The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1884-08-28
Hooking County Teach
ers' Institute.

The Teachers Institute closed
one of its best, if not the best ses
sion vet held, on last Friday
During the term there were 1872
teachers enrolled and a respecta-
lie number Of these were present
every day and at every lesson.
The average daily attendance
was 81 3; better than it has been.
No stronger proof of the success
and interest of the Institute can
be given than the large enroll
ment and the regular attendance.
Yet compared with the number
OF applicants for certificates We
find the enrolment might have
been twice as large and then
wonld not have included the So
called teachers.
On examination Of the roll we
find that the young, enterprising
and successful teachers attend
Institutes. All the work done in
the Instituteswas strictly on the
Normal plan. The various theo-
ries were put into actual p'ac-
tice. The teachers not Only
learned methods of teaching, but
saw them applied. They learned
more of what was in the books
and much that was not in them.
Mr.. Coler had previously pre-
paired long printed slips OF prob
lens in arithmetic and sentences
in grammar. The solution Of the
fifty problems in ariihme ic bro |
out every principle that is found
in the ordinary school arithmetic,
and the sentences. though few III
number. were long and wisely
S selected. They brought out all
The leading features of the En-
glish language aud lis idioms.
Besides this. each sentence to
q certain extent furnished re
view in Literature. In fact this
was no small feature OF the ILL.,
siitute.
The author Of every en.ence
was critically reviewed before
the grammar OF the sentence was
undertaken.
Mr.. Coler also gave daily lee
lures On Theory and Practice OF
teaching and on school manage
ment. Many Of these lectures
were then discussed by the leach
ers. The experience OF The teach
ers on many OF the questions WAS
freely given.
Among the questions discussed
were, How 10 prevent tardiness
aud absence. How 10 creaie in
terest in the various branches
taught and how to teach them.--
How 10 interest directors and pa
rents. How 10 conduct literary
exercises in the schools. Meth
ods of conducting opening exei-
elcises, &c.
During each discussion there
was teacher appointed to take
no;es and TO prepare a paper Oh
The subject Of the discussion.
The feature Of these discussions
was, that they dealt with The
practical and not with the evils
or the Importance Of The subject.
MIR. S,edem had charge of the
Geography and U. S. History.
The methods OF teaching these
branches 10 primary classes was
slightly touched at the opening
and then dismissed.
Political geography depending
so much on the memory was
omitted. The leading facts in
me....emaiical aud physical geo
graphy were reviewed and led
to some lengthy discussions.
In the History the teachers
we're confined to learning the
text.
As announced for the opening
dav, Mr.. Coler gave a talk on
How to make history interest
ing" This was supplemented by
Mr.. Stedem at the close of the
Institute. He also gave the va
,ious methods Of conducting his.
tory reci'atlons and touched
upon the benefits of the study.
The teachers were shown the
benefits and Importance of bio
graphical sketches of leading
historical characters. The teach
ers also received some valuable
and practical hints in essay writ
ing aad object lessons.
! Last Wednesday aiterr Don wa:
set aside as parents and dIrec
tors day, and questions in whicl
they were particularly interested
were discussed. Some OF these
were, the location and buildln:
of school houses; the employ
ment of teachers, (in all its va
ried forms) school appliances
their duties under the law, &c.
The attendance of parents ant
directors was smaller than i
] should have been, coDsiderin:
the important part they play II
| the school system of our State.
! On Wednesday afternoon O
first week, Mr.. E. w. Work reaf
a very interesting and instructive
paper on books and reading. tie
dwelt upon the importance o