River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-02-27

COT AlOAlC oCiAOOi AOhAoCf n w. 49, w.
Meeting called to order by the Pres.
The opening exercises consisted of
work in Mental Arith. After giving a
number of problems the value of this
kind of work was discussed. All, 1
think, agreed that it was very beneficial,
both for its mental discipline and the
good it will do anyone to have the ability
to compute rapidly.
The first topic on the program was Pri-
mary Reading by Alice Spaulding. She
gave her object in teaching it as: impart-
ing to the pupil that which will enable
him to get knowledge for himself; and
then gave some of her methods. Her
first work being with objects, the child
rem talking about them and then learn
ing to read the sentence from the board
which they have before spoken. The OBJ
iect work was followed by use of pictures
from the chart, reader, or any Others
All the teachers present except one had
used script entirely in teaching Primary
Reading. Several others gave their
method of giving written work, Mr.. Port
er writing the sentence leaving out the
nouns, the children supplying these
nouns when they write them. Mr.. IT.
vine told about writing directions ON the
board for the children to act out.
Supt. Brewer took up the subject with
his usual enthusiasm. He brought out
the objects which all teachers should
keep in mind clearly. One thought he
wished the teachers to take with them
was, that in this work we should not aim
at that which may seem to bring the
best results to-day, but at that which will
have put the pupil the farthest five years
hence.
This discussion had been prolonged as
Prof. Rosenberger was not present.
Meeting adjourned till nearly 2 o'clock
p. NJ.
The first topic in the afternoon was
Reading in Middle and Upper Forms by
Mr.. Irvine.
He read the objects for teaching it and
the scope of the work from the Manual,
and then explained what portion of the
readers in use belonged to each form.
He said that if the children knew the
thought they could read so that others
could understand it,; this should be test
ed by questioning, or if the pupil read it
and did not give the thought, he should
be questioned till he got it, and then read
again.
The discussion turned mainly on sup
Elementary reading. Mr.. Irvine told
about pasting articles on pastboard, cut
ting this in pieces and giving each one a
piece. Some had allowed children to
choose items to read one day in the week.
Supt. Brewer warned the teachers against
allowing the pupils the choice without
choose something exciting which, if con-
tinued would not help in "cultivating a
taste for good reading" which was the
second object for teaching reading. He
thought it good plan to bring into the
school some good newspaper (the Weeks
Current was spoken of and discuss arti-
cles from il.
The next topic was School Work by
the Supt., in which he took up some Of
the weak points which he had observed.
In his talk on History, he wished the
relation between current events and our
Constitution would be more clearly
brought out; that the points in the slav-
cry troubles came under constitutional
constructions and that this relation be
shown and that more should be taught
in connection with the most critical per-
iod of the history of our country, namely;
the time of the formation and adoption
of the Constitution.
In arithmetic more attention should be
paid to commercial arithmetic, i. e., the
writing of bills. drafts, notes, etc.
More attention, he says, should be paid
to the moral education of children. They
should be taught to recognize the author
ity of the school, of the county, and of
the Higher Power from whence all au-
thority comes.
Rest,
Question box conducted by the Presi-
dent.
Recitations by Misses Nora Hawkinson
and Amelia Olson. Song, America.
Meeting adjourned.
ALICE SPALDISG. Sec.
In addition to the above report of as
ISOLATION by the secretary, LET me say in
behalf Of teachers and others who at