The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1883-12-08
Teachers County Institute.

Reported for the CARBON ADVOCATE.
The Institute opened Friday morning by
singing, followed with prayer by Rev.
Watt. Prof. Brown then addressed the In
stitute on reading. There are two pro
cesses in reading, the process of analysis,
and the process of synthesis. The babe in
the cradle has only the language OF feeling
or the vital and it is therefore correct t..
commence to teach il by means of objects
There are three steps in teaching a word,
6rst the object, second the picture, third
the word picture for the object.
There are only two points in reading
which have any significance? / In
teaching child to read, it should not be
called upon to read anything which it does
not fully comprehend. The child must be
brought back to talking before it can read
correctly. The teacher should ask the
child such questions as these, tell it to mt;
talk it to me; what does it say? He closed
his remarks by reading a poem and thus
gave an illustration. OF his teaching neod-
| ing.
The Institute then sang "d3ooa By" after
which Prof. Hoetling addressed tho thst.
tute on practical school work. He made
few additional remarks on primary readin; I,
on the Deatness and appearance of schc
homes, ornameL tation, &c. For Germ n
| school, the teacher should be able TO tain
both German and English. German chill
dren must be able to make the sounds oi
the letters In teaching reading no dis
tracing objects should be used. In govern
ing Il school the teacher must be able 10
govern himself and study child nature in
all its ramifcations. Teachers should g
definite in assigning lessons and recei
nothing but the best work the pupil can o
| for them. Good conduct must be demant
ed of every pupil. Without such conduit
there can be no healthy mental growtl :.
After short recess, Prof. Sanford addressed
the Institute on primary reading and the
answering of referred questions. Children
should be taught in such a way by the
word method so that they eau recognize
new words at sight. At a certain time the
sounds of the letters should be taught, aud
this at an early age, or else their arteuia-
tion is never perfect.
The afternoon session was opened by
singing after which Prof. Sanford resumed
his remarks on primary reud:ng Pupils
should not have any books. Copy on the
board part OF the reading lesson and let
the children read IRON the board. Writing
should be taught in connection with read
ing aud the child shonld commence ly
tracing the letters. Pupils should be shown
what position to take and how to hold the
pen. He wound up his suggestions by
formulas for making colored crayon and
colored inks. Prof Noetling then address
ed the Institute on school work. The pro- =
er work Of our schools is to teach pupils
how to study. Pupils must educate them.
selves, the schools are mere helps. The pre-
lessor then gave some very valuable prin-
cipes as 10 what the teacher should be, and
how he should teach. ]. Teachers should
be cheerinl; 2. Teachers should be earaes;
3. Teachers should be enthusiastic; A.,
Manifest AN interest in the subject; 5. Be
6 n where The Ghidren's knowledge ends;
d. Begin with the knOw-concretely; 7, II
nothing to your pupils which they can ind
out themselves, or can be led to do ST.; g.,
Give all your pupils share in the recita
ton; 9 Use apparatus and illustrations;
IL. Studying must o intelligently done.
In his closing remarks, he enjoined upon
teachers to be faithful tu their trust, and he
wished to be able to meet them all again
where TEACHING is no more.
Prof Brown followed him and closed his
remarks on reading after which the lnsti
tute adjourned sine die. We can safely say
this was one of the most practical county
institutes ever held in this county.