The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-11-18

HSAN anu appreciate tue t1ougnl IN
reading; without this be reads ike
machine. Lessons must not introduce
new words too rapidly: and never pass a
word unless you are sure the child un-
derstaads it. People read mostly for
their own pleasure, not for the cans of
others, and should be able not only TO
know the words at sight, but TO know
what they mean. See 70 the spelling.
New words should be watched as though
they were rascals. Mere knowledge of
words don't give you tho thought. Many
children read readily but know nothing
of the meaning. The Doctor emphasized
the dictum-don't tell pupils to read as
they talk. Nobody does that; nobody
can do it. Don't look after the big words
and let the little ones take care of them
selves.
Prof. Brrmbaugh then said he would
introduce what people said he was a
crank on-Commereisl Geography that
Is, teaching geography by taking the
child along the great routes of commerce
and describing the cities, their industries
and the scenery as you go, thus holding
the child's interest. With a large map
on the stage TO illustrate his method. he
started the Institute on a trip from New
York as far as the Red Sea, and a very
interesting trip he made of it, across the
Atlantic and through Europe to the des-
tination.
On Wednesday morning at $50 the In
stitute opened with a full house and
everyone looking eager and bright, ready
for the days work. The usual hour was
spent in teachers work, led BY E. E.
Pritts. The topic of the morning was
HABITS" After a talk on the force of
habit by W. AG. Lape the discussion
was continued by Others. Queries as to
the propriety of teaching Physiology and
Algebra were answered. Messrs. Streng,
Sanner, Wand and Reninger took part
in discussion on local institutes, their
value, and how to make them interest
Ing. A paper-and a very good one
on Some things a teacher should do"
was then read by Miss Kate Davis, of
UrsinA-
Prof Meese then talked for some time
in very interesting way about Drawing
in the School, illustrating on the black
board as be went along.
the Institute then frightened up, as it
always does, at the appearance of Prof
Brumbaugh, who said he would talk Of
. The Perceptive Method of Gathering
Words" He illustrated the method on
the board, taking the teachers for pupils
He said, hold book, stone, any object
up before your cless, and ask them to
give you all the words they can think
Of that viii describe its size, weight, col
or, etc. When you have exhausted these,
try the method of opposites get the
class to think Of all the words that are
the opposite Of those used in the deserip-
ton. The imaginative and analytical
methods of acquiring words were then
discussed. He said, never drop a word
until you are sure the child knows it in
all the idioms of the language. The child
don't know words even when he can
spell, pronounce and formally define
them (; he must know them in every pos
sible relation in which they are used. He
illustrated how little most book defini-
tons are worth by an example from Her
bert Spencer. In reading, he said, the
meaning can only be known by putting
yourself in the place of the author, and
illustrated by reading Gray's Elegy.
DR.. \. C. Schaffer came on the heels of
Professor Brumbaugh. The Doctor said,
you cannot learn words from symbols
you must learn them froIn the real thing,
and as soon as you have learned them in
this way, drop the idea of things, and
use the symbols that stand for them. DIR.
Schaffer, although not a brilliant talker'
in all he says displays the man of deep
and varied learning.
Prof Leroy Stephens, of the Mt. Pleas
ant Institute, was then introduced, and
delivered an address on Patriotism, or
rather the Cultivation of Patriotism, in
the School. Prof S. said We had schools
for the cultivation of everything else but
patriotism that lies at the foundation Of
our natiousl safety and greatness. He
wants flags in the school-roem, the Dec
laration ofIndependence and the Consti-
tuition of the United States read and ex-
planned children should sing patriotic
songs. By request of the lecturer, the In
stitute joined in the singingof America"
superintendent Bsrkey then announc-
ed that the remainder of the afternoon
Eould be devoted TO the discussion of the
question Whist shall We do with the
100000 State appropriation to the
schools?7
DIR. Sehaffer initiated the discussion by
comparing Pennsylvania with ssme Of
our sister States. in which our State suf-
fered somewhat He then attempted to
make his audience appreciate the magni-
tude Of this vast sum, and the amount of
good it could do. But what brought out
the applause of the teachers was his de-
mand for better salaries. He said there
were other things to do, but that was he
first ouild new and better school hous-
es make the term longer furnish appa-
rstus, and especially furnish libraries.
New jersey, he said, with all the fun we
make of her, appropriates $500 per year
to every school within her limits, and has
a term Of SO weeks California beats US;
Connecticut beats US. Directors must be
liberal taxes must not be lowered. Pay
the teacher better and brighten bis mind
and strengthen his hands. The Doctor
theu gave a very funny imaginary scene
in court Of justice, with director on
trial, found guilty and punished for stin-
giness-
Mr.. Blake, director from Elklick, pro-
duced uproarious applause when he got
up and said be wanted to encourage the
teacher; there should be no lower taxes,
and the teacher must be better paid.
Prof Brumbaugh again stirred up the
enthusiasm when he had his say on the
expenditure Of the 100000. He talk