The times., 1890-11-21
sUPERINDENTs' AND PRINCIPALS
MEETING.


sUPERIYDENTs' AND PRINCIPALS
MEETING.
This association convened at Corunna,
Saturday. Supts. Simmons and Cupples,
Principals Frost, Balch, Brandt and
McEuen, Secretary Dewey, Misses Dawson.
Dewey and Curliss, Mrs. l.. K. Gould and
Ex-Secy Mcbride were present.
1t was late in the forenoon before the
program was begun. Supt. Simmons spoke
briefly on the objects of the association.
stating that in these smaller meetings we
come closer together. The exchange Of
ideas and promotion of educational Ell
thusiasm was resultant that never failed.
"Applied psychology" was the subject first
taken up on the program.
II. ii. Frost said that the problem for
educators was with boys and girls to teach.
how are we to make the best men and
women of them" The study of mental
growth enabled the teacher to reach these
pupils individually. Suly's hand book Of
psychology was highly recommended. Tie
study of mental development and mental
attitudes had enabled the speaker to over
come difficulties that otherwise would have
been serious. Mrs l.. +. Gould of OwOsso
read an excellent paper which upon motion
of Principal McEuen was to be printed ia
the educational column of THE TINES.
Supt. Cupples thought that much of fpsychol-
ogy was nonsense, that different methods
were advocated by different writers and that
common sense was after all what counted
in teaching. Miss Dawson considered that
which is termed common sense after all is
uncommon sense and that this was acquired
by study of the mind and human nature.
Sec'y Dewey said that 1t was obvious how
min fbn
the mind and apply that knowledge In
teaching but as most people were net
geniuses. study was necessary.
The association adjourned to the dining
room Of the Central House and continued
educational repartee at the dinner table.
The scope of the educational column was
considered first i'm the afternoon. EX-Sec'y.
Mcbride said that the newspapers were the
diSSemnatorS and creators of public Opny
ion; and that public opinion was often re-
tarded by lack of appreciation of school
work; that the most efficient teacher was
unable to accomplish the full measure of his
efficiency where Indifferent patrons caused
friction in the educational machine. The
knowledge of the teachers aims and method,
would make more appreciatve public and
would benefit the younger members of the
teachers corps. Teachers local news wa5
desirable although perhaps not so beneficial.
Other members of the association expressed
themselves in favor of making the column
newsy and of interest not only to teachers
but to school patrons.
The next topic on the program related to
the advantages of diagraming as an aid tc
the study of grammar. The discussion was
opened by Supt. Cupples, who maintained
that the diagram was almost an unnecessary
luxury; that any student, who could correct
ly analyZe sentence, could readily diagram.
it and that the time used was almost wasted;
he further said that diagraming largely con-
sisted in having large number of outlines,
which could be filed in OH short notice.
There was one decided advantage, however,
it relieved the monotony of the recitation by
varying the routine of work.
The question was taken up by the other
members present and discussed pro and con-
for nearly an hour. Mrs. Gould said the
first really successful work she ever did II
grammar was after commencing the study
of sentences by means of the diagram; this
method was in the nature of a bird's-eye
view--the work could be taken in at q
glance. Miss Dawson urged that anything
that reused the interest and attention of the
class should be encouraged and that the dia-
gram was one of the best means for this
purpose. Prof. Brandt said that i'm his ex-
perience he had found the diagram useful
adjunct to the teaching of grammar. Prof.
Simmons thought that too much stress was
apt to be laid on the necessity for diagram
ing; the really important thing was the
ability to analyze sentence.
The last topic on the program was: "HOw
can we remedy the existing defects in the
methods of teaching reading? What are
the defects?" Profs. Brandt and McEueu
were the first speakers and treated the sub
ject almost exhaustively. The discussion
which followed was i'm accord with the posi-
ton taken by the leaders. The defects a.
brought out by the leaders and others were
of various kinds; (a) the position of the
child when reading; (b) the lack of proper
drill i'm reference to the manner of reading
(c) lack Of intelligent appreciation by the
teacher both of the subject matter of the
piece and the difficulties of the child IL
understanding it; I'D a disposition to criti-
cize too freely; (e) the use of selections that
were too short and fragmentary; (f) lack of
proper grading, i'm consequence of which
the same textbook was used term after
term until the novelty of the pieces had
worn off and the interest become dead; (g)
the lack of language study as part of read
ing.
The meeting then adjourned to meet at
such time and place as the president shall
designate.
Mr.. Erwin G.. Smith, of New Lothrop,
recently sent to the county secretary some
specimens of language work which indicate
the successful results of the plan of having
his pupils write short stories from dictatio,
outline.
e Is G. Mistake