Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-12-19
Teachers Nee ting.

The minutes of the last meeting
were read and approved
The following program was am
nounced for our next meeting:
! st. Second primary geography
(a) Its scope; (b) Its methods; (c)
Results--by Miss O'Dowd.
ID. Reading-(a) As preparatory
to High School work; (b) Orthoepy;
(e) Articulation-by Mrs Gates.
Sd, Principles Of fractions-(~
As related to the principles of divis-
ion; (b) As related 10 multiplication
and division of fraetious-by Mr.
Davis.
The program was then taken up,
Miss Gates aud Mr.. NeCollius being
the only teachers who had prepared
lists of "ten things by which time
in school work could be saved" ."
There is no longer single excuse
for the wanton waste of solitary
second of the precious time in the
schOolroom.
Next came a paper by Miss Nell
hon upon "Inattention, Its Causes
and Cures She took an invulner-
able stand when she charged the
teacher with the cause Of much Of
the inattention by not thoroughly
preparing himself for each reclta-
ton. If the teacher thoroughly
understands his subject, he can not
fail To interest the ordinary pupil.
Her constant aim is 10 interest the
pupils, and their attention is invarl-
ably secured She made many hap
py hits, which can not be rs much
as alluded to in a report of this kind.
Mis-, Lenahan then read her paper
on "Reading in the intermediate
Grade The universal criticism
upon this paper was it's breyity. For
beginner she is original and prac-
tical. She employs what might, for
want of better name, be called the
crayou picture method. When a
lesson is accompanied by a picture
she has her pupils draw it on the
black board, and if there be no pic.
ture she assigns part IF the lesson
to one and a part 10 another, and
then requires each to produce upon
the board the picture which his part
of the lesson suggests. The value
Of this plan is apparent to every
! body. 1t is an effectual way TO
make the pupil think, which is the
important desideratum in all school
work.
The next paper was by Miss
Bishop, "How &C. secure neatness
and order among young pupils"
We feel like apologizlng for attempt
ing a synopsis of this paper. 1t Is
like a finished picture, hide any part
of it and the whole ls marred Her
first sentence has the right ring in
it when she says; "The secret Of
securing order is to secure interest.
Then comes true paradox; Gan
idle child cannot keep quiet" "Good
order" she says, "does not depend
upon absolute stiffness. The latter
is not desirable in q schoolroom.
The little noise that attends busy
work is natural, and greater mischief
attends It's prohibition than It's
license" Again she says: obs
order should be subdued not terri.
fed. A teacher must be deliberate,
not impulsiye and explosive. Alow
tone Is much more effeotual than a
high tone." The teacher gives the
keynote to the little choir In an
other place che says; "Ihere should
be no exercise in a schooiroom that
can not be done in order. When
change means confusion it is token
of lack Of power on the part of the
teacher. Eternal vigilance how
ever" she says, "is the price Of
good order and neaJuess."
Miss Cummins then read her
paper, GLOW to teach penmanshlp"
Miss Cummins ought to achieve
success, for she is an industrious,
painstaklng insLructress. She orders
her movements with military pre-
clsion. Much emphasis Is attached
TO securing free healthful position,
although very often difficult 70 ob-
tain because so many come into the
grammar department With habits
anything but iaultless. IN taking
up a new lesson, she writes the lead
ing letters upon The board, and has
the pupils crIticlse 80 as To Tx IN
their minds .he height, slant aud
spacing. Every new letter receives
especial attention. The pupils
counting in concert, or writing wnlle
the teacher counts OF names the
strokes This practice restralus the
more rapid pupils, and accelerates
the movements Of the tardy ones,
thereby producing uniform move
meut.
Mr.. NeCollIus being oyer-run WIN
work was unable 70 prepare his
paper, on "lhe relation OF common
fractions and decimals to percent