West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1890-09-04
Notes and Comments on the Institute

the largest ever held in the county.
There being about 2l0 enrolled.
We may also add that in point of
brains, talent and good looks, it
has never been excelled in the coun-
ty. We believe that everything
considered, Preston county teachers
lead the state and we should be
proud of our school system and try
every year to climb up higher. The
Institute was composed mostly of
young teachers, many of them have
never taught, but their bright in
telligent and energetic faces bespeak
their earnestness and success in the
good cause they have enlisted for.
Prof. Thomas G. Miller who is Prin-
cipal of the Public Schools at Fair
mont is born Educator and is well
known to our teachers, as this is the
third institute he has conducted
here. Prof. ID. w. shields, Princi.
pal of the Public Schools at Wells
burg, was a new man aud known to
but very few of us, as this was his
first experience in the county. 1t
was not known this year who was
TO be the instructors till the day the
institute assembled when the two
gentlemen named above appeared
on.the scene of action. The main
criticism we have to offer, is that
there was hardly life and new meth
DDS enough introduced to attract
the attention of the older teachers.
The instruction covered the same
old ground our teachers have been
over 80 often. They expect some.
thing new every year and are dis
appointed il they do not get it.
There was hardly variety enough in
the exercises to keep up the inter-
est. We think that some calisthen-
tics should have been introduced,
more music, minute speeches, queries
and more work on the part OF the
teachers, who should have been or
ganizcd into classes and different
ones assigned certain work to do and
called up to demonstrate their
methods Of teaching certain branch
cs and give in their experience in
The school-room, while the other
teachers should be encouraged to
comment freely y and give their ideas,
compare notes, learn something
from each other, and have regular
class and experience meeting gcn-
orally. These, we claim, are the
main objects Of the Institute. The
conductors are provided rather to
conduct or lead the way and not to
stand up before the Institute day
after day and simply cram into the
teachers a confused mass of notes
picked up here and there.
Mr.. Elsey makes an excellent
Superintendent, is wide awake and
energetic, and gives general sat
isfaction, and is very popular with
the teachers and the public gener-
ally.
The night sessions were we'll at
tended and the courtroom was
packed every night, and some of
the performances deserve special
meDtion--that Of Miss Matte Cope
man Monday night, who recited
"Down by the Rio Grande," and
Miss Isa Monroe's "An Inventor 8
Wife," Wednesday night Miss
Anna Jordan recited Iochinvar," ;"
in very creditable manner. On
Thursday night Miss BERTHE Wilcox
by special request, recited "Au1
ltalieux, " from Lucille, and even ex.
celled her performance at the acad.
emy. Prof. +. s. Elliott's address
that night on "Three Demands oi
Public Instruction." was good
well prepared and well delivered
and showed careful thought on the
subject.
Hon. James A. Browns i'm.
Ipromptu address to the teachers was
well received, the audience express.
ing its appreciation by frequent and
hearty applause.
Prof. Porter's concert Tuesday
night was regarded by many Of the
teachers as al intrusion on Their
rights, and claimed that every eve.
ming Of the week belonged TO them,
and it is said that this was one rea.
son for voting to take the 1nstitut,
TO Terra Alta. We do not think
the teachers looked at it in tho
-s-f.A