The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-11-25
Geography y" Longer Il Tiresome
Subject to Teach on For Put
pills to Learn.
housekeeping and Class Exercise in
Language Considered by the
Educators Yesterday.
Needed Reforms in Il Montana school
Law Which j. at Present
Dead Letter.

The second days session Of the Cas-
cade county teachers institute opened
yesterday at 9:l5. The first subject con-
sidercd was that Of "Geography." on
which Miss Sara Swain presented some
interesting and practical thoughts. After
recalling to the minds OF those present
the long columns Of names and dry facts
which made the child of d generation
since just "hoh jorgaphy." she out
lined IA course which may be reasonably
expected TO arous" an opposite feeling.
The child's imagination should b" eN-
cited 80 that he will see not a crooked
black line. but, d real river with flowing
water, dashing falls. and green-bordered
banks. The dot which marks the city
should summon the vision of busy mills.
long streets. and beautiful homes. In
order to cultivate this realism III the
teaching of geography the teacher
should draw from every possible source
of information: books Of travel. illus
trated articles in current literature. pie.
lures and photographs should he gath
: cred 10y both teacher and pupils. In It
ltSStiIl Dl ' t1llCt ltt NtCdNti ild'l uSt''
} as a basis AN illustrated article in iiar-
per's Weekly and Mark Twain's de
s~cription in "lnnOCcnts Abroad. To
add to the interest Of the study Of II
y country tales from both the history and
fiction of the locality may he related and
brief sketches Of noted men connected
: herewith given. kcep the pupils
p always on the alert for any fact or pict
! urc connected with the country they
1 are studying. Let the pupils make their
e own list Of places. lakes. bays, mountains,
y ctc..to be rcmcmbcred.ta taking care that a
1 few Of the most important he well fixed
4 rather than Il confused mass of names
only half learned. The geography lesson
: may bc happily utilized as a part of Ian
I guage work. and in tins connection Miss
+" Swain has found Miss Halls Our
e World very valuable. This cX-
t cellcnt paper concluded with an
appeal to teachers to draw out and
give reasons for all Photographed facts
in geography. as a powerful aid in mem
y urizing. The climate. pursuits, etc, OF
any country should he logically account
ed for. Some practical hints on map
drawing we're given. and apropos ol the
:. subject a number of p~rcttily drawn maps
II were shown: of the latter those bearing
the names of Leonard Wagner, kath-
crime Richardson. Pearl Hut and Ton
Hodges were exceptionally good,
The subject Of teaching bookkeeping
in the public schools wHS next consider
ed and elected various opinions but ~"
1T definite conclusions.
Miss Mary Gilchrist then gave a class
tcXcrc,s@ in language III which the little
ones did somc creditahIc writing Of sim
pie sentences,
The morning session was concluded
hy remarks from MIR. J. :. Davidson on
4, DR., ltiCes recent ur'}"l" IL lhe Forum
on the schools Of Baltimore, Buffalo amt
Cincinnati. MIR. DAVIDSON seems inclin-
ed TO believe that Dr. Rice is justified IN
makiGg most Of the serious charges
contained il his articles. and thinks the
blame not wholly due 10 either the detri-
mental influence Of politics upon the
'' public schools. nor t. the indifference Of
at the people AT large. but rather To the
m teachers themselves. who for the most
o, part fail t. comprehend the secrets and
beauties Of what Is known as "the new
ne education" The teachers were wisely
cs advised e. read the articles montluur.
As. and then dispersed 10 consid"r lpr itr'
-, and their midday rrpasts.
" Mi j. y Largcnt presented th" first
''' rarrr Of the afternoon session on tn
IT subject ur "Nccucd reforms ~ Montana
School Law II" said one Of the mus'
i'll necessary reforms was the alteration 81
nj thc rOmpuisury school law. which an IL
n. prcsnn, form was PRACTICAL! a dead let
re Ter. The prosecution Of parents Nt.
I" break the law dcpruds uoN upon tu'
Dee sriup. trustees ami for various rca~on'
is SELDOM attempted. Nr. Lurgcnt
-. would nave tLr teacher i'm each district
I'D required to report all cascsut delinquency
is to the county ~upcrintendcrt.whu SHOULD
in turn report them to tie county attur
,at ne, for prosecution. The speak,
MT thought no changes necessary in clihr'
a the present system of grading, H.,
IN mrtnui Of conducting county institutes
or the granting Of teachers certificates
10y \ very general discussion followed tie
hc reading of the paper.
IN Mr.. W. g. Light nest SPOKE Of tn
er "Monthiy Reports in IA" Count.
schools. and after ii short recess Mis-
red Marion G, Spraguc conducted an inter
r. cstlng language lesson with the appI'
I" and orange as objects.
Mrs. W. !. Bower read the final papc
Of the ,la> rr the subject Of rtticicu
he Suprrylslou. She emphasized the neccs
"c sity Of an teachers being th"mselNc
ny models Of what they would have thos
ne. uudrr their rarc become. for. AS Is H.
am tao her So l. the ScUoo. Next 10 tins
a. a qualification was placed a natura
adaptation H. tic work amt a ronStan
ted care lest in the ragcrncss 10 c~ultlvat
my the mental faculties the moral AN,
physical natures I've forgotten. Spencer
auhurl-m was quoted. 1t Is not tn
kuowIrlgc stored mp as intellectual IA
L. which j. of value but that winch
turned into intellectual muscle. Afte
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