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


er.
Dr. White then took up the sub
ject of Language. If we have wrong
methods in language exercises we will
not reach the right end. | once had
boy come to my school who was
very backward in his studies but wrote
an almost faultlcss essay in about two
hours. He tad been taught to use
language and not mcmorIse books.
There was not pupil four years
ahead of him that could write as good
language rs he did. He had been re-
qulred to write letter every day. He
brought me all the letters he had
written, 400 in all, nicely arranged.
The first letters were boys letters, but
they kept on getting better until
the last were six pages in length. He
knew nothing about grammar but he
did know how to use good language.
That set me to thinking what Is the
use of English grammar for the child
ren. Twenty 1--WE years ago | wrote
my first book on teaching. have
learned something since then. Some
boys came to me one day when was
pcrintendent of the Cincinnati
schools and wanted me to excuse
them from writing compositions every
two weeks. | told them | would on
one condition that they should write
one every day and allow me to teach
them. They had studied English
grammar for five years and could not
speak good English.
There was once a poor boy who
had to leave school to work as report
er TOR newspaper on very small pay
and In two years he wrote so well that
he was called to write for a much bet
ter paper with large increase of sal
ary. We want facility in the child to
express himself clearly. Facility is
the great aim of all teaching and then
skill in the use of writer, forms. Skill
is acquired by practice. language
IS synthesls grmmar is analogy. You
can never lmpart the act of analysis
by synthesis, and grammar trains
largely by analysis. First have the
child see what you wish him to ex.
press for no child can write when it
has nothing to see Never require a
little child to write what he has not
previously told. When child can
tell you clearly what he has found out,
he is prepared to write it. Teachers
as class do not know how to teach
music. Nearly all make it test Of
knowledge and not lesson to acquire
power.
Prof. Case has been giving excellent
instructions in music every day and
he occupied the next period. He
said the time is soon coming when
teachers will be required to teach
music in all the schools. Those who
can teach the rudlment of music now
receive better pay l would just as
soon teachers could not sing to teach
music. Don't use the whole staff at
first; it confuses the children. You
cannot lind anything that will please
the country people better than to
teach the rudiments of music. Make
all good music readers. Procure a
pitch pipe and in that way get the cor
rect key and the teacher need not sing
single word,
Prof. Noetling spoke on Instruction.
You are all aware that we are living
in an age of progress and in this per
haps the greatest age OF the world it
behooves us to keep ahead with this
momentum. We as teachers want to
prove all things and hold fast to that
which is good. We must see that our
children understand what we present
to them We must stop the hearing
of lessons and 60 to instlueling. Many
of us read too much and think too lit
tie.
Supt, Johnston appointed a teacher
from each district to ascertain what
has or will be done towards having eX-
hibits at the Worlds Fair from our
schools.
After answering some questions,
Supt. Coughlin spoke on Physiology.
1t is important, he said, that we stem
the tide of intemperance and make
the next generation stronger and bet
ter. BY a unanimous vote of the
teachers, the law requiring the teach
ing of physiology was considered a
wise one. If the twelve hundred
million dollars that are spent for al
cohal and narcotics were applied to
education, we would have two acres
of ground for each school house; Brus
sells carpet on the floor, pictures on
the walls and Libraries well stocked
with books. Search out the truth and
then have the courage to state it.
Better health and moral character
must come out of this study.
This forenoon was the last time the
Institute was divided in two sections
as the instructors were the same In