The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-04-17
LOCAL INSTITUTE.


township was held in the high school
room on Saturday, April 4,h
Supt. Johnston called the institute
to order at 10 A. m. The program
was then opened with singing by the
institute, followed by devotional exer
cises conducted by Rev. VIM. Moses.
of the NJ. f.. Church.
Prof. John f. l.. Morris, principal
Of the Catawissa schools, was made .
Chairman of the institute. After the /
election of Secretary the program
was continued.
No better opening could have been
arranged than the lively motion song, |
given by Miss Franc Keifer's class |
This was followed by an address by
Mr.. Hover on the "Formation and
Power of Habit" in which he showed
habit to be one of the principles TN
derlying education, and a knowledge
Of its formation and power necessary
to intelligent teaching
Miss Berninger occupied the next
period with an interesting class drill,
science lesson on wading birds.
The subject specialists in Public
School Work" was then discussed in
an essay by Miss Kurtz. The import
ance of this subject has as yet been
only partially recognized by the public
Consideration will show that special
lists in public school work will gain for
the pupil, time and scholarship.
A much appreciated change in the
program was the song with guitar ac-
compartment rendered by Miss Hester
Lewis.
Ambrose Shuman followed with an
address on "How to give the child the
most beneficial discipline He i'm.
pressed the necessity of harmonious
training--physical, mental and moral
Youth properly moulded will make a
noble manhood
The talk of Prof. Bakeess on
Natural sciences in the public
school," was listened to with the great
est interest. Teachers have not in.
terpreted the lessons in nature to their
pupils. Country boys 90 through life
with closed eyes to the sermons nature
has to teach them. If observation is
to be cultivated at all, it must be done
before the pupil has reached the age
of fifteen. Education to-day is too
bookish, pupils think they can not
learn anything outside of books, This
must be overcome by the earnest
teacher. The detail of arithmetic,
geography and history would better be
sacrificed that time may be given to
the principles of botany, chemistry
and physics, which will be useful to
the man in every trade and profession.
These subjects properly taught will
open the pupils eyes to the beauties
of nature, and create a yedrning in
him to pursue the subjects after leav-
ing school. Chemistry can be SO ra-
tionally taught as to prove interesting
and profitable to the boy of nine years.
Children are delighted with expert
ment. Teachers should make use of
this in arousing interest Several
weeks in fall and spring might be used
in creating love for botany, while
during the winter months some in
struction could be given in astronomy.
Teachers should acquaint themselves
with the country in which they live
the nature of the rocks, flora &c.
Enthusiasm aroused on one subject will
create enthusiasm on all others. The
science will thus have reflex action
on all branches. Combine science
teaching with other subjects, partlcu-
larly in language work. To do all
this the teachers must be willing to
sacrifice some time to study, not only
OF text books but nature.
After the appointment of commit
tee on resolutions the institute ad-
journed till 1, p. m.
The afternoon session opened with
singing by the institute, followed by
an address by Supt. Johnston, in
which he spoke Of the physical, intel
lectual and moral fitness of the teach
er; necessity of forethought, firmness
and charity. Forethought enables the
teacher to meet with dignity the un-
eXpeCteu oCCuiienCeo vi 'hS uo)' 4>o
love of ease must prevent him from
setting aside some period for fore
thought. In order to succeed he
must show firmness; there must be
some iron in the heart. Individual
excellence is the result Of long years
of right thinking. The teacher must
have chord in his nature vibrating
with that of his pupils, if he would
reach their hearts. Charity sees some
thing in every pupil, however dark
the exterior. Have we the strong
individuality. the personality, the char
ity to make us the workers we should
be
Miss Grace Moses then entertained
institute with a recitation on "lm-
proved methods of education"