Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1886-04-10
INSTITUTE CLOSES.
What the Pedagogues Did
Yesterday.
Many Important Educational Mat
ters Interestingly Discussed
, by the Teachers.

The County Teachers Institute CLOSED
their labors yesterday in the church cor
ner Sixth and Fort streets, where all the
sessions have be en- held.
The Intermediate and Primary sec
tions met together in the church proper
Miss Mary J. Titus, Of the State Norma
School at San Jose, occupied nearly the
whole session in discussing the work o.
these departments. The lady made tn,
bold bat true statement that bad read
ing is an almost universal defect in the
schools. Yet children learn to read
well easily if they are properly taught.
One thing to keep in mind is to keep o
bright picture before the child to stimu
late to effort. Another is not to push
the child forward too rapidly. Let each
step be well secured before advance is
attempted. Then the leaner will not
drawl in reading. See that the child
has comprehended the thought before
an attempt is made to read the sentence
A taste should be cultivated for good,
animated, expressive reading, and with
proper effort this good result can be ac'
complished. A good way to keep up a
bright interest is to tell the class little
stories, travelling into new fields outside
the regular lesson. Then in reading, as
in nearly all other school work, patient,
continual drill must be practiced. KeeT
at the point until it is perfected.
The Grammar section opened duly al
"a. NJ. in the class room. Prof. Mel.
vile Dozier stated that he had arranged
with Miss L. A. Packard and Mrs. A. s.
Averill for addresses on English litera-
ture. Miss Packard related her sue.
cessful experience in cultivating taste
among her pupils for reading the works
Of the best authors Of the language.
Mrs. Averill followed, detailing her
methods in class in the studying Of
authors. Mrs. G. B. Jones urged place
in the schools for the best periodicals
published. Mr.. F. II. Clark said the
, cheap editions Of good authors now
being published put the standard works
within the reach Of every one. Prof.
Melville Dozier addressed the teachers
on the subject of civil government. The
history of its development was touched
upon briefly. The children in the pub
lie schools should be made to under.
stand the principles, purposes and main
features Of our own form Of government.
The origin and intention of the consti-
tuition should be made familiar to the
minds Of the pupils.
After recess discussion ensued on
.What constitutes the essentials OF
geography, and to what extent should
text books be used Mr.. James N.
Pemberton opened the discussion and
strongly advocated oral instruction in
the beginning OF the study. Mr.. II. ID.
Burnett explained what he considered
to be the essentials of the study. Miss
NJ. NJ. Knapp, Principal of the Normal
primary classes gave her method OF
teaching the rudiments of the science
by oral lessons on the country around
with which the pupils are familiar.
Miss Belle Pierce, of Pasadena, closed
this discussion, getting at summary Of
all the different views expressed. She
recommended the use Of q text book on
the elements OF the study which she
thought very good. The teachers gen
orally held with her on this point.
Miss Titus thought it an excellent
practice to cultivate in the minds Of pu-
oils a love for reading books of travel.
Mr. W. At. Mcfadden said the news
papers are great help in giving children
correct idea Of the geography of the
country where they are printed.
Following this was debate on the
necessity OF recesses. Messrs. r. i.
Pierce and j. N. Keran spoke on the
proposition. They took the ground that
they we're utterly unnecessary and held
that great evils result from the mingling
together OF the children at recess times.
Miss Alice Patton questioned the good
Of depriying children Of the primary
grades OF their recess. MIR. Keran wanted
calisthenic drill in the school substi.
tuted for the play outside. Mr.. A. w.
plummer said the teachers should be
very careful to guard with q watchful
eye the conduct Of the children at ro-
cess.
Mr.. W. s. Reavis took this same view
of the matter. lie thought with this
precaution the recess a good feature.
MIR. w. F. Bray expressed the opinion
that boys and girls had to be taught to
look out for themselves.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
At1.I5P. NJ. the institute reconven-
ing, Mr.. G. W. Arbuclle being present,
sung one Of his specialties. 10 the great
qualification of the assembly. A me-
mortal service was then held in memory
Of the late City Superintendent, L. D.
Smith. Superintendent Hinton opened
with very feeling address on the de-
ceased. He was followed by Mr.. Geo.
d. Rowland, who spoke of Mr.. Smith as
teacher. General ]. r. Briefly paid a
touching tribute to Mr.. Smiths memory
and his services as Principal of the
High School.
Mr.. w. f. Bray touched on the pri.
vate character Of the deceased. Mrs.
Averill spoke with enthusiasm of Mr.
Smiths many good qualities. Miss M.
X. Scott read Mathew Arnold's
death in Arabia" A series of resolu.
tons were read by Mr.. f. II. Clark,
chairman Of the committee appointed to
draft memorial on the deceased. On
motion Of Mr.. s. II. Butterfield these
were adopted by rising vote.
City Superintendent, w. nj. Friesner
here rose and approaching Mr.. Hinton
made to that gentleman brief but very
warm address, expressing on the part o.
and commendation of the manner
10 which Prof. Hinton discharged
the duties Of County Superintendent
He then handed MIR. Hinton paper,
which proved to be a receipt for $50
subscribed by the teachers Of the county
and paid over for the purchase of q com
plete set Of the encyclopedia Brittanica,
bound in half morocco. as a token o.
their esteem Of the gentleman's officia
acts. This was thing utterly unex
pected by Prof. Hinton and greatly
moved him. He could hardly speak sc
visibly affected was he by this mark Of
appreciation.
Mr.. Arbuckle again sang one of his
charming specialties, and then Mr.. F
H. CLARK presented the report Of tn,
Committee on Resolutions, which wa,
adopted. The committee, ON reading
the minutes OF the secretary, reported
the same correct.
State superintendent Weleker ther
spoke to the resolution calling for
Deputy superintendent, and hearth,
approved the plan. The work of dis
tributing text books, which hereafter
will have to go through the Superintend
ents office, would OF itself justify sucl
an officer. A committee was appointed
to bring the matter before the County
Board Of Supervisors. The committe,
comprises Messrs. W. w. Seaman, +. +
Little, J.. N. Keran, w. F. Bray and
Miss NJ X. Scott.
The Institute then adjourned sine die
The teachers say it is one of the mos
harmonious and profitable sessions eve
held. The resolutions referred to abov,
are as follows;
REPORT OF COMMITTEE on RESOLUTIONS
Resolved, That we return our cordia
thanks to those who have acted as on
instructors at this session; to all VIII,
have contributed papers or addresses an'
have taken part in the discussions of tn
I..ttl,.fa. and aanaciaIiv to those " Ia