The herald., 1893-09-15
THE TEACHERS THINK TANKS
Well Filled with Ideas by the
Recent Institute.
Proceedings in the Various Sections
at Yesterdays Session.
Miss Annie Junkins's Valuable Paper on
Kindergarten work-Mr. Bittinger
ON Wastes in Education-Niss
Kelso on Libraries.


The frat annual institute OF the city
teachers, which has been held during
the past three days. was concluded
yesterday with very interesting sessions
among the various sections.
Throughout the entire session OF the
institute the interest has continued un-
abated. A number of very excellent
papers have been read and ably
discussed. The result Of the institute
can be but one--that the teachers have
been greatly benefited by the assem-
blage, and can now enter upon their fall
work with many excellent and new ideas
as to the methods and manner OF teach
Ing the youthful mind how to shoot.
The first hour OF the section was de-
voted to paper, Educational Value OF
Hand Work in the kindergarten, by
Mise Annie M. Junkin. She said the
child's most useful physical instrument
is the hand therefore. let tho hand and
sense OF touch be carefully developed
and exercised. 1t enters into all ex-
pressions; it becomes an important fac
tor in the development of the child
Except when the little children are
asleep their hands are in constant mo-
tson; 30 as to require stiffness on the
part OF these accurate members it is
contrary to nature. Let us strive to
turn this natural activity into chan
mel that will be benefit and pleasure
to the little ones now and in after liie
Children come to us in the kindergarten
at most impreesionable age. "They
are wax to receive, iron to retain"
Unnecessary then that the develop
ment during this period be along such
lines as will assist in laying the founda-
tion of q strong, healty, symmetrical
character. With any aims short OF this,
the kindergarten falls below the stand
ard. Bv many the kindergarten is
looked upon as merely a place where
the children are amused and enter
tanned, and the idea that they are im-
portant, truths and principles underly-
ing every gift and occupation, does not
for a moment enter their minds. The
kindergarten is means by which any
child can he helped to find and be his
real self. Development means progress,
according to law, therefore il the kim
dergarten is to be developing power,
it must necessarily be governed by some
great law. This law is called Froebel,
the ''law OF opposites and their reconcil-
iation." Every building exercise calls
into action observation and requires
concentration of minds. Accuracy OF
poeition is insisted upon. the building
must be straight, the foundation solid,
and each block must be placed firmly
and equarely on the one below it. Nav
this not serve in developing desire for
the straight. honest and true in all
things. We learn that doing is the
great kinderzarten maxim. The result
of true kindergarten training, be 1t q
child or teacher, is spirit of hopeful
nese, love ani kind thought for each
ether. ssS-1
The second hour was devoted to a
music lesson by Mrs. Rice. and the
third to physical culture by Mr.. Rohde.
In the afternoon session Ehis tection
joined section four during the frat hour,
and the second joined with section two.
During the first hour section two
joined section one 20 hear Miss Junkin.
In the second hour the teachers worked
at original designing under the direc-
tion Of Mrs. Bradfield. 1t was stated
that it makes no difference which edi-
tion Of Bradfield's drawings books is
bought by the children.
The third hour was occupied with
writing under the direction OF Professor
Stutsman.
In ths afternoon the first hour was
devoted to physical culture by Mr..
Rohde, and in the second hour Mr..
Borglum read paper on the subject of
Our Relation to Art. Italy, he said,
organized the frat real art academy
about $780, France in 1871, and England
made the Royal Academy in 1857
Americas fret effort was the National
Academy of Arts, organized in 1903. In
liberal arts we occupy place second TO
none. Our government likes to pretend
that she Is model for the world, yet we
have hardly etepped on the threshhold
Of the great civillzer, the fine arts. We
are the. only natione to exact tax for
entry into this country on works OF art
and refuses to patronize painting,
sculpture and music. The yearly at
tendance in art academies reaches to
thousands, people provide money for
etudents to atrdy abroad, and yett do not
patronize art in America. We send out
from 500 to 1900 students yearly,
and do nothing to encourage
them to return after they have become
artists. We are the greateet nation OF
picture buyeSs, but the pictures must
be of foreign works. Position in art wi Il
20 begging when you tell the boys to go
in the atreet and come back and draw
what they have seen.
A lively discussion followed the i'm.
portant idea of what Was the teachers'
influence in cultivatinX tho tastes of
children for works OF art, thereby
arousing their interest in this branch,
30 that in time they will wish to be-
come American artists.
The morning work OF section three
was occupied with lessons by Mrs. Rice
in music. and Miss Hutchinson on the
drawing and convention alizing leaves.
Mr.. M. @. Bettinger also read a very
able paper on Wastes in Education"
He said that our best graded, best gov
erned and best equipped public schools