Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-11-27
INTERCHANGE OF IDEAS.
SECOND DAY OF THE SACRAMENTO
COUNTY TEACHERS INSTITUTE.
Interesting Lecture by Professor w. S.
Monroe-The kindergarten in the
Public School, Etc.

N. Inc roll was caIleo anu the minutes
read and approved.
Exercises were opened by vocal duet by
Misses Gertie Carly and Hattie Wheat,
eYincing much taste and expression.
Charles Panabaker gave recitation,
"Uncle Dan'rs Apparition and Prayer" in
which his negro dialect was admirable.
Superintendent Howard announced that
instead of section work, the Institute would
be addressed as a whole.
Professor Monroe then addressed the In
stitute. Subject: Reproduction of Stories
and Reading Lessons" Language divides
itself into four different stages, embracing
the first four years. The first stage is the
copying stage. He believed with Herbert
Spencer that there was such a thing as
the memory OF the muscles, and the
child in copying, by repeated effort,
comes to exercises. The child should
have much practice in copying during the
first year. The second year should be die
tation work. He would only dictate an
exercise once, training the child to remem-
Der what was dictated, and letting go what
was not remembered. The second stage of
children should be furnished with the ma
terial from which to write, and the libra.
ries of our public schools point to mine
of such material. 1t is better for teachers
to read the story than TO attempt to tell it,
they being liable to forget some of the i'm
portant points. He gave illustrations of his
idea of the development of the story to the
pupils. Very few letters finish one topic
before leaving it. but after writing of some
other thing return to the first topic. Chill
dren should be taught to paragraph and to
avoid herepetition ofthe eternal land" The
teachers can make the school their assistants
in various ways in correcting papers, but
their time is too valuable to spend in cor
recting all the written work. Much draw
ing should be introduced into this repro
ductive work, no matter how crude it may
be. We have too little drawing in our
schools. This reproductive work should be
carried into the third and fourth year.
Thought development advances to its
fourth stage. Subjects should be given on
which the children can gather their own
material for composition, first giving an
oral lesson for the next days development.
Leaves, insects and other objects in nature
may be made the subjects of such lessons.
He gave a graphic description of the re-
search into insect forms and life in the
Pasadena schools, and the wonderful de-
velopment of the children's perceptions and
faculties through such work. 1t opens the
children's minds so that they can see what
they do see. The work is not repulsive, but
interesting. Plants and fowers-anything
can be used in the same way. All written
work should be preserved and its preserva.
ton is a stimulus to neatness. Children
should be $50 trained: that their work
punctuates and capitalizes itself automat
ically.
Professor Monroe is bright and most
pleasing speaker and held the closest at
ton of the entire Institute.
After intermission, Miss Kate Wilbur
read an original poem, entitled II Had a
Teacher" illustrative of the influence ex-
erted by teachers on the moods and sensi-
bilities of their pupils, and upon their after
lives.
Language Work" by Miss Watson, fol-
lowed. The child may have ideas more or
less clear, and yet lack ability to express
them in language, hence the need of train
ing. Few of the children possess the ad-
vantage of careful and correct home training
and expression, and even when possessing
such advantage, intercourse with compan-
ions, either through imitation or ridicule for
correct expression, often neutralizes it.
Training in language should begin with
school days and continue through them.
Training in special meanings of words and
correction of misuses of them should be
persevered in, and erroneous ideas care
fully eradicated. Pictures, memory
gems" can be used proftably to develop
the child's use of language, as well as its
perceptive faculties. Memorizing reading
lessons is very effective training in Ian
guage and literature. Literal use of the
dictionary sometimes produces astonishing
results Contraction and expansion of
sentences, and combination of short SEN
fences into longer ones, are valuable ex-
ercises.
Miss Watson presented written work of
the four grammar school grades, ordinary
lesson work, for the inspection of the teach
ers.
Miss Minnie Sweeny then read an essay
on Language Work in the Primary
Grades The first year introduces the
pupil to printed words and the mysteries OF
learning to read, this foundation being to
him the most wonderful part of his work,
From this he proceeds by steps through
the use of capitals, punctuation, copying
writing sentences, and the variety of kin
bred work through the primary grades into
the grammar grades.
Miss Sweeny then presented written
work Of the primary grades for the inspec.
ton of the teachers.
Vi
then addressed the Institute impromptu
He had come to listen and not to speak
and as he had listened to Professor Monroe
and to the papers that had been read his
mind reverted to his own school days, and
the old methods of teaching grammar. He
could in those days repeat the twenty-siz
rules of syntax, and violate every one OF
them in doing so. The aim and end Of
teaching grammar is the use of correct
language He is the best teacher who has
the greatest variety of methods. The
teacher who attends the Institute and hears
the discussion of subjects there and then
goes back to the same old groove in the
school-room, lacks the elements of a sue.
cessful teacher. Experience has taught
him that the inexperienced teacher rushe:
the pupil into the study of grammar
Don't do it. He felt, as he listened to the
exercises here, that he was in the midst o.
those who were shaping the destinies of the
nation, ana he wished them to remem be-
the responsibilities that rested upon them
1t was imperative that they should be alive
to the events progressing around them il
the world. The teacher is a power il
the world, and should realize it, although
they have so few opportunities to rise il
their world. They should cultivate {
knowledge of the school law they should
demand of the Boards of Supervisors s
liberal appropriation of money for schoo
purposes.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Convention reconvened at 100 P. NJ.
Professor Howard presiding, and lsrg'
attendance present.
Miss Jennie Elworthy favored the au
dience with a piano solo, "Pomponette.
Mrs. George Brown sang in excellen
voice, DAY Dreams"
Mrs. NJ. f. Mumford, Principal of tn,
school at Twenty-fourth and n streets. reaC
a thoughtful essay on the subject of the
"Relation of the kindergarten to the Pub
lie School System"
Miss NJ. Alys Pullman read an essay de
scriptive of kindergarten work, and ex
emplified its workings with class of ittli
5-year-old tots.
Max Lipowitz read an essay, able and in
terestine, on problems in Allegation anC
Draphine Analysis"
IN THE EVENING.
AT the Methodist Church last evening
Mr.. Straub's piano solo was heartily en-
cored, and both his selections wer
thoroughly delightful.
Miss Noyes sang a solo SO modestly ant
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