Wichita daily eagle., 1885-08-28
INSTITUTE NOTES.

The last day of the institute. Thursday
at the usual hour the institute closed. The
exercises throughout the day were mostly
reviews of the work of the last month, ali
going to show that good. work has been
done, and that a majority of the teachers
have been greatly benefited, and when they
take their positions in the schools this year
they will be better qualified to fill those
positions, and the people of this county will
be able to judge as to the difference between
those that have attended and those that have
not attended the institute. The question
may be asked by some, what has been or
will be accomplished by the lnstitutes The
first question may be answered, but not the
second; for time only can answer that, but
of one thing We can rest assured, that Is,
there has been a trial such as no other class
or profession makes. While the teachers
improve by practice, yet that is not consid-
cred enough, but between terms they devote
one months time to work by which they
are better qualified than before, SO that al
though there may be good teachers that do
not attend the institute, they are the excep-
ton, not the rule.
There is great lack of appreciation on
the part of the people as to the efforts put
forth by the teachers of this county. There
is at least 175 that have been attending the
institute. They have paid to the people of
Wichita at low estimate $500 for board,
then each has tuition fee to pay and many
unavoidable expenses besides loss of four
weeks time. Some think that all the teach
ers attend for it TO enable them to pass a
good examination. If that is all, they had
better stay at home and study their text
books, but that is not the purpose Of the
institutes, although there has to be certain
amount Of text book work, yet the main OBJ
ject is to be able to make the application of
the best methods Of teaching we have
learned to our work in the school room,
and by so doing give the children the ben
eft of the teachers experience at the insti-
tute. The teacher does not derive much if
any benefit financially, for as the law now
stands person is not compelled to attend,
and until a law is passed making it obliga-
tory on the part of the teacher to attend or
not be allowed TO teach in the public schools,
then and not till then will
the teachers be benefited financially.
In this connection it would be proper to
say that we haye had the largest as well as
one of the most successful institutes ever
held in the state and large share of the
success is due to the efforts of County Supt.
Hammond, and the instructors, Messrs.
Fitzpatrick, Jay and Pence. Mr.. Fitzpatrick
has made a host of friends not only among
the teachers but among the people in Wich-
ita. by his gentlemanly ways, also by his
knowledge shown in his department and his
method of imparting his knowledge.
Messrs. Hammond, jay and Pence are full
of energy and work for the interest of the
teachers, and they as well as Mr.. Fitzpatrick
have endeavored to do their whole duty,
and il is the unanimous verdict of all the
members that they have made the institute
a grand success, and now as the meetings
have closed We shall separate for our duties
III various parts of the county and if every
one is true to themselves and make use of
what We have gained it will be pleasure as
well as an honor to have been member of
the Sedgwick County Institute, consisting of
25l members-the grandest and best insti-
tute ever held in the state of Kansas.
REPoRTER.