The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-12-30
TEACHERS INSTITUTE.

tors should see that there are no over
crowded schools. There are two or
three districts in this county where
more money is drawn from .he State
treasury than is paid their teachers.
We are willing to pay five million dol
lars to you but we want you to pay as
much as we do. l was glad to hear three
districts in this county had heightened
the school term to nine months. Out
OF the thirteen districts in this county
which did not lengthen the school
term. nine closed last year with none,
in the treasury. o, ity you can do any.
thing when you go home for these
thousands of children, do it. Every
one Of these districts is abundantly
able to give at least one month more.
The schools are for the children, not
to save money for the people. The
appropriation is for the support of the
schools and not to save from taxation.
Look at the State report and see
where you stand we'll up or down on
the list. Thirty-fve counties are
ahead in the wages Cf male teachers
and forty-two in the wages Of females.
Try and get it up to the tenth OF
twelfth. Did you ever think that pos
sibly seven years from now none OF
these children will be in schoolp
cannot see how the directors can close
the school houses with a thousand
dollars in the treasury.
TIE teachers influence will go far
beyond the school district. If you
can go from here better you ought to
do more for the state than you have
done. The next hundred ycass vii
see great change in our schools and
you will certainly receive the thanks
of the age and in the end the reward
that awaits every faithful servant.
DR.. White next spoke on Moral In
struction. There is nothing our teach
ers need more help on than mora
training. This moral training mus,
reach the will and it can be done ir
three ways, by awakening right princi
pies, quickening the conscience and
developing clear moral ideas. The
rules of conduct are best presented in
the form of maxims or proverbs
which have power of the child's minc
abstract ideas never have. The ma
terials to be used are stories, tables
parallels, literary gems, songs, pictures
and golden rules of conduct. The
method should be to awaken and emo
bic feeling, to lift it to principle, th'
spirit should be from heart to heart.
DR.. l.. B. Kline, of Catawissa, oc
cupied the next period in speaking tC
the school directors. A school dlrec
tor should furnish everything essentia
for the teachers and welfare of the pu
pills, exercise watchful care over th
teachers work, and endeavor to pro
mote regular attendance. The bes
way to secure good teachers is to pa
good wages.
Supt. Coughlin spoke next. As
listened TO these addresses ! have be
come quite enthusiastic and | hav
come 10 the conclusion that education
al progress should bear the head.
will address myself to the citizens thi
afternoon. There is responsblllt
resting upon you. There is tendenc
to shift responsibility. Now you ough
to visit your school before anothc
month. Your presence inspires tn
school. A school house should be a
good as an average dwelling house
Dollars and cents should never stan
between you and a good teacher. A
long as God gives me chance to vot
will vote for such men. (applause).
FRIDAY MORNING.
This morning the teachers all me
in the Opera House, to receive thei
final instruction S. After singing Neal
er My God to Thee, Rev. Mr.. Fergu:
on, offered prayer all joining in re
peating the Lords Prayer.
Supt. Coughlin said too many chi
dren study the book and think know
edge is only found in memorizin
books. Distinguish between mean
and ends in education. The chill
should not be allowed to be Careles
with his books. Power to do and nc
merely accumulate facts is the rea
end of our work. / like the story {
the Evolution of Dodd' because
shows US how Mr.. Bright studied an
found out way to lift
boy out of moral degradation int
hope and good life, Children ar
living things and while we are doin
something tor them they are doin
something for themselves. Distinguis
clearly between recitation and prepal
alton. Don't make up by recitation
what the child should acquire by actua
preparation. Donot censure trihing mis-
takes too severely or you will not b
able to give great mistake justice
We should be very careful of our pei
sonal habits. the child will most lkel
, choDt, his life from fiat of the teache,