The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1883-02-17

The Rockport Local Institute.
RocKfoRr. Pa, Feb. ~, issS.-The Dis
lrict institute hold on the 9th and 10th in
stants, in the public school house, nt Rock
port, was grand success. The audience
during the eutire institute was large. Par
ents and friends Of education, Of this and
surrounding districts, were present to en-
courage the occasion. Teachers from
Wentherly, Beaver Meadow, Lansford and
Lchigh, Lausanne, Penn F0rest, kidder,
Lower Tuwamensing, and other districts
were present. A great interest was mani
tested by all present. The : riday evening
session was opened by singing, "Americn," +"
Miss C. Deckie IIitiinger pr, sided at the or
gan. The following officers wero then
elected President, Co. sup't Dallieti Vice
President, o. F. Kistlerj Secretaries, j. S.
Kishbach and G. NJ. Saul. The first speak,
er, Prof. w. II. Ranch, principal of the
schools at Weatherly. d, livered an insruc-
tive and interesting address on important
educational matters. The True Object Of
Teaching The Influence OF Teaching and
The Evidence Of Education, were fully dis.
cussed by the speaker The chief Object OF
education is not to make money. We be-
lieve that education consists in developing
and strengthening the mind aud not in fill
ing it. One great object Of education is to
make good citizens Of the United States.
When we consider that there are $4,000 peo-
ple in Pennsylvania who cannot read or
write. we cannot thiuk that we pay too
much attention TO education. One Of the
best evidences of education is the general
thirst for knowledge. Children in our COM
mon schools should not only be taught ar.
Ithmatic, geography, etc, but they should
he taught tn cultivate II taste for the beauti
fsl. the true aud the good. You haye here
romantic mountains. beautiful flowers and
trees. Your children should be taught to
cultivate taste to look upon these and app
prccate them. The address was followed
by rigorous applause. An instrumental
snlo, entitled, "Warblngs at Eve" was then
excelleutly executed Ly Miss C. Beckie
IIeltinCer. The enthusiastic applause which
followed this selection WAS we'll deserved.
MIR. H. Rmker. of the Weatherly schools.
then made few instructive remarks on se-
curing regular attendance in schouls and in
citing an interest in study. MIR Rauch toll
followed with briet talk on the importance
of parents taking an interest IN visiting
the schools and seeing To the welfare ot their
children. Suut. Ballet then delivered a
very instructive and impressive address.
The following are few OF the many i'm
pnrtant topics which he fully discussed
The importance of paying higher salaries
How shall we procure the iunds to pny our
teachers literally? The necessity ot bring
ing teachers to business principles, or max
ing it n profession The remsrkable cheap
ness of conducting our public schools; How
shall we test teachers? Teachers should rs
snciate inore with the practical business
men Of the world. 1t is a great mistake Ia
| think that edu?ation consists only in book
knowledge. There is just as mach educa
| tion in building house or constructing a
| steam engine as there is in writing book
| Every mind has taste Tor some knowledge
1t is the teachers duty to find out what the
tastes Of his pupils are. / you have teach
ers that destroy the mental tastes OF your
children it is time Tor you To look Tor better
instructors. Do not test a teacher by what
children say. The only way to test teach
er is 80 come to the school aud see how hC
is getting along. columbia the Gem o
the Ocean" WAS then sang 10y the institute
A v"te ofthanks was Then rendered to MIS-
c. llittinger, Mrs Jacob llittinger. Mrs +
A. Crocker. Miss Lizzie Sol, aud Mr.. a Ga