Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-08-14

I
speaking and writing Of our Ian
guage; I'd, Acquisition OF words;
Sd, Capitals ; 4th, Punctuation; 9th,
Composition.
Prof. Hodges had the floor and
dIscoursed with ease aud ability on
the subject.
He suggested that we begin teach
ing the child to speak properly and
to correct errors in his expression
from the first day he enters school;
and, in doing this, teacher must
have a plan or line OF action map
ped out by which to govern hlmself ;
that, "a teacher can't teach, any
more than an architect can build,
without plan. The teacher must
know what he is going to do and
how to do it. That the child re
celves impressions merely thro' the
senses; that he must first be famil-
lar with an object before he can
form a mental picture or idea. 1t is
necessary to have symbols to repre-
sent these ideas, the symbols being
words, every word should correspond
to some conceived object, or action
and notifications of it. The child
cannot use a word that does not rep
resent some idea or object; and, in
teaching the names Of objects, be
sure you have him use the articles
with the name. Don't let HIM say
apple, but, an apple, and so on. The
pupil must have thought before he
can speak a sentence F; and, after he
receives the thought he cannot ex-
press it without words; therefore,
: teach him to acquire words, natural
ly. A six year old child's vocabula-
ry is very restricted consisting of
some 300 words perhaps 400 and in
expression of his thoughts he must
soon use all /; from this you see how
necessary it is to give him a speak
ing vocabulary. Correct use of Ian
guage should be taught in every
home, and, should the time ever
come when this shall be true, the
work can be carried on by the teach
er with facility and poor expression
must give way to fiuency and ease.
What proportion of the children en-
ter our public schools, at present,
that speak correctly? perhaps one
out of ten; certainly not more.
There is where the difficulty stands
in teaching language. II the child
of six years had all words necessary
to correct expression, language les.
sons would not be needed. All stud
les are pursued by means of Ian
guage, then you may see at IA glance,
how important 1t is that we acquire
its correct expression"
Prof. Hodges explained several
good methods by which proficiency
of expression might be acquired, and
, and institute took a short recess.
After recess a discussion on preced-
ing and other subjects was entered
into By the teachers and many good
points brought out, after which they
, adjourned until afternoon.
TUESDAY, AFTERNOON In.
stitute was called to order at 1:3O
p. m. A number Of teachers sang
a Selection-Miss Bessie SencindiveI
|
, at the organ.
For committee on resolutions were
appointed Messrs. w. A. Pitzer, Nj
, Il. Bowen, and E. g. Howard. The
, discussion of Primary Arithmetic
took up the time until recess, after
, which, Prof. Hodges called the at.
tention of the institute to the i'm
portance of giving lessons on color
which he explained and illustrated
with very ingenious chart devised
, and arranged by Prof. A. L. Wade
, of Morgantown, w. Va, on which
, the harmony and contrast of colors
. was we'll designated. A knowledge
, of the distinction and harmonies o.
colors is essential to success in sew
: eral occupations, and important il;
, decoration and dress and knowl
edge of this subject may rectify
, some OF the mistakes that arise from
f color blindness. TO teach this sub
e iect use water colors, cards, worst
!. eds and charts necessary for illus
9 trating lessons of color.
p After roll call the institute wa,
adjourned until Wednesday 9 a. m.
# WEDNESDAY, Aug, 11.-Thl
!. opening exercises of the institut,
4 this morning were, singing, What ;
:. friend we have in Jesus, prayer b,
e Rev. r. G. Holland, and literary sc
}, lection by some of the teachers.
i Prot. Thos. E. Hodges then tool
l up and discussed the subject, Geog
S raphy.
T. The points to be brought out were
t 1. How long should oral geogra
C ply to be continued 2. Correct
b methods of teaching intermediate
!, geography. 3. What use to be made
J. of text book. 4. How latitude anC
longitude of places are determined
|, from what measured and how meas
0 ured. 5. Map drawing. Its impor
e lance in teaching geography-How
e to teach it.
| "The Pupil should be taught ora
= geography until about the time he
J. enters the fourth reader. In the
e use of text books, do not be salts
S fed with the simple answering OF
e questions unless sure the pupils have
/ some mental conception of the
'. thought they are expressing. A par
e rot could be taught to answer, but
+ would it mean anything to him. Get
!. rid of parrot like expression amongst
: your pupils" Then Prof. Hodges
0 explained good method of teach
:. ing intermediate geography to the
+ teachers but which our space will
: not allow us to give. "Text books
b should be used as a guide and classi
S fication of geographical knowledge
!, and the teaching from it should be
y such that pupils derive practical adj