Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1891-07-30
INSTITUTE In SESSION.
The Belmont County Teachers Annual
Training School
Begins Work on Monday Thirty-fve in
Attendance Hitch Arranged
Full Proceedings.

The Belmont County Teachers Inst
tute, in eleventh annual session, opene
in this place on Monday At O'clOc
c. q. Patterson, chairman of the ExecU
tive Committee, called the assemble
pedagogues to order and with devOtiona
exercises the Institute began its WORK
But the Institute was not to star
without hitch in the proceedings. A
the last moment the Executive Com
mittee found that only one of tn
employed instructors was eligible unde
the law, namely, Prof Waters Unde
the new law passed in May, the County
Examiners are prohibited from any con
nectiOn with teachers institutes. AL
though Messrs. Murphy and Duncan had
been employed in February, these gentle
men thought it best under the circum
stances to sever connection with the
Institute. The late Commissioner Han
cock had given an opinion to the effect
that the new law would not invalidate
their right to teach, it having been passed
after they had been employed, still to
avoid any trouble that might arise to
imperil their official positions, they
quietly stepped down. To supply the
vacancies caused the committee some
effort, but E. E. Sparks, an excellent
instructor and late Superintendent of
the Martins Ferry schools, was secured
Monday afternoon. Pref. Waters will
take some work additional to what was
first intended, and Mr.. Sparks will con-
duct the remainder of the work. With
two such instructors, although on them
the work will fall the heavier, it is assured
that no one will lose anything by the en-
forced change in arrangements. 1t being
necessary for Prof. Sparks to make some
preparation before taking charge of his
classes, he was excused until Thursday.
The teachers are congratulating them
selves that the Institute will be in charge
of two such popular and capable men
Until Prof. Sparks returns his classes are
being conducted by W. r. Butcher and
W. l.. Barre.
On account of the law mentioned. |
President T. p Harris was compelled to |
resign his place as chairman, and May |
wood Forsythe, the Vice President, took
his chair. Miss Lide Anderson carefully
and i'm business-like manner performs
the duties of Secretary. An enrolment
was taken, and 29 teachers, both real and
prospective, entered their names. A
committee on introduction was appointed
as follows: Miss Lide Anderson, E. f.
Barnes, Mrs. Jessie Carroll, and Miss
AIDA Ault. After transacting some other
business, an adjournment
was taken until Tuesday morning.
Although there was a lack of instruct
Ors on the first day, Tuesday morning start
ed off smoothly. Prof Waters now has
the grammar, arithmetic, photography
and reading classes. Messrs. Butcher
and Barre take care of physiology, histo-
ry and geography classes, and it is pre-
sumed that these classes will be retained
by Prof. Sparks. However, the program
is subject to change. Still, one thing is
Prof. Waters will teach the
grammar classes. Those present say Mr..
Waters is even better in grammar than
two years ago, and he always has been
considered well-nigh indisputable au-
thority. All these gentlemen have sue
ceeded in injecting much life into the
classes, and great interest is already
manifested by those present. A large t
increase in attendance is expected by (
next Monday, and by that time every +
thing will be moving under full pressure.
The day opens with devotional exer- |
cises at S:45, and 10 minutes later the reg
nlar work of the day begins. According ,
to the present program, which is subject J
TO change at any time, the classes are i
heard as follows; 900 clock, Geography; 2
9:45, Grammar; l0:4O, OrthOgraphy; IL 20,
Physiology. 1;30, History; 2:15, Arith- g
metic; $40, Reading. A class in Penman-
ship has not been organized, but will be ,
as soon as demanded +
AS soon as the institute was started ,
the Executive Committee left, and have !
not since been seen. Some criticism of @
the Committee is heard, the opinion be a
ng expressed by some that these gentle t
men did not begin early enough to prop
erly work up the Institute, and that they 4
exhibit personal lack of interest in the 7
work, which is scarcely fitting, inasmuch q
as they sought the position, and it was +
they would give full attention to +
their duties. However, these gentleman +
seem to have recently done the best they
could to further the interest of the Insti-
tute.
Prof. Waters, in some remarks at 4
The opening of the Institute, explain +
ed the method of conducting insti- \
tutes in Pennsylvania, where attend
ance of teachers is compulsory. He rec n
the adoption of some such +
system here. In Pennsylvania the ex-
penses of the teachers at the institutes are 7
paid to the amount of 50 per day. He r
also thought township superintendent !
needful in maintaining the schools. E
The older teachers present seem to be
united in the opinion that all teachers +
should be in attendance at the annual In
stitute, and that it beats independent +
normal schools all hollow.
ENROLMENT. T
Up to Wednesday at noon the follow a
ing teachers were enrolled: L. II. Waters, i
Media, Pa; haywood Forsythe, Blaine: +
Lide Anderson, st. Clairsville; f. f.
Barnes, Barnesville; c. U. Patterson, |
Bethesda; w. G. Cash, Morristown; AIDA
Ault, Jessie Carroll, Carrie Williams,
Anna Meek, Rena Ferrel, Bessie Adams, &
Matte Alther, Nina Morgan, Belle t
Webber, p. T. Anderson, Bertha A. !
Sutton, Clara Scott, o. H. Lucas, Blanche /
Harrison, Anna o. Hubbard, st. Clairs- {