Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-12-23
Parnassus Institute.
Reported for the SPECTATOR. I


The teachers of North River and Pastures
districts, per call Of Supt. Fl. S. Roller, as
sembled on the 7th inst. at 10 O'Clock A. M.
in the elegant lower hall of the Parnassus
Graded School house, which is occupied by
Mr.. f. .. Peaie, as principal teacher for
this term. The meeting was called to order
by H. s. Roller, Supt. Of Schools of Angus
ia county, who asked ]. N. Hanna to act as
Secretary pro. tenn. The session was open
ed, with organ and vocal music by the COM
mittee and an appropriate prayer by Rev.
]. G. Dice. Short addresses were then de-
livered by Rev. J. G.. Dice, Rev. II. A. Ga
yer, and j. N. Hanna. On motion, J. N.
Hanna was elected Secretary, and g. n.
Taylor assistant.
The time for holding sessions was fixed
by vote, as follows Morning sessions,
from A. M. to 70 NJ; evening sessions from
l to T M night sessions, from 81 to any
hour, od lib. of Institute.
The discussion on ''School Discipline, and
How Far 1t Should Extend,' was oper1ed
by M. W. Bucher, followed by others in
concise and poinred remarks. After an
nouncement, by Supt. Roller, of "Things
Seen in School-rooms, and of appointment
of persons to comment upon them at Eight
session, there was music by the committee,
and on motion, the morning session ad-
journed.
At P. NJ Supt Roller called the Insti-
tute to ORDER Exercises were preceded by
vocal and organ music. Jac. A. Michael
opened the discussion of s.Methods of
Teaching Beginners to Read" and was fol-
lowed by B. B. White, j. N. Hanna, and
E. L. Houff. The discussion of "Peculiar
Methods of Performing Certain Arithmetic
Operations was discussed by G. M. Kibler
and B. B. White. After music, the Insti-
tute adjourned at P. M.
jsAt the night session, Dec. 7th, the session
opened with music by the choir, Supt. Roll
er in the chair, and Asst. Sec G. Fl. Taylor
at his table.
1st. Mr.. J. A. Michael, on subject of
''Bank Blackboard" spoke succinctly and
well, showing the Importance of the free
use Of the blackboard in the school-room
Snd, Recitation, "The Polish Boys" by
Miss M. W. Larke, was very fine indeed
3rd. Essay, by Mrs. Nora Hanger, upon
well written and read.
subject, THE Gamblers Wife," showed de-
cided talent and cultivated taste.
9th. Essay, "Home," by Miss Lydia
Hahn, was warmly appreciated by the au-
dience.
9Th. Miss Minnie R. Cross's recitation of
"The Mariners Dream was very good
1t was followed by G. 81. Tag lor, humor-
ously, on "Suiting.''
8th. J. II. Brunk, on "Chalk- Dust"
spoke well, and gave amusing illustrations
upon the blackboard.
9th. s. H. Good spoke well on "Assign-
ment of Night Lessons, and the Proper
Time for Hearing Them.''
10th. MIR. b. Vint spoke upon the subject
of Hearing Lessons Without Text books"
He did it justice. He was followed
by Supt. Rollerin a very eloquent man.
ner upon "The Chalk Question: By
his earnest request at the morning ses
session, box about as large as cigar
box was filled with amusing and practical
questions upon discipline and other school
topics, written upon slips Of paper. Prof.
FL S. Roller read them and called upon any
teachers that he chose, or asked for an
swers promiscuously. After music, the In
stitute adjourned at late hour.
The morning session, December Sth, was
opened viii viii ;aisic aj by the choir. and feel
ing and appropriate prayer by Rev. Fl. A.
Gaver.
1st. Committee on Resolutions to re-
port at night session, composed of J. N.
Hanna, VIM. A. Byerly, JAG. F. Landes, B
Vint, Misses M. w. Larke and Mildred G.
Watkins.
2nd. Committee on "Roll of Honor" to
examine roll after night call and report the
names of teachers present at every roll-call
during the entire session of the Institute,
composed of E W. Crosby, J. F. Tapscott,
and M. L. marlborough.
3rd. Committee on Important Subjects
for Discussion To-day and o-night, and to
report as early as possible, composed of E
o. Peale, NJ. W. Bucher, Jscob A. Michael,
and others, having been appointed by Supt.
Roller, were announced by him.
The last committee, on Important Sub
iects, reported soon: "What is the best In
centive to Study?'' 'sAre District School
Institutes of Practical Value to Teachers,
Patrons, and Pupils?" and several other
>all-chosen questions.
S,der the head of unfinished business,
MIR. NJ. Montgomery diagrammed some
dlfncultN <,tences upon the blackboard. In
answer to<Sestions, he showed good
knowledge Of subject. He was followed
by MT. .. 4. Ial lAott in some eloquent re-
marks upon obscurd ID questionable forms
OF sentences which are in harmony with
the languages from which ey are derived,
and portions of which he aAssrd cannot be
parsed correctly by any autho.s,of text
books now in use. In answer to az sstion
written by teacher upon the blackBo.-d.
asking if correct principles Of grammar c0h>
tanned in any other textbook but Harvey's
may be taught in the schools, Supt. Roller
wrote the answer, "Emphotically, yesw-
Mr.. VIM. A. Byerly followed in an animated
manner on ''Prim. Grammar and Teaching"
Mr.. Thos Fl. Keller read very good essay
ON Geography" and then spoke upon
Heating Recitations all over the School
room" He was followed by VIM. A. By
erly, who told what he would do with pu-
pills for pinching, launching. giggling, &C.
He was followed by Mr.. G. M. Kibler upon
the subject of "Boys and Girls Going for
Water and to Make Fires, ad ib." Mr.. B.
B. White spoke upon the subject of 'sTa-
king Is or 20 minutes to Dismiss School,
and the Proper Way for Pupils to Enter
and Leave the School-room." He was fol-
lowed by MIR. E. G. Ralston on ''Nodding to
Pupils Living farthest from School to Re-
tire First" &c. MI. B. B. White spoke
very sensibly, pointedly, and feelingly up
On the subject, ''Should we retain Pupils
predisposed to Consumption in the Schools
and compel them to inhale Chalk-dust,
when the Doctor says it is injurious?" Up
on motion, after music by the Parnassus
Band, the Institute adjourned at 10 M.
The Institute was called to order by Supt
Roller at P. M. After music by the choir
Mr. S. Fl. Good opened the discussion upon
Fixing the Attention of Beginners and
Teaching Them to Spell" and was follow
ed by Messrs. B. B. White, G. M. Kibler,
and M. W. Bucher. Messrs. E. l.. Houff
and J. A. Michael spoke next of Teaching
Beginners in Arithmetic" and gave suita-
bic explanations upon the blackboard
Classification and Arrangement, with two
Teachers in One Room" was discussed hu-
morously and we'll by G. H. Taylor; serious
ly and earnestly by ]. N. Hanna. Question
by Committee on Important Subjects
''Are District Institutes of Practical Value
to Teachers, Pupils, and Patrons?" was
discussed freely and well by Messrs. B.
Vint, G. Fl. Taylor, E. L. Houff and others,
with Mr.. B B. White in the chair pro tem
The question was emphatically decided in
the affirmative by vote of the Institute. Mr.
R. Houff declaimsd very concisely upon
1.-The Best Incentive to Stlldy: Messrs B.