Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1889-12-04
A PUBLIC TEACHERS MEETING.

| PUBLIC TEACHERS MEkTIN0.
The Public Primary School Teachers
Association of Wilmington held a meet.
ing In No. l school house at 4. AS D. N.
yesterday. They were addressed by Prof.
A. IL. Berlin, Principal OF the High
School, upon "Simple Experiments aud
How to Teach them In the School Room. !"
Fundamentally experiments are neces
sary; 1st, To observe correctly. I'd, To
draw correct conclusions, 8d, To increa SO
knowledge. To accomplish these results
needed cautions are: 1st, Be simple. I'd.
Be sure. Sd, Encourage questioning. 4th,
Encourage the performing OF expert
ments. 5th, Do not be discouraged at
failures.
He illustrated by many simple ina
terials large number of phenomena
showing the manner IN which the sub
Ject can be presented TO pupils aud the
value of the methods.
The experiments we're: l. To prove
the existence OF air 2. Its com pressi.
bility;S. That the fact that no two
bodies can occupy the same space ct the
same time applies to air; 4. The trans
parency of air and water proved; 5.
Cohesion. The difference between
gases, liquids and solide; q. Outward
pressure Of water, and several other
simple experiments to show that such
can DO used 10 teach the great laws OF
nature. The lecturer also produced ex.
perIments to illustrate simple and com.
pound bodies, heat, electricity, &c.
vote OF thanks was unanimously
passed by the association to Prof. Berlin
Tor his lecture.
Before leaving Prof. Berlin, however,
we presented him with copy of the
~ pF-t.
had called on Prof. Schurr, who had ex-
pressed himself so warmly that we re.
quested him to put his opinion in writ.
ing, which he kindly consented to do.
Here II is:
WILMINGToN, DELAWARE, Dec. 8, 80.
Prof JGhn q. Hardness, a. NJ.
Dear Sir: Over twenty years have
been collecting as naturalist and for
some five years l have been teaching In
the schools and publicly lectuiing. You
REPUBLICAN the best public newspa Dor
report of my lecturi1g that have ever
received. As scientific reporting IN Zoo.
logys It's degree OF accuracy commands
gratitude. take great pleasure iu pre-
sentlns 10 you number of very beautl. |
ful Huunmirg birds from the Tropics as
a memorial OF your work. Very truly |
yours, THEODORE A. scHuRR,
Pit.sfield, Mass.
When Prof Berlin had learned the
of this letter he began to talk. |
Whereupon in order to strike while the |
iron was hot and with tho proverbial |
modesty OF a reporter, we asked him ri
lie really meant 1t, to put it writing |
which he did AS follows:
VII MINGToN, DEL, Dec. 8, 1889.
To Prof. John G. Harkness, A. Nj:
DEAR SIR: Your reports OF the pro-
neediugs OF the Wilmington Teachers
Institute OF November, 1889, in the
DAILY REPUBLICAN were neat aud |
the main points in
lucid manner. They excGllcd by &C.
'uracy. Yours respectfully,
A. Ii. BERLIN.
Pro-. Schurr Is so delighted with Will
nington schools and the High school
eachers, and Prof. Berlin was 80 over
lowing with eulogy OF the Primary School
Teachers Association - they were go
bright, observant, Sc, that since he
vas praising the High school teachers
Turing the institute, for lady-like con-
iuct and dignity, coupled with kindness
md harmony, we are hardly prepared to
ay to-day which are the best. I'VE will
lave TO refer 1t TO supt. Harlan.