The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-12-25
VOII26.
COUNTY INSTITUTE.

Teachers Institute convened at the
Opera House in Bloomsburg, on Dec.
ID, at o'clock. as per announcement
by the County Supt. The attendance
of the teachers was fully up to, if not
exceeding that of previous years. Ins.
titute opened with singing, conducted
by Prof. Jerry March, of Norristown.
Pa. Devotional exercises conducted
by Rev Isaac Patterson, of First
Presbyterian church of Bloomsburp.
The teachers were welcomed by
Fred 7. Ikcler, in an elegant and I'm
ished address, repletc with valuable
thoughts and suggestions for the teach
ers. Able responses were made by
Prof. l.. p. Stcrncr, PRINCIPAL OF
Boomsburg schools, on the part of
the teachers, and J. Il. Townsend.
Esq, Of Bloomsburg, representing the
directors Of the county. Both ad
dresses were well received
Supt Walton, Of Chester county.
then addressed the Institute on the
subject Habit Every habit every
mark, every thought remains. When
we think thought nervous impulse
nuns up and completes circuit be-
fore We form thought. After the
boy makes great number of resolu-
ions to make the letter 4, the ncr-
vous impulses run in The same track.
When boys 20 out OF the school-room
for the last time the one thing they
VIII carry with them, and will remain
with them permanently, is their bun
die of habits. One may be robbed Of
his reputation, but no one c5n rob
you of your habits. The value of this
institute to you viii depend upon your
habits OF thought habits OF working
before you come here. The teachers,
through habit, do great deal of in
effective work, wearing out both body
and brain. We should teach abund
ance of memory gems and pieces OF
poetry, this imbeds the habit of mem
orizlng useful extracts and directs the
mind along the channels OF morality
and religion. Persons attending
church sit down in a certain place,
religious thoughts come to your mind
when you occupy that place. Our
mind runs in channels, it is well it
does. Habit h lps us out and habit
makes life easy, but if we are not care
ful they will lead us the wrong way.
Habits die out and new ones take
their place. 1t is our business as
teachers to see that a better habit
takes the place of the decaying one,
than the old one. Break up only one
habit at time. If you change the di
rection of a boys thought you will
probably change the habit. Centre
the mind on the work and many bad
habits will be cured. as IN writing.
Supt. Harman spoke next on "Disci-
pline." This is a subject that is
somewhat hackneyed yet there must
be somewhat of interest in it to all
teachers. No teacher has reached his
ideal school. There is always some
part that can be made better. Disci-
pline don't mean the same to all.
But we all have certain ideals towards
which We are pressing. We are will
ing to- have these ideals modified One
OF the best ways to have them mod
fed is in visiting schools. Take every
opportunity you have to visit every
school within your reach. 1t is worth
while to make an effort to get an idea
school, it pays. We are aided in what
constitutes true discipline in observing
other schools than our own. A teach
er's usefulness is curta,led by his lack
of good discipline. System is import
ant, but there is such thing as dis
ciplining school to death Both ex
tremes should be avoided.
TUESDAY MORNING,
Session opened with music. Devo
tional exercises conducted by Rev
Mr.. Leverett OF the Episcopal church
Supt. Walton addressed the Institute
on Habit" The teacher that reap'
the greatest benefits from habit are
those who have good habits them
selves. Our children always expect Il!
TO be cheerful. Iritableness o.
cheerfulness on our part is habit
We delude ourselves when we thinl
we are breaking up habit, but simply
Migrating another one just as bad
Have we right to exact a promls'
from child that he will do better
The speaker here called for the opin
ions of the teachers on this point
from whom several strong arguments
were produced both pro and con
Mr.. Walton said the teachers shoulC
do but one thing at a time. Criticis(
but one thing at a time and follow
that up until the habit has been brok
en- up. The boy that has the strong
est habits for evil, and they can b'
modified and changed to habits o
good, will be the strongest boy il
deeds Of righteous. Don't give tn
children the idea that their habits arr
Eval. 1'haU ava NOT cn flyaH oc thOS