Wichita eagle., 1888-08-01
THE PEDAGoGUES
OPENING EXERCISES.

interesting exercises were held, prepara-
tory to beginning the arduous work OF the
lay. The professors were radiant Will
miles and glistened in the splendor o.
white collars and cuffs. One could NOT
repress the solemn though that came un-
lidden How all that brave arrao OF
aundried linen were doomed to wilt and
troop as the 'last rose of summer"
Devotional exercises were conducted by
Rev T. j. Tull, Of the Dodge Avenue NJ.
L. Church.
GRAMMAR.
In the recitation in grammar the SEN
tence W; 8 developed as to its elements
principal and subordinate. The different
classes of words-thought, relative and
emotion, were considered and their posi-
zion and uses in the sentence discussed.
DIR. Larimer is very thorough IN his IN
struction in grammar He nails each
| round of the ladder firmly as he goes, thus
| making certain that when he mounts to-
| ward the summit the structure will not
| give any beneath him.
HISTORY.
A very enthusiastic class engaged with
| Prof. Naylor this morning in forming an
| outline for their future work in history.
The first stat m ut was that knowledge
| is of two kinds-classified and unciassi-
| lied, the mutually reia, ed and the unre-
| ated History was given in five relations,
o events, time, place, cause and effect
Prof Naylor impressed the idea that
| history is not merely a matter OF memory,
| 1ut philosophical study of related in
| luences, and in order to study history
| properly we should live those scenes over
n our Imagination and fancy. Thus the
dry and prosy subject of history would
acquire charms hitherto unknown.
GEOGRAPHY.
The class in geography, under the able
| leadership OF Prof. Naylor, discussed the
best method of teaching the subject to
primary pupils. How to elaborate the
ideas of ponds, lakes, seas and rivers, and
to impress upon the young minds relative
distances, positions and direction of the
cardinal points A variety of opinions
were expressed in this regard, and it was
! found that great many chung to the Old
established rule-that the sun rises in the
east, sets in the west, etc. A friendly
| rivalry was manifested in this class, and
each teacher no doubt tho Ight his methods
and theories the best that could be promul-
gated, which of course they were.
| METHODS.
The lesson in methods consisted of a very
instructive lecture by Prof. Larlmer. In
rapid manner he revie we'd the history OF
| the different scientific methods OF study.
| First he discussed the deductive method
! in that method by which we proceed from
q general truth to the particular truths.
Aristotle laid down the fundamental
principles upon which the method is based
and though he did not bring it to perfec-
ton, yet he is generally accepted as its
! founder and general promulgator.
| As example of this method the professor
cited us to our school text books in the
study of arithmetic, wherein we have first
rules laid down and then problems which
we make to confirm to the requirements
of the rule
1t was for Bacon, the founder of modern
philosophy to show the Inherent weakness
of the deductve method as used in teach
ing beginners and to introduce the Undue
tive by which we proceed from particulars
to generals 1t is based upon the princi-
pie that what is true of the parts is TT ue
| of the whole.
The professor waxed wonderous eloquent
|
very clearly the superosity of the latter
method over the former, in the beginning
of educators.
But, said the professor, "there comes a
period in the intellectual advance of the
student, when he must discard the prima-
~ uses of Induction and come up against
the question of more recondite character
armed with the pick and hammer Of de-
| duction.
The professor delivered his lecture in
| imitation of the old Grecian philosophers,
walking backward and forward across the
room. He is decidedly peripatetic in his
procliyities.
| PHYSICS.
The class in Physics under the manage
ment of Prof. Naylor, considered the sub
iect af OF Matter-its properties, general
and specific.
There was a great deal of energetic dis
cussion in the class. Especially did two
definitions of matter elicit a great deal of
yerbosity.
One gentleman said that matter is any
thing that possesses pro perties whose eX-
istenca is revealed to us through the
senses.
Another said that matter is anything
| that occupies space
The latter definition was preferred as it
was agreed that there is a subtle agent
known as ether that pervades all space
and yet our senses do not reveal it's exist
ence We fail to see the force of the argu-
ment in view of the following fact:
1t is not certain that there is such sub
stance as ether 1t is only theory and
not fully proved.
THE SOCIAL LAST NIGHT.
As previously announced, the social and
reunion of the Sedgwick county teachers
| took place in the chapel of Garfield Uni
versity last evening.
Early in the evening the ''wielders of the
the birch" began to gather from ali points
of the compass and to converge at the place
| of reunion. For a time it seemed that the
gallant young men, who can look so cruel
| ly at the poor barefoot urchin who has been
stealing green apples and who is already
suffering untold agony, would not dare to
cast glance ocross the room where the
"gentler SEX were congregated but re-
manned in obscurity until these ladies as
serted their prerogative which leap year
gives, and called them forth from their
gloom to smiling sunshine.
Just at this interesting climax Prof
Pence and lady entered the room and they
we're greeted with loud applause from the
gathered teachers which showed the well
deserved popularity which they enjoy.
| Professors Lsrimer aud Shull entered a
| few minutes later and were rendered like