The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1890-07-22
TEACHERS CONVENTION.
The Last Days session-A Series of In
teresting Addresses.


teresting Addresses.
The final days session of the Con
vention was called to order by the
Inspector General, calling attention
TO the teachers examinations which
will be held on Monday.
Mr.. Moore, in discussing his sub
iect. stated that in drawing diagrams
to illustrate problems he would have
them made mathematlcally correct.
Miss J. Deyo concluded her re-
marks on the CRUDE method, taking
up the subject beyond the 100 limit.
"Many teachers" she said, preferred
dropping much of the method when
that stage of the instruction was
reached.n When teaching division,
she would teach short division first,
owing to the fact that pupils after
once learning long division would
rarely, if ever, use the short way.
G.. G. Kenyon then addressed the
convention, subject, BUSY work"
"The term busy work, is used in the
Quincy method to express that por-
ton of school work which children
employ themselves at under the
superintendence but not under the
direct and Immediate supervision
and instruction of the teacher" Con
tinuing his address he said, ut is
one thing to instruct class and an
other to keep busy another class"
The skill of teacher can be fully
seen by his success at doing both.
The teacher should "never lose sight
of the lesson to be impaired; that
device is a means, not an end" The
device should be changed if not
useful and not allowed to go into
routine. A device rises to the dig
nity of a method when it rests on
fundamental principle. 1t is to
awaken and arouse interest; attract
and fasten attention; to stimulate
memory; to secure order, stiffness,
prevention of dishonesty; and to ex-
cite a desire to know" He then
touched upon the form of busy work
to be taken up. Gall teaching" he
thought, rested on certain great
principles which underly the whole
subject" Teachers should wait till
the pupil was able to grasp the sub
iect, and should not teach too much
s'why" till the capacity of the child
can take it up. They should not let
pupils see they are to learn; let the
pupils go by Nature, don't drive, but
lead. In fact, his whole address
abounded with practical advice and
points to teachers.
Miss Lille Moore concluded her
talk on Geography. She maintained
that pupils should see things cor
rectly before undertaking the study.
She would "teach pupils the different
lines, and after learning how to make
the lines, have the pupils reproduce
them" Angles was the next subject
to be taught, following with the scale
of distances, requiring them to be
exact in measure. Taking up map
study, the pupils must be able to de-
termine lines and directions, passing
on to angles, comparative distances,
drawing maps, etc.
The Inspector-General read por-
ton of paper left by Mrs. Camp
bell. He explained the way to teach
the subject by giving practical illus
trations and hints. Mrs. Lord fin
ished the subject by showing how to
do the straw stringing, paper-folding
and embroidery"
In the afternoon the teachers were
requested by Mr.. Atkinson to give
the tonic sofia system fair trial,
feeling confident of much success be-
ing attained.
Prof. Scott gave an interesting and
instructive talk on geography. No
thing strikes the average child so
much as the permanence of the topo-
graphy of the earth. 1t begins to be
a new world to him when he learns
of the changes of the earth's surface.
He wants to know why winds blow,
from where the rain comes; he wants
to know concerning tides, capes,
mountains, etc. He illustrated how
to teach these subjects. From the
topography he would teach what
forms of vegetation grows IN such
and such places and what articles
are produced in different countries.
Mr.. j. F. Scott then addressed the
convention; Education in Hawaii
Nei" being his subject. He related
an election experience showing
where he acquired the presumption
necessary to enable him to talk at
the convention, and how any natu-
raj difidence may be removed. "The
thought that has appealed to me the
most forcibly in my work IN that 1t
is not only teaching the boys and
girls under our care to speak, read
and write the English language cor
rectly, to give the brain, hand and
eye skill and dexterity, but it is to
change the whole course and cur
rent of his life. In a word, to make
him an intelligent, energetic citizen,
alert and watchful for his own inter
ests, careful and conscientious in his
dealings with others"
1t is a matter of much regret that
want of space forbids mention OF
many excellent things said by Mr.
| Coo4A