The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-12-28

w
a system that will injure their work.
Our colleges have given way to pop
ular demand and the theoretical has
given place too much to the practical
We want thorough ground work of
good broad, english education. /
don't believe the common school can
give more than a good start in this di-
rection. There are many matters in
connection with these things that
should receive the careful attention of
all directors.
DR. Higbee. is nothing 80
influential on q commonwealth as
good home. 1t is impossible to carry
on at home systematic order of cul-
ture, the father and mother being both
too busy. This culture must be CARR.
ed on by the common schools. The
legislature has wisely fastened the
school to the home. In well regu
lated home you have your yard, barn,
shade trees, you have your vines, you
have all these and what for? Certain
ly for the household to weave into
their nature Il power that will influence
their whole constitution. The sur
roundings at school should be the same
as at home. Our school homes should
be in harmony with our household
homes. plead for you to make the
contrasts between your schools and
homes less broad. The DR.. concluded
with an eloquent exhortation to the
teacher 10 cultivate the spirit of the
Great Teacher to influence and guide
them in all their work.
DR.. Corss, of Kingston, was the next
speaker. He brought the fraternal
feeling of a neighboring county. 1t
the common schools were wiped out
this would mark the downfall OF the
best institution in the state. Suppose
we have large town and plenty OF
means to carry on schools, but no
schools and set of directors begin to
start a sYstem. The first thing that
is n. led is a good house. The next
thing is pure air. Foul air more than
cold air breeds disease. With best OF
care a school room will breed and
scatter disease. The best way OF ven
tilating a room is by introducing fresh
warm air. The best way to ght
building is from the left side. W.
should study, before building, estab
hshed principles. A large amount O.
apparatls ls is not necessary in a schoo
room.
Schools should be properly graded
This grading should be based upoT
our ideas of what is best adapted t
bring out our ideas of manhood.
The course of study should be baseC
upon the age Of child. As soon a
| he is old enough to take up study h
should be taken right through il. Th
) studies should he adapted to the de
velopment of the faculties that ar
most active at any particular period.
Prof. Neff said, there are thre
things you must use t. get thought
the imagination, the understanding
the feelings. We all have these pow
ers, but the power to realize truth
a power that exists to limited exten
, In the interpretationsofs. literature yo
must bring it down to your own cond
ton.
WEDNESDAY MORNING.
Devotional exercises were conducte
I by Prof. Noetling of Normal School.
Supt. Monroe spoke on ileratur
i Many books are being written all II
: time. The question comes to US, VIII
shall the boys and girls of our Ian
read? Literature may be taught
i some extent in all grades. The val'
of literature is that it gives mental dl
= cipline, opens up the minds of Il
u pupils and instils in them high i'd
af human life. There must be chan!
in the methods of teaching literatuI
!. heretofore we have taught more Il
II history of literature than literatu
itself. A superficial knowledge of t
IL whole realm of text. book is not
valuable as one or two master pieces
o. an author. We should begin with son
81 thing simple, and come down to tho
d. authors whose writings are more comp
81 Gated. We should not commence t
IL study of literature by studying |
G, dates of an authors birth and dea
al and by the study of his life, but the
nc things come after the pupils ha
y; studied many of the authors writin
ru We should have our pupils write
ne descriptions of the pictures depicted
II. the poems they study. They sho'
Oh verify the characters described. P'
nj odcals may be introduced as aids
ne the study of literature, besides they
us valuable as supplementary readl
's' Observing authors birthdays is va
able exercise in creating spirit
IN literature. There is great value
ny what we call memory gems. Alw
en- be careful that these gems appeal
le- the understanding of the pupil. Lite
'ie ture is taught too much as mere diagri
'h ing and parsing without giving
'h' beautiful thoughts of the authos
Mr.. Sterner of Alton spoke next
0s Mistakes of Teaching.' The n
~ ~ important question that can be as
~ 49, is how to live complete life,
oh answer to this implies correct NOR
-, For the Public schools are to a q
Nv, extent responsible. Teachers she
Tne ho seek for the best methods. She
10 10 have correct idea of the aims
'ar ,a education. Should understand
.a .ai principle that underlies educat
o. ." The efforts to develop the pupil II
g. 60 be in accordance with these princiE
vill oil We can't adapt the pupil to the "
w. M but the work must be adapted to
md , pupils stage of development, Te'
,st @ ers make a great mistake when t
% hs permit pupils to omit studies, adaI
MD to the development of the mind, tho
ave- they may not seem to be 80 pract
wv others, Just because their parents
,o,. not want them TO study these branc
rao ~ Teachers make a mistake when
'o,s " lay down a great many rules on
ow first m rning, his laws being challel
a." eas to the pupils. ais general law sh
,rv , be, "Do Right" Many mistakes
a;y,. the results of ignorance, others
u laziness and oarelessness. Every te
no er who wishes to succeed, should
T T, willing to undergo the labor invo
oas ~ in thorough preparation of his wor
@ ar, Prof. Neff of Cambridge, Mass,
"'o cussed the subject of Geography.