Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-24
TALK WITH TEACHERS.
Eminent Instructors From Abroad
Tell of Advanced Methods
IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL WORK.
Miss Coffin Lectures on the Real Rights Of
Children.
PROFESSOR RUSSELL TALKS on MUSIC

1nstructing teachers in improved methods
of teaching the young was the burden of the
work done at yesterday afternoons session
of the Allegheny County Teachers Insti-
tute at the Pittsburg High School. The
large domed chapel, where the teachers
convene, was crowded to the doors at both
the morning and afternoon sessions, and the
large body of auditors were closely at
tentive.
During the morning Miss Mathilde B.
Coffin, of Detroit, detailed her new method
of instruction in reading, and Prof Emory
p Russell talked on his new ideas regard
ing musical instructions, as was published
in THE DISPATCH yesterday in an inter-
view with the eminent instructor.
County Superintendent Hamilton in
augurated his new method of holding the
institute. There we're four divisions ap-
pointed ard each of the instructors deliv-
cred their remarks in separate rooms, to
those who were interested in the different
classes Prof Russell on music Miss
Coffin On reading, Prof Deane on numbers,
and DIR. Maltby on measures were the d.
visions at the morning session and the
same instructors with different subjects
acted similarly at the afternoon session.
The Rights of Children
'The Rights of Children" was the subject
of an interesting address by the Hon. A. S.
Draper, ex-State Superintendent of New
York schools, after the afternoon session
had been assembled with prayers and music.
The gentleman thinks every American
child has as much right to be protected
from the evils of the home and other in
luences as the American citizen has the
right TO be protected from the evils of the
land. Even parents should not be su-
preme in the control of children" con-
evils as there are other evils.
The child should be protected from
these Every child is born with
the inherent right to sn elementary educa-
tion and is justly entitled to attend school
in a proper building with the proper facili-
ties. 1t is their right to be given a sound
educational treatment without unnecessary
experiments. The old system of teaching
was by terrorizing the pupil This must
be eliminated. Every child has an equal
right; their temperaments should be con-
sidered; uniformity of treatment should be
inaugurated; favoritism should be abolished;
punishments should not be inflicted to-day
for a misdemeanor committed yesterday;
they should be allowed to act naturally, and
when these necessary features do not obtain
the child should be protected from his
teacher. Work corrects troubles
Keep the Pupil Busy.
1.-The pupil should be kept busy Engage
their affections. Arouse their enthusiasm
Awaken their energies and ambition. Do
this to your pupil and he will live to call
you blessed"
The stirring remarks of the speaker
aroused much enthusiasm and general ap-
proval was evidenced by generous applause.
The following nominations were then
made for the Committee on Permanent
Certificates: Prof E. B. McRoberts, Prot
Brooks, C. B. Cook, w. d. Brightwell, J.
W. Thomas, C. J. Fisher, J. d. Anderson
and Miss NJ. J. Marshall. This committee
is the most important one of the Institute
and the election to membership is con-
sidered high honor. The election will
occur after the morning adjournment to-day.
The classes we're then divided and the
four instructors repaired to their class
work. Miss Coffin addressed the teachers
of the lower grades upon instructing pupils
in the first branches of reading. She ad-
vised her hearers to bring into prominence
the personality of the pupils to attract
their attention to the subject. "Also,"
continued the lady, 'attract their optical
attention by using colored chalks in black
board work. Do not attempt to progress
too rapidly. That confuses the little ones
Sentence Method Approved.
'T approve of instructing by the sentence
method. Have a variety of idioms
Select a subject and allude to it differently.
This will dwell with a pupil, and will give
them various methods of expressing their
thoughts"
Prot. Russell talked of musical instruc-
tion, and advised teaching by tone instead
of BY note and rote. Prof. Deane discussed
numbers and the proper graduation of prac-