The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-02-20
TEACHERS INSTITUTE.

The local institute Tor Orange, Fish
ingcreek, Mt. Pleasant, Scott and
Centre townships, convened in Acad.
emy Hall, Orangeville, Col. Co, Pa,
Saturday, Feb. IA, 1891. AT 1890 a.
m.. Supt. Johnston called the institute
to order.
Rev. DR.. Davis of the Presbyterian
church conducted devotional exercises,
after which Prof. G.. II. Moore, of
Orangeville, was elected chairman, and
]. T. Watson, of Mt Pleasant, secre-
tary.
A Recitation, "The Organ Builder"
by Miss Minnie Kitchen, was followed
by the reading of a paper on "What
Shall the Next Generation Be- by J.
W. Hidlay. Common schools are
common means to promote common
good as the teacher is, SO is the.
school; as the schools are, so will be
the future. More real danger to the
life of the Republic now than ever be-
fore.
Prof. Welsh occupied the next
period. He said, local institutes were
good thing. The question of text
books, the means Of instruction, were
these discussed among the citizens.
We should talk to the citizens for the
people will and must make the changes.
The school system of Pennsylvania is
the best anywhere. DR. Wickersham
visited the schools of France, Ger
many and England, and concluded
that on the whole our schools are the
best for they produce the best results.
But our schools have their weak points
and these we are here to discuss.
We can learn from each other and
gain many useful lessons. Our school
houses are not what they ought be.
We seek too often to merely ill the pupils
minds with facts when really the object
Is to discipline the mind. which can be
done better with good houses, proper
furniture. Desks are not properly made
and pupils are uncomfortable and cannot
get their attention concentrated upon
their work. Teachers ought to have
proper facilities for their work, such as
dictionaries. encyclopedias, snd other
books Of reference. There ought to be a
table filed with such papers as the
Youths Companion, Treasure Irocs, etc
Parents ought to visit schools mora, there
is nothing like eternal vigilance In this
country. Teachers ought to understand
the laws Of mind development, a teacher
that does not know the order OF the
mind's development is not fit to teach
child. He recommended thorough
study Of Aliens Mind Studies or some
similar work. Don't be experimenting
on human souls. Yen may try to build
desks and fail, you may try to build
houses and fail; but do keep your hands
of children and don't injure their minds
and characters for the world Is full
enough Of sin and misery. Let 1t not be
said that the teschers' profession 10 max
ing mistakes and thereby increasing the
liability to sin and err. Prepare yourself
for your work, understand your subject
we'll. Teaching Is presenting al subject
In such . way as to make 1t easy oil
comprehension to the class brforc you.
would Ike TO see the day come when
communities would take the school busi.
ness in tAeir hands as they do other bust.
nessas; when they will see to IT that iheii
children are under the care OF proper
teachers, and in proper school houses
when they will look after these Things
with the zeal and interest that they DC
after the ordinary affairs OF life.
Recitation, by MISS Ida Jacoby, A
Roman Valentine.
Adjourned until 1880 p. m.
At 1880 when chairman Moore called tho
institute to order, the hall was well fllec
and by 2 o'clock there was little standing
room left. Supt. Johnston was given thu
floor and spoke as follows: He said tina
local meetings OF this kind are gooo
thing. That he was led by observation
to conclude that many Improvements arr
due to them, Parents, directors and
teachers are working for tho common
good as never before. The object ol
local institute 10 to AWAKEN deeper
interest. 1t has bsen said by some ont
that 1890 was the best year in the histor,
of education. Let us try to make ls9
tin better. To do this teachers mus
try to improve themselves and bette
work will follow, parents like, and 10
most part appreciate good work Teacf
ers should read more ana tAihh mof
than they are doing. 1t is after all qua
ity OF reading that counts more ina
quantity. Every teacher should nav
their time for reading and thinking; IN
facilities for in m,rovem2nt are better nov
than ever, educational works ana periou
Gals are within the reach of all, the VIZ