Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-08-10
TEACHERS INSTITUTE.
Thirteenth Annual Meeting Now In
Session-A Large Attendance.
Enrollment-Notes.

teachers OF Belmont county nave gain
cred themselves together into an Insti
tute. On opening Monday morning il
the School Hall, Prof Houck said tina
never in his long experience had he seeI
so large a number of teachers present al
an Ohio Institute the first day. This il
explained by two facts-that the Institute
is this year only one week in length, anC
that the management have brought hert
three of the best educators known to the
country, namely: DR.. r. G. Boone, o.
Bloomington, Indiana; Prof. Ballet, oi
Springfield, Mass, and Hon. Henr,
Houck, of Harrisburg, Pa.
The days are divided into two sessions
during each of which these three men
deliver lecture. In addition, there is al
noon of each day at the Court HOUSE
Hall, gathering for roll call, for some
special music, and for listening to some
more general talk by one of the instruc
tors. On three nights of the week there
are to be set lectures by these three men
Altogether it is to be wondered how
these gentlemen hold up under their con-
slant lecturing, for they throw into il
all their vigor. There is liberal attend.
ance of townspeople, but it is not as lib
eral as it should be. Every man, woman
and child in the town and vicinity should
attend every possible lecture. Every
u
down his one dollar. 1t is not often
that we have such eminent talent brought
to our doors, and we simply miss golden
opportunities by not listening to them
The enrolment is now 170; it ought to
have been 250. The eastern and south
eastern parts of the county are well rep
resented, but the reverse is true of the
western and northern portions.
At ten o'clock Monday morning J. ID.
Miller called the teachers to order. DR..
Webb opened the session with devotional
exercises. President Barre was intro
duced and made brief address on assum-
ing the gavel, reminding the teachers that
the executive committee had done its
work well, and that now the success of
the Institute of '93 rested with them
selves. In the absence of the secretary,
Miss Irene Ferrel was appointed to act
pro tenn. The three instructors were at
once put to work, each making brief
address, and introducing himself and his
work for the week.
The general line of work pursued by
Prof. Boone may be called practical
psychology. The principles and laws of
the human mind are laid bare, and it is
shown how this knowledge is to be utilized
in directing the instruction and growth
of the child's mental faculties. Teachers
had better use note books while listening
to these remarks, for they contain much
mot found in the books, and are empha-
sized and driven home with all the
Doctors earnestneSs.
Prof. Ballet applies broad and sug-
sgestive commoD-sen to the art of
teaching. His thought gathers up a
Thousand points that have not before
occurred to the teacher, and picks into
small pieces the old methods OF teaching.
Everything is enforced with a remarka
lble wealth of homely illustration that
fixes the ideas in the memory. 1t is plain
that Prof Ballet has been deep and
earnest student of his profession.
Prof. Houck's lectures thus far have
been in regard to the teachers deport-
ment and his manners. The subject is
treated with all this gentleman's we'll
known wit, and in his inimitably
hearty, and sympathetically humorous
way.
Monday evening the teachers and
young folks of the town gathered in the
School Hall for social. With becoming
acquainted and listening to songs and
other music, the evening was enjoyably
and profitably passed.
Prof. Ballet spoke Tuesday at noon on
Political and Social Influences in school
work. He called attention to the hin.
drances presented superintendent by the
appointment of incompetent teachers
lowing that appointment solely to polit
ical, or to social and church influences
he had word of sarcasm also for the
present method of arranging rigid courses
of study, as well as for the present
method of apportioning salaries. The
plan of paying teacher less for primary
work, he said, is absurd, and is a system
based on the pupils height.
Prof. Boone lectured Tuesday evening
at the Presbyterian church TO fairly
large attendance, his subject being
'"Richard Realf, the Soldier Poet" Tht
lecture was the record of turbulent
prosecuted and self-effacing life. Real
was an Englishman, who came to Amer
lea in the fifties, who identified himsel
with every noble work, was John Brown
ardent follower, served from Illinois
during the war, worked on newspaper
at Columbus, Cleveland and Pittsburgh
was carpet bagger at the South afte
the war, and who finally, driven to dis
traction by disloyal wife, took his owl
life. The details of this sad life wer
collected evidently by loving hand, an
graphically and Interestingly presented
Seven exquisite poems were read, show
ing the writer to have been a genuin
poet, with all poets mastery of form
poets insight into world causes, hi
dedication of the ideal and his deep III
derstanding and love of nature. PerhaI
those that will linger longest in th
memory with their haunting phrases al
"a triple sonnet, "My Slain Self and al
direction" The evenings lecture wa
well and appropriately supplements
with two beautiful songs by Mrs. Jessi
Carroll.
ENROLMENT.
INsTRUCToRs-Riehard G. Boone, Bloomingto
Ind; Hon. Henry Houck, Harrisburg, Pa; Il