The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-03-23

Inc remarkaDIe generai ignorance ol &C.
ography as noticeable in our academic ana
common schools was the central idea Of the
Teachers Institute held at Peru on Friday
and Saturday last.
The institute opened in the High School
building on Friday afternoon with the dis
cussion Of writing and spelling. These i'm
portant branches were treated in Q very
thorough manner, and Superintendent
Stock dale hopes that practical results may
DO reached. Many teachers set up a stand
ard of their own in writing and are hasly
10 curb the hand Of the boy or girl who may
show indications of an individual taste, and
instead of attempting to round out and per.
feet the pupils method, he is forced to
adopt certain stereo,yped style. The insvi-
table result is to ruin the child's penmanship
and his temper. That more attention should
be given to spelling is proposition which
manifestly requires no argument. for bad
spelling has become the rule with all classes,
rather thsn the exception. 1t is not so
much the mere memorizing of words that is
most to be sought after, it is the instilling OF
the idea Of using dictionary to settle ell
doubts, rather than allow the pupil to use
his teacher as q walking compendium of the
Queens English.
Ex-State Superintendent Raab delivered
lecture at the Peru Town Hall, on Friday
evening to tho teachers and those Of the
citizens who desired to attend upon "Imagi'
nation as social force
He treated the subject in very able
manner, and as adjunctive to 1t spoke also
Of place and honor as incentives to ambition.
The imagination Of every man creates for
him an ideal, which he is ever striving to
attain. If the idea be high and an honor
able one, he will prove a useful member of
society. The lack of an ideal, or the lack of
the ambition to attain an ideal, is the dan
ger which threatens our social system. He
was attentively listened to by large
audience.
The Saturday session was given over to
the consideration Of "School Tactics" and
History as Associated with Geography"
Professor Hobart read paper on the former.
The assembling of the pupils in the school
room, the arising in body and marching to
the chapel, returning and re-assuming of
seats, and the school exercises, would teach
pupils method. The latter subject, history
and geography, formed the basis Of paper
by Professor Thomas. II was by far the
most important matter Of tho meeting, and
was very thoroughly discussed. Without
the association Of locality, history loses its
force and is taken up by the pupil as an
irksom task to be gotten through with only
as matter of form, rather than as foun-
dation of culture. Events, stripped of their
influence upon the worlds progress, and
treated as occurrence s, are unimportant and
useless as far rs after. benefit be concerned,
and the mind of the child engaged upon
memorizing them soon relinquishes them
for the more alluring joys of the play
ground. The same NAV be said with equal
truthfupess of geography. Associated to-
gether they form an enchanting and useful
study, and indeed without association the
mind of the child. uniaterested beyond the
mere desire to have done with troublesome
task, is uaimpressed and cannot bring them
together in their proper relation.
Before the season closed, MIR. Raab spoke
few words in favor of good general instruc-
ton in the compon and academic schools,
as distinguished from specialism, A good
general education fits men for whatever
walk in life they may choose to follow, while
the specialist is hide bound, and when
thrown upon the world must do one line Of
work whether he be suited to it by circum-
stances or not. or stsrve. He usually
starves.
The Northern Illinois High School Teach
er's Association will meet at Kewanee on
the twenty second and third. The subject
under discussion will be English in the
High School," and "History in the High
School" The first subject is in charge Of
committee of which Prof. J. o. Leslie and
Miss Carrie f. Tucker, of this city, are
members. The report of the committee will
be Of great interest to teachers throughout
the State.
Druggists tell us that the best selling ar
ticle with them now, Is Laxadore. Price
only 90 cents.
Why suffer sleepless nights when your
baby Is not we'll You can buy DR.. Bulls
baby syrup at all drug stores for quarter
of dollar.
Fighting Ii Popular.