The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-01-11
Teachers Inst,tute.
THURSDAY MORNING,


Institute called to order by Supcrlnten.
dent Grimes. lie announced, as commit.
tee on resolutions, Messrs. Peaer, Conrad
and Harmon, and Misses Rupert, and
Spear. The teachers joined in singing
"Nearer My God to Thee" and Rev.
Strunk led in devotional exercises.
Prof. Curran, OF the Bloomsbury Normal
School, was introduced, who gave tall,
on Natural Sciences. He dwelt at some
length on the importance Of teaching this
subject in the public schools.
Prof. Little, of Washington, d. G., was
introduced. After he distributed pencils
furnished by the Eagle Pencil Company,
and drawing blanks furnished by Ivison,
Brakeman, Taylor & Co., he took up the
subject of drawing and gave the teachers
an exercise in freehand drawing.
Miss Brooks, Superintendent of Lack
awanna county, gave an exercise in
Civil Government. Prof. Johonnot now
took the floor and spoke ut some length
upon the importance of teaching Civil
Government in the public schools. The
teacher should begin with the officers Of
the township first. Teach their functions,
etc., go from these to those of the county,
and then the State and nation. This is
teaching of the most practical kind and
what will be Of use to the pupil, as a cit
izen. He then took up the subject of OBJ
ject teaching. On being questioned as to
the phonetic spelling, he said it should not
be introduced in course of study until
after the third year. He gave several ex-
amples when early phonetic spelling had
completely spoiled their graphic spelling
The Institute adjourned to meet at 1.9O
p. m.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Prof. Johonnot took up as his subject,
Glow can we keep the Primary Pupils en-
gagged while not reciting? ?" He advocated
having a children's corner in which the
little ones may retire to play when their
tasks are completed. They should have
building blocks, and be encouraged to in
vent, and construct, the teacher extending
his aid when their ingenuity is exhausted.
Teachers should carefully look after the
physical comforts of their pupils. He Sc
verely condemned the custom of ventilat-
ing from the windows.
j. G. Brown, editor of the Republican, fa-
vored the institute with an address. He ad-
vocated a happy medium between the
fogyism of the old education, and the ia
natical enthusiasm met with in advocates
of the new.
Prof. Little continued his drawing exer-
else Of the morning, giving the teachers
many excellent hints on this subject.
Miss Helen Potter addressed the teach
ers for short time. She gave very
practical talk on reading, and suggested
that much taught in schools could be left
out of the course of study to make room
for more practical things. She gave a
reading Jimmy Brown on Art" After
that selection from the "Merchant of
Venice" and humorous selection entitled
"Their Way"
Prof. Johonnot talked for short time
on the Demands of the New Education"
He said that the word and sentence meth
Cd should be used in reading Object
teaching should be systematic and con-
nected. Language should always be SUBJ
ordinate to thought. Instruction should
be based upon the experience of the child.
Time for'adjournment arrived, the talks
were finished