Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-07-21

satisfactory work than il he had had
greater humber.
+ After recess the subject Of Language
Lessons was introduced by Prof. NIL
Ter: Begin with scholars the first day
Of school. Object ;-acquisition of
words to express ideas. In teaching
this The object should be presented !,
next, II possible, the picture, then the
word. "A few minutes each day should
be devoted to- this study. Have the
pupils. tell OF. something that they
have seen or some story they have
heard. AS the class advances farther
have them write the stories in books
provided for the purpose. Next IN
troduce letters, business forms, &c.
The hour for closing having arrived
the Institute adjourned, ,5t
Wednesday, third day. The Insti-
tute was opened by prayer by Rev.
r. G. Holland of the Lutheran
Church; after singing Pull for the
Shore" by the teachers, Supt. Dodd
opened the discussion upon the sub
ject of Arithmetic. The following
Is the substance of some of his re.
marks: "I would teach ideas Of
length and volume by having the pu-
pills take measures of their surround.
ings and of volumes Of substances.
Fractions may to a small extent be
combined with the fundamental rules,
and denominate numbers should fol-
low Immediately after. A reason
should be given for every step in de-
nominate numbers and for this reason
the analytical method of reduction
should be employed" Prof. Miller
followed by some explanations and
questions upon Longitude and Time.
said: T" A teacher who does not In
vest In his profession can not expect
large returns from it." i.gasa
After short recess Major Lee form
ed the teachers into class in calls,
themes and emphasized the inpor.
lance of the, exercise in the school
room. This was followed by an in
structivei exercise in the vowal
sounds. He was of the opinion that
one lesson in three days should be
given to silent reading. The Insti.
tute then adjourned until afternoon.
Afternoon session. After singing
"The Half has Never Been Told by
| the teachers, Mr.. E. Holmes Lamar
gave some useful hints in teaching
United States History. .s'tObject,
first, to gain information second, to
establish desire for further knowl.
edge" "Those things which are use
full should be taught and that which
is useless thrown out" Mrs. Pitcher
then read a paper upon the subject.
History is a record of what happen.
ed from which we may learn what
will happen under the same condl.
| tiOns.o Prof. Miller in his remarks
upon the subject, said that teachers
should show the influence of great or
minor events upon important subse-
quent history. "Al poems that will
assist pupils in remembering inpor-
tant events should be used. A num-
Der of Longfellow's and poems of other
authors tell of important periods Of
our history. 1t is good plan to ask
the questions, who? what =? when ?
and why? in regard to events. All
the time should not be given to bat
ties. The settlement and organiza-
| ton of new states should also receive
attention. Some time should be given
to newspaper reading.' Major Lee
thought that some attention should
be given to the rise Of political Opin-
ions and the influence of the church.
| Among the instances of the latter he
mentioned the decrease OF gambling,
incompetence and lotteries. ~
After a short recess Prof. Miller
said in an address upon The Qualifi-
cations of a Teacher" First he
should have sufficient knowledge.
Some of our teachers in the State can
be compared to. the square peg in a
round hole. An incompetent teacher
can never command the respect of his
pupils" The question box was open.
ed. Prof. Miller in answer to queS-
ton in regard to corporal punishment
said, that rod should be used, but
seldom if, at all. During the day
thirty.two gentlemen and thirty
three ladies were enrolled. The In
stitute adjourned until O'Clock in the
evening. , 49, I
Evening session. Major Lee de-
livered an entertaining lecture upon
the. subject Black the. Heels OF
your Boots" which was but another
way of expressing the addage, !" Be
what you appear to be-" The lectur-
er exhibited some of oar principal
shams in their true light. ''''o
Thursday, fourth day. Institute
opened by singing by those present
and prayer by the Rev. Hedges OF
Hedgesville. Prof. Miller took UP
the subject of I" Elementary Arithme-
TIC" He said -that-a great deal of oral
instruction should be given. Be sim
pie in words. Explain process in
some cases before naming it. He il.
Illustrated by blackboard exercises.
Major Lee then explained some meth.
DDS Of presenting decimals.
Af'tera recess Major Lee occupied
the time until noon with description
OF the organization of the army of the
United States as an aid in explaining
the different operations of war OF
campaign. h91lafs11e 4SE q4E53o e.
Afternoon session. Mrs. Pitcher
read a paper upon "The object OF
Physiology.',l cit cannot be taught
from text book until a good knowl-
edge of other subjects is attained, but
it may be taught orally. 1t has been
successfully taught in Maryland and
could also be taught in West Va"
Major Lee advised that in teaching
the subject a teacher should say moth
ing that could not be proved. He
also advanced some argument as to its
Importance as a study, which need
not be published here. Prof. Miller
then took the floor upon the subject,
1.-THE Temperature of the School
Room" GAS most school rooms are
arranged the thermometer should be
about three feet from the floor, in
front of the teachers desk. The
ventilation should be good. The
window sash should be raised upon
its edge lengthwise along the sash.
The board should be about ten inches
wide. This gives ventilation without
a draught.' He then gave some in
teresting accounts and statements in
regard to the early history Of our
state. Major Lee took up the subject