Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-12-19
Teachers Institute.

County Superintendent, Yelling
ton Smith, called the Institute of
teachers to order at clock ON Mon
day December 10, 1883.
Rev. Geo. Benaugh read a portion
of the 1st chapter of the Epistle to
the Hebrews and offered a prayer,
thus launched, the Institute proceed
ed to business by electing j. W. Kel-
ler, of Mifflintown, and Geo. W. Rine,
Walker township, Secretaries, by ac-
clamation. Prot. J. T. Altman and
W. III. Groninger we're elected Vice
Priests. Upon suggestion made by
the President of the Institute, each
of the newly elected officers delivered
an inaugural address. Upon the con-
clusion of the inaugural addresses,
Superintendent Smith addressed the
Institute.
He said there is certain class of
people who continually antagonize
these annual conventions of teachers;
they are however, O class of people
who are not in sympathy with the
Common School Cause. This infu-
ence is not great, but what infu
ence they do exercise is exceedingly
detrimental to the education of pop
ular opinion with respect to the
cause of our common school system.
1t is an established fact that the
county institute is one of the most
effective agencies in promoting the
cause of popular education. Local
and personal prejudices are rapidly
vanishing before the progressive ed
ucational spirit of the present time.
A part of the time of the Institute
will be devoted to school room work
and the remainder to social inter
course. One hundred and twenty-fv
teachers will be present Teachers
who will avail themselves of the full
benefits of the Institute will certain
ly be strengthened in mind, soul and
body. Teachers often do not realize
the benefits offered by Institutes un-
til they get back into their school
rooms. They should therefore be
Jealous students during the sessions
of the Institute, if even they do not
perceive at the time the utility of the
principles or methods presented by
the instructors. It is only the mat
tentive teachers who receives no ben
efits- Teachers should remember
that upon them rests the response
bility of shaping public opinion. The
large number of teachers present in
dicates a successful Institute and we
hope that the present Institute will
be decided advance on all former
occasions
The instructors engaged for the
Institute not being present, the Pres
ident suggested that the teachers en-
ter into a discussion of the following
topics. "Should a person who is not
well read professionally be allowed
to teachi" The question was ably
discussed by S. E. Harkins, w. H.
Groninger, J. w. Hibbs, A. Wilt,
Superintendent Smith, j. N. Keller,
]. W. Kenepp, G. w. Rine, and ].
T. Altman. The conclusion reached
was that it is best for the teacher that
he should have thorough knowledge
of school management and theory of
teaching, and be q reader and stu
dent of two or three educational Pc
riodicals and have . general knowl-
edge of the mental faculties, and the
order of their growth and develop
ment.
MONDAY EVENING
was devoted to an address by Prof
]. T. Altman, subject, Psychology"
and to an address by Prof. John NJ.
Duncan, entitled, "How to make the
best of ones self. The addresses
were well received.
TUESDAY MORNING.
Devotional exercises were conduct
ed by Rev. II. L. Smith. Mr.. Nc
Meen, and Miss Cooper led the choir.