The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1883-12-01


mil assessment. This is the famous maxi.
mum assessment. But" said DR.. II 2bee
"whRt about the ysluAtion2 Why It was
only last night your Congressman told me
that the borough Of Strou6sburg, where no
resides; was assessed ut Sl32,00O, yet he
lately bad the legal transfer Of one esta 10
In that borough which was valued at over
million" The audience laughed, and 80
probably will the directors.
The evening entertainment was held in
the School Kali where the State superin
tendeut delivertJ an interesting aud pow
erCul lecture upon "The Common Schools Of
Pennsylvania" He stated that the 27,5OO
teachers Of the State are the promising
young meu and women Of tho Common
wealth. 70 the Superlntendents, nu,nbering
100, he paid handsome tribute. The 49,
900 directors came in for sumo modified
"molasses," but the distinguished lecturer
seemed 10 think that there were good
christian men amongst them also There
are 9l5 900 children attending our common
schools, In commenting on the excellence
Of our superinlendeuts DR.. Higbee said,
"They are absolutely independent in this
State and therefore they are tie beat" He
described a recent visit u an Institute at
Wisconsin where he found only sixty
teachers assembled. the Supt asleep, md a
professional educator running the machine.
Not single citizen was present, and "all
the sessions witnessed were drier than the
Senate" Two q ave charges are being made
against the teachers of the country; First,
they are accused of creating contempt for
manual labor aud all mechanical trades.
frA Dir - H.,
that the supply Of laborers is less than the
demand for them in any profitable indus.
try, or that moss is growing upon the mil
wheels Of any factories, becuuse men and
women have been kept away by pedagogues
or school ma'ams.
Secondly, teachers are accused OF being so
mighty busy aOoI, mental development
that the moral training of the children il
neglected aud crime aud immortality are
increasing, IF this be So" said the speak
er, "it simply means that our family life il
a failure. The schools may carry sume
share of the blame but tar larger burden
remains for tie churches und the parents.
1t is true that pedagogie tramts are not
Likely to have u beneicient influence ON
morals but wat can he done when they are
nistreated So successfully that they only
stay with you five months at a time. Whist
would be the morality OF family lie If the
fathers and mothers were changed every
| FIVE months? Believe me you must not OK
pect, and it is foolish to talk about any per
manent morals to be rocured in teaching
for maximum Of $4j month"
Alter describing some of the country
schuols aud the boys Ct ng in from recess
with boots, hands, hair aud lace covered
with mud or perspiratlOn the speaker said
81 looked in vain 'or u door mat, u wash
basin, mirror or towel, or for any ind
eaton oi decency and cleanliness except
such as is provided lur III kept swine"
He then described Que country school in
neighboring county where things were
the very opposite, 'and the difference be
| tween the DECENT and the indecent systems
is that under the iOralcr one children come
back TO their homes more lovely because
more loved"
In concluding DR.. Higbee said Morals
are taught primarily al home aud only in
directly at the schools Parents are the
only true sponsors for the salvation Of theii
chiIdren's souls. Grammar, Geography
History and all the rest of regular school
work never saved one human soul. They
never can and never will; There is ne
name given under Heaven by which We
may he saved, but only that Of Jesus Christ
|
| THURSDAY.
The morning session commenced with 9
lesson on the method OF teaching geography
by Prof. Noellng. Instead Of commencing
with hap of the world first, the instructor
would commence with the school room. lie
advised teachers to explain tho geography
Of the school house lot first, then go on t
to the immediate neghborhood. and pro
ceed gradually, explaining every step, from
a log hut to the terrestrial globe. lie very
strongly recommended the use of moulding
boards as means of teaching children tow
10 make islands, mountains, valleys and
continents Tor themselves, and showing
themrthe true proportions of height and
distance.
Prof Sanford, of New York, then gave o
most Interesting and instructive lesson or
the methods OF teaching primary reading
Mr.. Sanford is one Of the aOlest interpreter
of the Scrip system of reading, aud mos
impartial persons who had the pleasure o
hearing on Thursday must admit that th,
"Scrip" seems much more rapid and intel
liglOle system than the old BC method
The teachers were all interested in Mr.. 81
deSterous but simple way OF exciting auC
sustaining in II child's mind the memur,
Tor written words.
Mr.. Moses True Brown, of Boston, ther
made some remarks ON the soul"
The afternoon session opened with an in
troductnry dissertation from Prof Nose!
} True BrOwn, oi Boston, who entertained /
large audience with iOretastes of his dram
attic recitations. He repeated some lines c
"The Balaklava Charge" with great eflec
and gave grometrical proof of tn,
strength aud beauty of an immortal soul.
Prof Noetling, OF Bioomsburg Norma
School, delivered an interesting address
upon the legitimats and useful method (,
attracting aud maintaining the inlerestrc
attention Of children. The Professor called
special attention to good hgat, good VENT
lation, cleanliness, and the proper color o
the walls aud ceiling. He has special oh
Jections 10 white as wall color and recon-
mends either sky blue or some variety o
drab. This address was most interesting g
and the more frequently the professor i
heard the better he is liked.
Prof Sanford then spoke at length to tb,
directors upon the localities, buildings
drainage, surroundings, water supply, ligh
and ventilation provisions, aud in shor
time covered much ground in sprightl,
aud attractive manner Mr.. r. +. Hollord
late Cousty Supt., was then called upon fol
few remarks. He spoke with the knowl
edge derived from long experience in al
branches Of the educational profession, anc
his suggestions to the directors were wise
well tuned and eminently practical. Wher
Mr.. Hofford resumed his seat the session
adjourned until Friday morning.
Battle of the Books"
The Literary Revolution" which caused
such sensation few years ago, and which