The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1888-02-10
TEACHERS MEETING.

A teachers meeting was held, pursu-
ant to notice, at Brass Ball school house,
Salem, Saturday, Feb. 4. As most of
the teachers were tardy, the meeting
was not called to order by Supt. Middle
camp until half-past ten O'Clock A. M.
w. +. McVicar was elected secretary.
The following-named teachers were
present, either all day or during the
afternoon
Misses Hamlin. Montgomery, Schaf.
fer, Sears, Hiserodt, Williams, Whiteley.
Burgess and Bilsborough; Messrs. Gull,
Blackman, Browne, Orvis, Knapp, Dali
rymple, Ripley, Burch and Blanchard.
The first exercise on the program was,
Music in the District School," by Mr..
Ripley. 1t seems there had been mis-
understanding on the part of some of
the teachers in regard to the time of
holding the meeting. Mr.. Ripley un-
derstood it was to be held the Saturday
before, and had then brought class of
his pupils to conduct an exercise in
vocal music, in order to demonstrate his
method of teaching it, and to give
teachers an opportunity to Judge as to
the success that had attended his efforts.
His class not being present at this
meeting, the exercise was dispensed
with, and, instead. discussion took
place. which was participated in by
Messrs. Ripley, Knapp, Browne, Dali
rymple and Supt. Middlecamp.
Messrs. Ripley and Knapp explained
their method of teaching music in their
schools and claimed that they had made
success of it.
Mr.. Browne thought it hardly advis-
able to introduce any more branches of
study in our schools at present, as the
time of the teacher, in the average
school, is already fully occupied.
Mr.. Dalrymple thought the best way
to learn music was under the tuition of
a professional teacher, as wrong start
might prove detriment rather than a
help.
| Supt. Middlecamp said he had visited
Mr.. Ripley's school and heard his
scholars sing, and if they had not any
previous instruction, he had made it q
success in his school.
An expression from all the teachers
was then called for, with the result that
but few of them considered themselves
qualified to teach music in their schools.
Mr.. W. II. Browne then conducted
an exercise in reading with class of ten
of his scholars. This was a model exer-
else, and probably regarded as such, for
although Mr.. Browne was called on to
answer great many questions, his
method of conducting the exercise was
not criticised. But the amount of work
comprised in it could hardly be crowded
into the short space of time usually al.
loted to a reading exercise in an average
school.
Meeting then adjourned until a quar-.
ter after l o'clock P. M.
First on the program for the afternoon
was Mental Arithmetic" and Mr.
Dalrymple took the floor and presented
that subject to the meeting in clear
and forcible manner. He thought a
former County Superintendent had
made great mistake when he dropped
it from the list of studies required to be
taught in our schools. He considered
its study very beneficial in developing
the reasoning powers and Strengthening
the memory. He gave some pointers
in regard to teaching it that might be oil
benefit to teachers of less experience.
Next on the program was an exercise
in geography by Mr.. Kerwin. Mr.. Ker'
win not being present, it was passed, and
lSupt. Middlecamp occupied the time
with an exercise in Business Core.
spondence," in which nearly all partici-
pated.
The question, "Where will we hold
our next Institute p was next brought
before the meeting, and an expression as
to choice of place called for.
Miss Shaffer and Messrs. Blackman
and Orvis advocated holding it at Bristol
Mr.. Orvis thought the convenience oil
the teachers was entitled to more con.
sideration than the claims of any parti.
cular locality.
Mr.. Dalrymple spoke in favor of hold.
ing it at Wilmot, as they had the largest
school room in the county and plenty OF
blackboards.
Supt. Middlecamp said it was impor.
tant to take these things into considera-
ton in locating the Institute, but if they
could be provided at Bristol, he knew of
no reason why the Institute could not
be held there.
1t was then decided to leave it to the
teachers of the county to say where ii
will be held.
Every teacher in the county is re-
quested to address letter or postal to
Supt. Middlecamp within a month from
this time, naming therein the place OF
his or her choice for holding the Insti-
tute.
An impromptu discussion on teach
ing geography then took place, in which
Miss Sears and Messrs. Dalrymple,
Brown, Knapp and Gull gave their
method of presenting that study to their
classes.
A fifteen-minutes' exercise in pro.
nounciation, conducted by Supt. Middle
camp was then taken up. A list of
words in common use, but which are
often mispronounced, were written on
the board, and the teachers called on to
give their pronunciation of them, and
authority. 1t was found that the au-
thority was not forthcoming in several
cases.
1t was voted unanimously to hold the
next meeting at Wilmot, the date to be
fixed by Supt. Middlecamp.
1t was now nearly 4 o'clock P. M, and
although the interest was still well main
tanned, it was necessary to adjourn in
order to give the teachers from the west
ern part of the county time to reach the
train. w. E. McVIcAR, Secretary.