The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-01-06
county Instituse.

The annual convention of the teachers |
Of Columbia county assembled In the Opera |
House, this town, on Monday Dec. Goth, at
2 o'clock p. m.
Superintendent Grimes having called the |
Institute TO order, Rev. w. O. Leverett con- |
Quoted the devotional exercises by reading |
q portion Of the scriptures and offering
prayer.
Rev. ID. J. Waller, Sr., was then intro |
duced, who welcomed the teachers In few
pertinent remarxs, after which all were en- |
tertained with music.
The committee on arrangements reported |
the following officers who were Immediate
ly elected by the Institute President Prof
Grimes; vice-P President Ii. 9. Clark; Sec |
retary. I. II. Winter; Treasurer, ]. y. Kline,
and Door-keeper, Mr.. Grotz.
j. G. Brown and Prof. Wilbur then re.
sponded TO Rev. Walters address In short
but very interesting addresses. After
which music appropriate for this season.
"Silently Failing Snow"
"Tbe Dignity Of Common Schools was
then ably discussed by Prof. Clark, princi-
pal OF the Berwick schools.
DIR. Waller followed In an address on
Primary Physiology" The DIR. gave the
following necessary conditional principles
l. Teachers should have clear con-
cepiion Of the object Of the study-the pro-
motion Of the physical well-being Of the
community and especially Of the children.
2. Should understand the mental state
Of those with whom you are dealing.
| Should cultivate the senses, which are the
Rate-ways from the external world TO the
| mind.
8. Must believe what you wish to
teach"
Music-"Thoughts Of Wonder"
Prof. Grimes then announced that the
institute would be divided for the morning
sessions-the primary teachers to report in
the Third Street school building and all
others In the Opera House.
After few remarks by DR.. Waller aud
Prof. Grimes concerning the evening lee
lures, the Institute sang the "Long Metre
Doxology" and dismissed for the day.
TUESDAY MORNING.
The exercises Of the day were opened by
singing "All Hail the Power of Jesus
Name;" and reading Of scripture and pray
er by Rev. Manhart.
Prof. Neff, the first speaker, introduced
the subject Of Reading" which underlies
everything. "In teaching reading you are
teaching every subject. Reading aloud is
no test as to whether you have the thought
it is not necessary to give it in the Ian
guage Of the book. II pupils have thought
they will give proper gesture Therefore,
gestures need not be taught"
After singing, Mr.. Curry gave very in
teresting and instructive talk on the sub
ject of "History."
Mr.. W. @. Johnston next spoke on the
subject "How to Improve our Public
Schoo ls1" followed by music and short
intermission.
When Institute was called to order again
Prof. Neff continued the subject Of reading.
"We get thought from sentence and lam
guage-develop sentence by coming in con-
tact with that which is to be impressed"
DR.. Waller then discussed the subject Of
"Self Education" "No one is too old to
begin-No one will ever become educated
merely by the use Of hand book If you
wish to become proficient In any branch, it
is necessary to develop power In that direc-
tion.
TUESDAY p. N.
After singing several selections, Mr..
McHenry, director from Berwick, read q
paper on "school Government"
| Prof. Welsh, teacher in the West Chester
State Normal School, followed in an ad-
dress on Letter Writing" as IL should be
taught in our schools.
DR.. L. B. Kline next read q paper on
Supplementary Reading" He stated
"thst newspapers, journals. ETC., should be
taken and used as supplementary reading.
These should be secured by appropriation
from School Board, or by contributions
from pupils,
Prof. Neff then gave a class drill, the
object OF which was to show that a pupil
may be able to pronounce all the words,
even read with fair degree Of fluency, and
yet be losing the benefit that should be de-
rived from every reading lesson. The Pro-
fessor was followed by DR.. Winship, who
showed how important it is that the teach
er hould understand that upon which he
operates. Adjourned to Wednesday q. m.
| WEDNESDAY MORNING.
| After the usual opening exercises, Prof.
Neff continued the subject Of Reading"
"If the pupils are able to get the thought,
good oral impression will follow as cause
from an effect.-The whole responsibility
Of starting the pupils right, rests on the pri-
mary teacher; for IL started correctly MOTH
ing afterward can spoil the child.-Reading
is the foundation upon which all other
branches rest.-Mistakes will have to be
passed as correcting takes the child's mind
from the thought.-Teachers should not
teach the pronunciation they do not use
themselves. of the trouble is caused
by going to- fast. Reading is all done in
the mind-pupils should not read orally
until they can do so without thinking OF
the words; if the words are thought Of, the
thought will be lost.
Singing. Twilight is Stealing"
| Supt w. s. Monroe then took up the
subject of Language. "Too often children
not understanding the thought of the prob
lem lose it.-Children. delight in the power
OF expressing themselves. Teachers should
be good story-tellers s-Teach the children
to paragraph without knowing it.-Do not
allow carelessness interesting sub
jects. Teacher should keep scrap book
and save everything which would answer
for a language lesson. Books Of fables
have an excellent effect--tske something
instructive ss we'll as interesting. Avoid
use OF text books. Keep list Of common
errors and impress them at the proper time.
When children are too young to write, oul-
tiva.e oral xpression--lsngusge should be
begun very early"
| DR.. Winship then spoke on School Disci-
pline. IAN element OF weakness in disci-
pine when you wish to hold attention is,
you must get your pupils close to you when
you can not command attention at dis
tance. To scold is an element Of weakness
i h% annl1a