The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-21

most GASES there will be . natrENl, uncon-
scious response. The framing t0nS SX..rs;.
ness. have all a morally elevattng power.
Habits formed in youth make tho man. az
we'll AZ the boy"
The lecturer closed with a recommended
tion to be careful in the selection OF books
for the children to read.
Al the day session at the high echool
building. Rev. +. d. Kelsey spoke on the
possible attainments in scientific studies IN
4 high school. Zone sees clearly" ne SAID,
that no great proficiency can DO attained
in the slight time allotted to these stuuies
in a high school. Only a few weeks can %
given to chemistry. physiology, ReslSs ~:
sciences are worthy OF a lifetime OF stdsty;
the more one knows the more will ne q
worthy of notice. BY all means let us give
our pupils a taste of something besides 0
Books, ledgers, grammars. orations, poems,
tragedies, comedies, histories-Riv tnena
mercy on them and give them some inspir.a-
lions of nature. Let us attempts TO give
our pupils something of the inspirations OF
personal investigation. OF books they nave
already had a large induction; let them
now see objects and learn from nature. n
physical geography Let them stody W"n
knife and scalpel in hand. In geology q
few specimens cleaned personally. are
worth more than mere books perused. IN
chemistry a few experiments attempted
NAV prove the open door by which some
new life may be entered. In botany q rev
excursions to the fields and brooks may
prove an inspiration. In science teacninGs
In our high schools let US spend as much
time az possible not i'll examining books,
but in the study of nature herself. Wnen
the question 10 asked AS to how this nne
theory is to be reduced to practice. the an
swer is that in law, medicine and theology
success lies more in the man tnan In MS
methods. So in the teachings OF solence;
it il more what the teacher ls than his
method, and no general rule can be given
by which a teacher can reach certain
desirable ends. If he be a
true heaven-born teacher, and
not a mere 'school-room keeper he Will
reach his aim and send men high SCHOOL
children out into the world with eyes to
see. and ears to bear, and hands to test and
try, and hearts to love and Wills to do-full
Vi purpose and skilled to act. OF a certain
tv no high school curriculum can be so ex-
tended that we can ever make OF our pupils
chemists or professors of physlo!ogy, or
biologists, or botanists. Why then at
tempt anything? Because q sk'llfnl teacher
in SIX or even three months can II wlll
give his pupils such an insight into sclsn.
tifc methods and treasures that the pupils
whole after career will be most pleasantly
affected; many will pursue it farther and
become scientists, while others Will llnCer
in fond remembrance over their school
days scientific experiments: But of this
there is a certainty, that in scien-
tifc studies, while books we must
have and books we must study,
these must be most rapidly perused
and the chief attention paid to objects.
Talking about things has not the valuo or
the inspiration of the study of natura! OBJ
jects. From theories let us turn to facts;
from printed pages to Gods " books IN
the rocks and stones, in mountains ana
wales, in sunshine glory and petal beauties:
It is the Joy and crown of many a successful
teacher who causes his pupils to go throuRn
this world of wonders as u thoughtful, rev.
erent and diligent Interrogation point, ever
asking, not in despair, but in earnest ex..
pectatlon, the grand old questions, WHAT!
and 'Why?'"
Miss Gertrude Ferris read an interesting
paper on primary numbers. G.. i. Bran
BILE, of Marysvil.e read a paper on arithme-
tic with reference to business, treating. the
subject in a practical light. The subject
was the most fully discussed Of all during
the session. Mrs. l. @. Young, ". Q.
ley, Rev. +. D. Kelsey, City Superintendent
Young, Miss L. X. Murray, Mrs. Cummings
| and Prof. S. A. Merritt took part in the dis
cussion. Mrs. I. O. Young read an inter
| esting paper On history. n MISS L.. n
Murray one on advanced geography. Misi
Murray also gave an example OF the metnoc
of conducting a class in geography. Mrs
| Clara Avery's paper on grammar was dis
oussed by Superintendent TURNKEY, Trusted
r.. H. Howey and others.
City Superintendent Young spoke OF
normal school work. He said there shoulc
be a normal institute formed for " o.
| three week after the schools closed, to fnc
out, not only if the teachers knew VIVA
knowledge to lmpart, but if they knew how
TO impart it. 1t looks rs if the suggestion
would be adopted.
ResolutlCn Ms were adopted thanking Rev
T, Il. Webb. Rev. James Reed, Rev. f. d
Kelsey and DR.. M. NJ. Dean, for paper
read before the institute; Superintendent
Turnkey, for the untirine efforts she pu
forth to make the institute instructive
pleasant and enjoyable; declaring tina
there should be a uniform system Of exami
nations, with certificates good ~throughou
the state; thanking the Helena press TO
publishing the proceedings; thanking. tn
school trustees for the use of the higl
school building, Prof. Ell. Z. Englehorn TO
the use of his hall. and Trustee VIM. Gnthri
and Others for beautiful floral designs; an
declaring that cit is the sentiment of tn
teachers of Lewis and Clarke county, tina
they discontinue the pernieious practice Q
under bidding each other in the questio.
of salary. for the sake of securin
positions"