Stevenson. Subject, "The
educational power of the teachers per-
sonality," was the main feature of the
session. The lecturer gave personal
"reminiscences of school days, and the
impression formed upon his mind by the
individual characteristics of the teachers
by whom his earlier scholastic efforts
were directed The lecture was good,
practical and we'll delivered.
The work of the institute closed on
Wednesday evening by an earnest, well
directed lecture from Hon. Cornelious
Hedges, territorial superintendent. Sub
ject, "School manners and morals" This
subject was presented in mastery man
ner to teacher, parent and pupil by the
lecturer and we trust that ere another
annual visit our territorial superintend-
ent may see the result of the good words
then spoken and kind admonitions
given.
My thanks are due and are hereby ex-
tended to Prof. A. C. McComb and w.
w, Wylie, for the valuable assistance
rendered me all through the session;
also to Judge H. N. Mcclure, Rev. R. NJ.
Stevenson and Hon. G. Hedges for SO
promptly coming to the aid of the insti-
tute, and adding SO much to the interest
of the work by their lectures. To the
officers and members of the Presbyterian
church for the lectures of Tuesday and
Wednesday evening. and to the institute
generally for the uniform coursesy ex-
tended me, and the individual effort to
make the institute. work harmonious,
practical and progressive.
GEO. w. MONROE,
County Superintendent of Common
Schools