Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-11-25
ssHOoL-RooH TOPICS.
FIRST DAYS PROCEEDINGS OF THE
TEACHERS INSTITUTE.
Interesting Addresses by Superintendent
Hoitt and Others-Practical SUBJ
jects Read and Debated.

The Sacramento County Institute con-
vened at 10 o'clock yesterday forenoon in
the Capital Grammar School. The men,
bers were called to order by Superintend-
ent B. F. Howard. Owing to the absence
of Miss Keifer, Miss Jennie Anderson was
elected as Secretary to fill the vacancy.
Mr.. Lipowitz and Miss Mccormick hav-
ing resigned as members of Committee on
Resolutions, Mrs. NJ. d. Merrill and Miss
Dagan were elected to fill the vacancies.
The teachers who responded to the roll
call numbered 143. After an invocation by
Rev. ]. B. Silcox. Miss Rosa Borchers rem
dered Norma" with great skill and ex-
preston, after which State Superintendent
Ira G. Hoitt delivered an address of vel
come.
He spoke of the evident progress being
mode in school work during the past year,
notwithstanding inclement weather of last
winter, and congratulated Mr.. Howard that
he was still Superintendent. He said the
people should be congratulated still more
on having such Superintendent as Mr..
Howard, who had come up to every re-
quiremeut in past years. Mr.. Hoitt then
went on to say that no greater pleasure
could be found than in the perusal of
books. He hoped the teachers would all
20 back to their work feeling greater in
terest in it, and better fitted for it in every
way.
Rev. ]. B. Silcox next addressed the
teachers. He said he felt great sympathy
for them. having been teacher himself:
hoxT Irfr ma cd kaF vI-oc OF
more interested. If the public only knew
what good wives they made, there would
not be enough teachers to fill the vacancies.
He thought every child possessed some
latent talent, which only needed to be
brought out; that some of our greatest
men have been made by some one taking
an interest in them and making them feel
that they could do something for them
selves. Teach children TO love beauty, and
goodness will follow. More attention
should be paid to the decorating of school
houses and school grounds. Make the
school-room beautiful with pictures and
frescoes, if possible, and by all means plant
trees and lay walks around the grounds.
The American nation should copy more
after the Greeks, and teach by seeing, the
beauties of nature and art Next to hay
ing interior adornment, and in connection
with it, have good library and unfold to
the child's mind the beauties of Whittier,
Lowell and Dickens. Give lessons in
morality, as well; teach reverence and dis
courage profanity. The great of many
lands have fallen, not because they lacked
intellectually, but because they lacked
morality; therefore teach the child to be
manly, and modest as well, fol
"'Tis only noble TO be good,
Kind hearts are more than coronets"
10
esting address. Speaking of the Institute,
he said that it was organized for the teach
ers to assemble and gain more uniform
and harmonious methods of teaching.
The school and the Government being
closely allied, it rests upon the teachers to
form the characters of its future members.
He said teachers adhere to the text book
too closely. The text book educated scholar
is of but little practical value. In order to
form the desired uniform system, two
things should be done. Teach only Eng
lish branches in the primary and gram
mar grades, and have national system of
textbooks. Political influence should be
ignored in the selection of teachers, and
they should be well remunerated for their
services.
fter few remarks by Superintendent
hoitt, a recess was declared until 1870.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
In the afternoon, Prof w. S. Monroe, of
Pasadena, sent word Of remembrance 10
the teachers.
Miss Lille Crowell rendered an exquis-
lite instrumental solo.
Superintendent Fisher of Oakland, the
first speaker of the afternoon, wished 10 be
excused on account of illness. Prof. Dick
inson then spoke in regard to the "Rela-
ton of Teachers to Their School, Teach
ers should understand their own physical
and mental capabilities before trying to find
out the child's powers. A knowledge of
the physical organization of the child
would greatly aid in the work of educating.
Defects of ear and eye should be taken into
consideration. The teacher is loco PARENTS
during the day, and ought to make the
child's physical welfare her first considera-
ton. He said the teachers are manufsct
uriug near-sightedness by allowing child
dren to stoop over their work. BY follow
ing the suggestions given, teachers would
find the work of mental drill diminished,
and the child would have "a sound mind
in sound body"
Julien W. Johnson next gave method
adopted by him in the teaching Of history.
He teaches b. giving the pupils topics, and
leaves them to find out all they can about
each topic; to memorize as few dates as
possible, but to let these be the most i'm
portant.
Then followed some very interesting
illustrations on the blackboard.
A recess wss given, after which Miss Belle
Darlington rendered the exquisite compost
ton, Alice
Miss Annie c. Weeks read most inter-
esting paper on rs Better Reading Posi-
bility?' The discussion was principally in
regard TO the lack of understanding read
ing matter manifested by most children.
They read, or hear thing read, and fail to
comprehend the meaning, Was it fault
of the child's, OF of the manner of teaching
resding2 The most picturesque poem
failed to leave on their minds sufficient
impression for correct reproduction.
Charles Y. Osborne thought that too
much was expected of the child. Reason
ing powers would develop in time.
The afternoon session closed with short
paper on; The Schoolmaam's Grievances, -
b. Miss Grace Bowen.