Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-26
TEACHERS TO TEACH.
The Task Set for the Instructors at
the County Institute.
FOUR HUNDRED PEDAGOGUES HERE
Interesting Exercises of the Opening Days
Two Sessions.
AN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION FOUNDED

Such an intellectual feast as was enjoyed
yesterday, the first day of the Allegheny
School building. argues we'll for the success
of the remainder of the session. There were
about 400 teachers enrolled after the Insti.
tute formally opened, at $50 o'clock in the
morning, with County Superintendent
Hamilton in the chair. Ina short address
Superintendent Hamilton welcomed the
teachers, and impressed upon them the fact
that as they received salary for attending
the Institute, regular attendance and strict
attention to the address was expected Of
them, and would prove very beneticial to
them.
The appointment of the various commit
tees occupied most of the time during the
morning session, but at 1:30, with the hall
of the High School building filled even to
the galleries with highly intellectual and
interesting assemblage, the afternoon ses-
sion was opened. The singing, under the
leadership of Prof W. S. Weeden, with
Miss Ida Boyle, of Braddock, as pianist,
was a very pleasing feature, and, with a
prayer BY Rev. DR.. Boyle, preceded the ad-
dresses.
DR.. A. E. Winship, of Boston, editor of
the Neso England Journal of Education,
and without doubt the best-posted man in
the United States on school matters, was the
first gentleman to occupy the platform. The
subject under consideration was "Peda-
gogics," and in highly entertaining man
ner DR.. Winship instructed the teachers on
the first hour, the first day, the first week,
and the first month of school.
WHAT TEACHER MUST KNOW.
The points upon which he elaborated
were, that a teacher must know herself, her
pupil and her subject in order to be sue
cessful in her work. DIR. winship is a
much larger man mentally than he is
physically, and is one of the most inde-
fatigable educators in the Union. He will
remain during the entire week, and will
lecture on the various physical subjects.
Prof James W. CaughIin, ex-Superin-
tendent of Public Schools in LuZerne county,
and a very prominent educational man in
the State, succeeded DR.. Winship, and i'm
parted any amount Of good instruction, in a
happy manner, by the use of numerous
amusing incidents sandwiched in with the
more serious remarks. Prof. Caughlln, in
his address, advocated paying more atten-
tion to the formation of character in pupils,
than is usually done in the public
schools. He said he thought the develop
ment and formation of character one of the
elements of practical education, but one
that was often overlooked. He dilated upon
the philosophy of habit, and advised the
teachers to instill into the young, suscepti-
srdu klo hsr,L -, al
age Of reflection, would result in q strong
character, and fit them for an independent
struggle with the world.
Prof Caughlin made some very radical
assertions on this point, and substantiated
them by clever examples that were forceful,
II oftentimes amusing. Respectful obe-
dience, promptness, and honesty should be
elements of careful training, and would re-
suit in unmIstaksble good breeding, accord
ing to Prof Cauehlin, and were of infinitely
more importance than the successful coach
ing of any number of rules of grammar or
arithmetic. 80.
FORMED AN ASSOCIATION.
At the conclusion of Prof. Caughlln's re-
marks the institute adjourned until $50 this
morning, when Prof L. B. Moss, Principal
Of the California State Normal School, and
one of the most progressive and wideawake
educational men in this section of the coun-
try, will deliver an address on the query:
us German Education Better Than Our
0wn?" which will practically be the result
of personal investigation of the public
school system in Germany during a resi-
dence of several months there last season.
An interesting event that followed closely
the adjournment OF the institute, yesterday
afternoon, was the formation of an Alumni
Association of the California State Normal
School, with which Prof. Moss and Mrs
Moss are connected. One of the High School
recitation rooms was thronged with
the graduates and students of the
Normal School, all anxious to band them
selves together for mutual improvement and
loyalty to their Alma Mater. Prof. Dewar,
Principal of the Millvale School, occupied
the chair, and Mr.. J. c. Kendall, of Home
stead, was elected President; Miss Minnie
Coursin, of McKeesport Secretary, and
Miss Efhe Johnston, of KcKeesport, Treasur-
er. An executive committee, appointed
BY the chairman, will formulate constitu-
which will be held some time during the
week and will also make arrangements for a
reunion and banquet to be held next season.
The gentlemen already mentioned and
DR.. D. Y. Snyder, Principal of the Indiana
State Normal School, and a strong, intel
lectual man, will comprise the list of in
structors for the institute, which promises to
be an unusually interesting one.