The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-03-15
E,oreEEG Institute.

z4oreGfG InsIItute.
4 Teachers Local Institute was held st
LoTettc On Saturday last, in public school
building
There being but few teachers present in
the forenoon, the opening of the session
was postponed until after dinner. A large
number OF teachers and citizens met in the
afternoon and in the unavoidable absence
of the chairman, W. 3. Little, ESQ.,, Super
intendent, j. w. Leech, called the meeting
to order stating that Squire Little had sent
his regrets, explaining bis absence and ex-
pressing his good wishes for those assem-
Died in the educational meeting.
On motion OF Miss Rachael Mccoy, Prof.
Leech was chosen chairman and Miss Annie
NJ. aaid. secretary.
Prof. E. Walker Smith, of Indiana, who
will conduct the normal school at Lore.to
/ this summer, was present and the chairman
| called on him to open the subject best
methods of teaching grammar" Mr. Smith
F.! does not believe there Is any one "best
method for all. Each teacher may haye.
and should have. his own best method, but
/ the same method that is best for one may
| be the poorest for another. he would not
teach too much technical grammar nor
would he 60 TO the other extreme Of doing
away with text books altogether. Supt-
Leech illustrated by words on the boards,
how that much grammar could be taught
/ without the text book and that in spelling
! and other exercises pupils could become
! familiar with the parts OF speech as applied
I to certain words determined by their end
I -.
gave IL Is bis opinion that the parts Of
1 speech could not be taught accurately from
wor ds IN the spelling book as many words
in the language had the the same Orth-
| ozTaphy which placed in different relations
! TO other words represented as many differ
ent parts OF speech as they had relations.
/ IN answer 20 this a. r. Read said Il would
be sn easy matter, and a good exercise, TO
| build sentences showing such words in their
different relations aud thus give language
lessons along with orthOsraphy.
After discussing tie subject some further
Miss Rachel Mccoy was called upon to dis
cuss mental arithmetic. She spoke of The
importance Of the subject and then referred
the subject to Mr.. Marsden who dWelt upon
its utility as a mathematical and mind
developing study. BE would teach it as
separate study in classes, apart from the
written arithmetic classes, and would give
It as much time and attention as any other
branch. Supt. Leech and others spoke on
it, all agreeing in it's importance and that
pupils should learn to recite it without US
ing the book in class.
The chairman then called upon A. r.
Read to open the discussion on physiology
which he did by speaking of the much use
fuI and practical Information to be obtained
by a systematic study of the subject, refer
ring to the beautiful and wonderful machin.
cry Of the human body and the great inter-
est attached to the subject when it is con-
sidered that q kEogeledge of it may lead to
health. happiness and prolongation of life.
Messrs. T. j. IteI, Smith and Supt Leech
also spoke on the subject.
Miss Rose L. DrIskeIi read a well>pre-
pared essay on Small things" She was
followed by Miss Annie NJ. Hais, who re-
cited In an interesting manner "John Oar
reH's Dream"
Miss Annie Garret on "HOw to teach
reading" gave some good methods of deal
with this important branch. She would
have the words defined and spelled, have
| Gil bA4O b0iu dII6I the
reading, see that they understand what
they read and convey it In an intelligent
manner to other. Supt. Leech here paid a
high compliment: TO Miss Garett's success in
teaching reading in her school and called
upon Prof. ThOs. j. tell TO continue the
consideration Of the subject Mr.. IteH be-
lieved the lady bad briefly but fully covered
( the ground In what she had said. He added
the difficulty in teaching reading effectively
Is lack OF comprehension. Pupils must
master the words and Get at the sense
Messrs. E Walker Smith, j. 5. Foley and A.
r. Read spoke upon the subject, all agree
ing that one essential 10 good reading Is
getting the thought and expressing I,
impressively, but lively discussion for q
while ensued on the manner of teach hing It
On this ltell and Foley took one side and
Smith and Read the other.
The Superintendent closed the discus
sion with an extemporaneous peroratIor
and then called upon A. R. Resd to recit,
"Shamus O'Brien," which being done IN,
institute closed. Foley requested all pres
ent to meet at ST. Augustine next Safer
day. p