The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1886-08-07
OUR EDUCATIONAL COLUMN.
What Our Teachers are Saying and
Doing.
Teachers Institute.


at / 1 O'Clock, with Professor G.. p.
Coler, of Baltimore, Md, as the
leading instructor. The attendance
was fair and represented the best
teaching talent in the county.
Professor Colcr began the work
with fitting Introductory address
in which he indicated the nature of
the work he would do. The work
would be made as practical as pos
sible. Following the opening re-
marks, the Institute adjourned till
p. IN.
The afternoon session began with
an exercise in English, conducted
by Prof. Coler. The work in this is
admirable. 1t embraces more than
the mere parsing of words. Liter
ary culture is the aim of the work
done under the head of English.
The following sentences were fully
discussed: "There is tide in the
affairs of men, which, taken ut its
flood, leads on to fortune; omitted,
all the voyage of their life is bound
in shadows and in miseries."-
Shakespeare.
Gle who waits for dead mems
shoes may have to go a long time
| barefoot o-Ero
'Nine times out of ten, the best
thing that can happen to young
man is to be tossed overheard and
compelled to sink or swim for him
self."-Garfield.
In the discussion of these sem
tences, the important words
were parsed, the leading facts
in the lives of the authors
were brought out, and the senti-
ments expressed in the extracts
were considered. The whole eXer-
else, lasting two hours, was valua-
BILE as showing to what extent the
means of literary culture are in the
hands of every teacher.
After a brief recess, there was an
Introductory lecture on geography
by Prof. Coler. Geography can
not be taught without knowledge
Eof the nature of the mind. The
faculties and the order of their de-
volopment must be familiar to the
teacher. Perception, the faculty
earliest developed, has as its ave-
nues the five senses. Geography
has largely to do with perception,
but can aid in the development of
the imagination. Unfortunately
the subject is made mere matter
of memory. Following these gem
eral remarks, practical exercises,
subject of elementary geography
can be nationally taught to the
child from six to eight years old.
The teachers were ready to sug-
gest their own views on the points
discussed, and in their way added
to the profit and interest of the in
struction. Followed by miscella-
neous business. Adjourned till a.
m. Tuesday.
Xxx
|. Would a large open canal through the
ls.hmus of Panama have any effect on the
Gulf Stream? If so what? Which ocean level
is the higher?
. Which is better: Boston Tca-party, or
Boston Tea-Party?
3 When and where was the term "grcen-
backs" originated?
4. Many notes are now written providing
for the payment of interest annually" or
computed in such cases?
School teaching has not kept
pace with improvements in
other things in this county-either
in matter or manner, just as our
social refinement and tastes have
not kept pace with the develop
ment of the material resources of
the earth. Our greed for wealth
and gain has outrun our better
selves. But this will come round
all right by and by.
Any teacher can be of some help
to bright pupils; only the best
teachers can really aid dull chill
dren. 81 wish that boy were out of
my school," said of II dull pupil,
marks selfish if not cruel teach
er, while a genuine love for the
weak and backward shows the
heart of true teacher. Many
pupils are dull because they have
a dull teacher.
The small pupils need teacher
well informed and whose teaching
is accurate. If they are taught
enormously when small it will be
difficult to eradicate the wrong inn
preston or idea they have acquired.
Advanced pupils have the ability
to detect error, and unlearn what
may have been learned amiss.
We have gone to extremes in
in our haste to get on fast in edu-
cation. We want to put a head on
the children too soon. They grow