The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1892-02-22
Teachers, Institute.

met at the school building in the enter
prising town of Dufur for their local |
teachers institute on the 18th.
Promptly at 10 o'clock Supt. Shelley
called the meeting to order, and an
nounced, that the first exercise would
be song of we. come by the Dufur high
school. Miss Kate CronIn was then
elected secretary of the institute.
Supt. Shelley's Introductory address
was earnest and forcible, showing the
usefulness of teachers Institutes and
advising teachers to attend them when
ever they could. After this address an
opportunity was given for all teachers to
sign the roll. Twelve teachers from
various parts of the country were thus
enrolled. The subject of arithmetic was
then presented by P. Underwood, who
asked why we study arithmetic, and
answered his own question by saying
that it was for practical use in after life,
and urged the teachers to seek for def
mite results. The things to be accom-
plished would require thorough knowl-
edge of the fundamental principles of
arithmetic. Therefore, take time, and
lay the foundation well; require neat
ness in the work of the child, thereby
teaching other things than numbers.
The morning session was closed by
song by the school, which Prof. Frazier
said was for the old people. We enjoyed
it. After the Underwood exercise in
arithmetic, Mr.. Hinman gave us an in
teresting talk on writing. Writing was
an art not science, illustrated and
described muscular movement. Favored
practice paper rather than copy books.
At 1 80 the institute again took up the
work and after two songs, sung by the
school, which were well received by the
audience, Supt. Shelley announced
Prof A. Frazier as the first speaker and
his subject orthography. He had pre-
pared an exercise on the board. The
sounds of the vewels, had been classified
into long and short sounds; and on this
exercise he drilled the teachers. Showed
how teachers could easily prepare such
exercises for use in their own schools,
urging them to drill on this work fire.
quently.
Miss Kate Cronin of The Dalles then
gave the institute very able paper, the
subject of which was Enthusiasm in
the Work." She spoke first of the i'm
portance of enthusiasm in the teachers
work. If on entering the work you do
not find yourself becoming enthused, it
would be we'll to examine yourself; and
see if there is not something lacking !;
and if still you find no enthusiasm in
the work, it would be better to seek
other lines, rather than to remain in
this, which requires so much enthusiasm.
All should be enthusiastic, school boards,
superintendent, teachers, patrons of our
schools, and the citizens of our country,
for if we love our country we should be
very much in earnest, in regard to the
education of the coming citizen for it is
only when people become ignorant and
corrupt, that they become incapable of
self government. We know that truth
and right have the universe on our side.
On the subject OF physiology, Supt.
Shelley said that teachers were now re-
quired to be examined on this subject.
Man had three fold nature, the mental,
the moral, the physical, and all should
be developed, not one at the expense of
the others. But this development
should be delegated to the teacher. He
condemned the process that graduated
the child from the schools at too young
an age.
An essay by Miss Edith Peabody
showed much study, and presented many
useful thoughts.
Mr.. Underwood in his talk on reading
favored word method and the alphabet
combined. Believed in reading charts.
Advanced classes should be taught to
study the nature of the piece they were
to read as to style, force and pitch.
Dwelt on articulation and expression
| A singing exercise closing the after
noon session.
The evening session was opened with
singing by a large choir of trained voices.
The evening sessions were held in the
M. f. Church. .9s-ss
Mr.. Shelley spoke on the thoroughness
in the work. Its Importance and lasting
effect.
An essay by Miss yanderpool was in
structiye and interesting.
A discussion of the subject, Shall the
state furnish text books free of cost, was
supported by Messrs. Hinman and An
derson, and was opposed by Miss Kate
Cronin and Mr.. Dufur. The judges
decided in favor Of the affirmative.
The evening session closed with song
! by the choir. -
Friday February 2o.LThe morning
session was opened by songs by the high