The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-01-03

ERsEr COUNTY TEACHERS I~NsrIruTE.-Tht
Twenty fifth Annual Session of the Somer.
set County Institute met in the Court House
Monday, December 25, 1852, at 2 O'Clock p. NJ
The Institute was opened with devotional
services. conducted by Rev. King. of Soner.
set, followed by remark By County Superin.
tendent Weller, who first wish d the teach
ers present q merry Christmas, then calling
atTei.ii"n to the important work To he per
formed during tire week. aud telling them
of the Rice intellectual treat in store for
them. asking them to be prompt and pune
tual in attendance, and active participants
ia the work.
Ihis was followed by the election of Off
Gers, which resulted in the choice of j.. NJ
Berkey Wee President; j. A. VIII. Secreta-
ny J A. BcrAey, Assistant Secretary
Ninety one teachers reported present, and
committee was announced, consisting of
Prof A. c. Holbert, G. NJ Baker, J. L. Fer
ner, NJ. l.. Middlekaugh, and J. schrock.
Prot. E.. o. Lyle, OF the State Normal
School at MIiiersville was then introduced
and began his talk on School Government.
presenting in a concise form the great value
of a thorough knowledge of this subject on
the part ofthe teacher.
On motion of Prof Hulbert the following
were appointed a committee on text book
on Theory of Teaching A. c. Holbert, J.
NJ. Berkey, J A. VIII, ID. c. Eichnor aud J.
A. Berkey. The exercises of the afternoon
closed witt music by the Institute, Miss Liz
zie Weller presiding at the organ.
EVENING SESSION.
After music, the Address OF Welcome was
delivered by f. W. Biesecker. Esq. of Som
erset, who ably acquitted himself in his eff
forts as the representative of the people of
Somerset. He spoke of the power of the
mind, its position in the natural universe
and its relation TO nature, and the proper
method and course of study which best
tends TO the culture and proper development
of man. lie continued by saying that the
true idea or end of education is not purely j
practical one, not p%ecuniary or utilitarian.
- "a W ~ ma -
knowledge for powers sake, a means for an
end. whether that end be for making money
or rising to a place of prominence, but some,
thing to be in US, our own culture, our own
personal strengthening and adornment. To
make men of Us, greater. purer, better. no
bier, strong in thought and deed, cultured,
finished, full, rounded. balanced, ideal, car
ryiug GU Gods idea of m~ap-education for
it, own sake; for a cultured mind is its own
best reward, filled with its own beauty, hap
~ in its own pleasure.
Prof J NJ Berkey, of Berlin, responded
on the part of the teachers. stating the pur-
pose of the Institute, il having the effect ol
bringing the teachers of the ounty together
He said that the purpose of the Institute
was not 70 put forth stale platitudes, as the
value of education is of its own necessity
under a republican form of government
these were settled long ago. But that the
teachers met together for the purpose OF
considering what the necessities ofthe times
demanded, in order to accomplish the full
purpose for which the school system was
established
Both addresses were greeted with hearty
applause by the audience.
TUESDAY MORNING SESSION DECEMBER &c
order toy the President. Devotional service,
were conducted by Rev. Duncan, of Somer-
set. after which The mint e. of the previous
meeting were read and approved.
The committee on text book on Theory Of
Teaching. reported that they were unaui-
muu>.y in favor uf Baldwim's Art OF School
Management.
Prof Lyte continued his instruction on
the subject 81 school Government, and dwell
particularly on rewards and punishments-
stating that if corporal punishment was
used at all, it should be very sparibgly
used.
J. A. Berkey read a report on the subject
of History in the ommon Schools.
a lumber of queries were then discussed
by the teachers.
TIE remainder of the forenoon was taken
up by Prof. J. JAY Miller, who presented q
method of Rapid Arithmetic as taught in
the Pittsburgh schools. illustrating the sys-
tern with blackboard exercises.
Prof l.. b. Heiges, Principal of the Ship.
pensburg State Normal School was then in.
%troduced, and began his talks On Sense
Culture.
AFTERNOON SESSION.