Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-01-08
TEACHERS INSTITUTE.
For the HERALD.

rul tle HERALD.
Teachers, friends, and officers Of the
public schools should al attend the Insti-
tute on the l4th, Of January with deter
minaiion to make it profitable meeting.
Much good can be done at iheao confer
cuoos by having "auxious seats,' din
cuirics, and o frco discus ION Of the most
important subjects pertaining to school
work. These meetings hryc been poorly
attended ia the past by school officers. 1t
is hoped that You gentlemen will not inn
ar.nc that these Institutes are mere safety
valves for over-chargcd Theory and
practlce-Ohicct demonstrating hobby
professors. They are held with view to
the improvement of our public schools,
and il therefore bohooves every officer to
attend and Join in the discussions. We
are undergoing educational reforms every
wear. add hence it is tho dnty Of all con-
cerned to attend these meetings that they
may keep pace with the movements.
am 70 teacher, a common school teacher-a
ram common one, doubtless, yet have a
kind Of hankering for the business, and
hence would ike to be in harmony with
the "rowcrs that be-" for one then.
want Your Directors TO attend this con-
ference and. Just rs much "a in you
laveth. teach me hoic TO do as we'll as whdt
TO do. and / will do 10 If possible, for /
now recognize the fact that ] must soon
dance TO the tune you whistle or sling my
blankets and git ! hope, however,
that when You rise and address the chair,
YOU will talk 10 the point and stop when
Won have reached it. for don't want you
10 lecture me and stun me like a Christ
mas turkey, and pour ON and pound in
after am completely full Of your plans
and projects. Since some Of you doubt
less received your "larnin' while others
were engaged at throwing paper pellets at
the teacher when his back was turned, |
feel gnre that you will be able to inform
the Institute inst how to manage the
"wad business and many other perpiex-
inc difficulties that battle the skill Of the
most virilant teachers. In giving rs your
nlans AZ the Institute, please remember
that there is some limit 10 orr capacity
for receiving and retaining things, at least
in n way to be useful to MS. Then don't,
stuff Ms too full e your plans Of
chow TO teach the young idea to shoot"
lest they might, perchauce, give rs tho
dvspepsa Of "mcntcllect." Let us all
attend them. for the sake of harmonizng
and increasing our common interests in
free education. Let each one resolve to
make the conference interesting and in
struciive oy giving his opinions, raising
his objections, and making his inquiries
Let there 10 mutual interchange of
Thought and feeling on every topic pro-
posed
Every member Of the Institute ought to
have something to say on some subject.
Something may be learned from every one.
Remember that no long or stilied talks
are NdnttN. ouoIt ldlhH ave always p'o''
The remark should be short aud to the
point. One thing more; can't VIC have
little real teaching A olasl drill oc-
casionally would aTcrd our Directors as
well as teachers fine opportunity to
offer criticism, and 10y this mode Of pro-
ccdurc We poor pedag' gues would observe
inst how the Directors Of our respective
schools would IKE theirclasscs tort and by
conforming ourselves TO emit their whims,
we should run less risk Of being court
martalci, OK having to sling onr blankets
aud git In conclusion, would ear
nestlv urge upon all the friends of our
public schools tho vital importance Of at
tending these annual Institute. Attend,
/ feeling that your presence is needed, and
I that your influence however ,light, may
be for some good. Don't remain at home
hoping that VIC will have a good Institute
without you, The witty Gosh says,
diving on hopo is like living on the
wind. a good way to get phull, bat a poor
way 20 get phatt.
Tr.,ffru