The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-02-01
Portage County teachers lnstl

The session of the Portage County Teachers
Institute last Saturday was well attended by an
earnest body of educational workers, who made
it most profitable meeting.
Tb session was called to order by the retir-
ing President. w. q. VanNess, followed by
reading of scripture and prayer by Rev. H. d.
Stauffer,
w. S. Robinson Principal of the Kent High
School. the President for the ensuing year made
very happy inaugural address, taking for his
subject, Teachers and Taught" The first
point touched upon was that part of child's
training and care was left in the hands of the
teacher. One of the first requirem ents was the
intellectual development of the teacher A
first essential is that pupil and teachers should
understand each other. false position for the
pupil is to think that the teacher knows it all
The teacher may inspire enthusiasm in his
pupils by showing that he himself is searching
after knowledge. The teachers education must
be broad enough to teach on all subjects. The
second point made was that the moral nature of
the teacher must be cultivated. The third is
that mis- religious nature must also be cultivated
Leaving out the moral and religious simply
eqnips for shrewder rascality. Lastly ne spoke
OF our schools requiring more male teachers.
| A child needs the training of both father and
mother, therefore there should be both male and
| female teacher. The manner of thought of each
is different. A man generalizes in his modes of
thought, while the lady teacher goes more into
detailed completeness. She is better adapted
for teaching history and art and Ian guage while
he inclines to the mathematical and scien tific.
The address was followed by general dis
cussion. after which a short intermission was
had.
A piano solo by Kent lady was enjoyed by
| oil iab Al D
on the Metric System, explaining its implicitly
and merits. He said that mistake was made
in teaching the system by spending too much
time in reduction from one system to another
| whereas the system should be used by itself A
lively discussion followed in which Superln
teDdent Merrill. Mr.. Seymour and others took
part. Adjourned to two O'Clock.
At the Afternoon Session. MIR. L. Bnrrill
| of Atwater. read an interesting paper or
ga Modern Educator in which he paid an elo
quent tribute to Pestalozzi. the great Swiss ed
ucational reformer, Then came vocal solo by
Miss Josie Olin. of Kedt, followed by another
short intermission Miss Slade, of CARROTS.
Vile. then gave lesson in drawing, in which
the blackboard was almost exclusively used
She exemplified few important measurements
| in drawing the human form. When one ha:
these In mind he can draw the form in any pc
sition. Second; If one understands how t
draw a box correctly he can at once draw
multitude of other objects. She was fo lowe
by Mr.. Taft. who read excellent paper i
which he said that the teacher should b
symmetrical. We should not overrun one sidt
of the pupils mind to the dwarfng of the res
We are not making Garfelds now. thing t
be lamented. Men fail because one part o
their education was neglected,
This closed the session. The large attendanc
was most gratifying. 1t is certainly a hopefu
sign for the future to note the increasing inter
est in these helpful auxliaries to the success fu
teachers work A room filed with trained in
tellects assembled for the purpose of mutua
assistance and advancement is certain to pro
duce life enduring profit to every sincere at
tendant Saturdays session accomplished muc
and was a grand success.