Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-08-03
INSTITUTE, PAST AND PRESENT.

Yesterday Sedgwick county's teachers in
Stltute commenced.
find that in. looking over the past that
there is quite difference between the insti-
tutes of today and those of the past. re-
member the one held in the old Eagle hall
about twelve years ago by General Frazier,
then state superintendent. 1t was composed
of the teachers of Sedgwick, Butler, Sumner
and l think some other counties. There was
between thirty and forty attended.
The general brought his assistants with
him, and jolly set they were. think Prof.
Wherrell was the jolIiest one in the lot. Gen
eral Frazier was an honest, earnest and hard
working man. He was one of those strict
old Scotchmen that believed in form and
ceremony and they must be carried cut to the
letter, although the heavens should fall, as
he expressed it.
Heswas never known it smile. The nearest
he ever come to it was one time when Prof
Wherrell was explaining his sand map or
mud pie, as some had named it. and was
looking around for some approving smile,
the general remarked that if man knew
how to make one there was no need of it but
if he did notssknow how he could not do it,
Wherrell did not appear to see any joke
about it, but it was a great. thing in the gen
eral to unbend enough to say it. He was
very anxious to open with religious exercises
He made the prayer himself for few times
but finally said it was shame that the clergy
Of Wichita did not-help and not let layman
conduct the services After that there was
help enough.
The institute..was conducted in peculiar
manner. We did not have much to do, no
studies, no discussions, but lectures by,Frazier
and his ssaids ON their respective hobbies
Frazier could give more figures and dates
than ever heard before.
Wherrell was great on buiding.relief maps
in sand. One man had little touch of the
KinderEGarten. Another was book agent
his.book Wesreceived some benefit, but not
much. Each one was required to have a
note book and pencil and to write down the
most prominent points, as all books were to
be examined and graded on the last day.
There..was q couple of girls that said it was
impossible for them to write it down. so they
would borrow my book at night and copy
fromfit. and on the last day there was three
books precisely alike. VI hen the committee
examined them they marked one Zoe, one 10
and the other CO., and one Of Wichita's smart
estslawyers was on that committee.
OF
but the strides that have been made since is
amazing, under the efforts of Zimmerman,
Bruce, Miss Benton and Mr. Hammond as
superintendants, and McKim, Woodward,
Copley, Hammond, Ross, Hoilock
and Fitzpatrick as conductors, so
that - instead OF thirty teachers twelve
years ago, yesterday the institute opened
with ninety members, number that is re-
Inarkable for the first day. The prospect is
good for large number this year, and ar
rangements have been made to accommodate
all. We have an able list of instructors with
Mr.. Jay as conductor, his name of itself is
guarantee OF success Under him we have
Nessrs. Hammond, Pence and Schulz. Mr..
Jay has been with Us SO long that we know
that all will be more than satisfied.
Mr.. Hammond as usual takes hold of his
classes in his usual energetic business man
ner.
Mr. Pence has been with us one year, and
made very favorable impression.
Mr. Schulz is the principal of the Wichita
high school, and has good reputation as an
instructor.
The business of the session was mostly de
voted to the arranging of the program and
getting the classes into shape to work.
Yours JOTTER