The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1894-05-05
TEACHERS INSTITUTE.
Interesting Session and Close of the
Proceedings.


the minutes of Thursdays session.
Number Of teachers enrolled 40. Ro
call showed about 30 present.
The work opened with the subjec
What is Executive Ability?" by r. n
Wright.
Mr. Brewer then presented the sub
ject, Value Of School Tactics" For
mai movements Of pupils, its value
saves time; avoids confusion; bring
about the best discipline; avoids op
portunities for mischief; its effect upoi
the child respecting the teacher; lead
to system on the part of the teacher
gives culture to all.
A. W. Prescott gave practical tall
on Public Opinion and Esprit du
Corps" He divided public opinion into
two divisions-the opinion Of the pupils
Of the teacher and the opinion Of teach.
er toward the pupil. Pupils opinion
usually general and founded on feeling
and not on reason, and can therefore
be easily changed Do not try to gain
the approval of public opinion; do what
we think is right, and the pupils opin,
ion Of you will be all just.
Miss Nellie Nickerson presented
Working for Mark" She gave an
explanation of the Department game"
used in her room. 1t is based upon the
principle that pupil is more benefited
by receiving mark for merit than by
working for reward
The discussion Of school tactics was
resumed, and Miss Wooden, Mr. Brow,
er, Miss West, Mrs. Foster all insisted
upon marching in the school as a. means
of discipline
A recess of five minuetes was then
taken, after which Mr.. Clark presented
the committees report on United States
history.
Object of historical study not only to
CLEAN historical facts, but to read for
training for ability to Judge; for broad
insight. History some advantage over
science. History should train the pupil
to throw away the unimportant things
of the text and thereby save valuable
time. Begin study of history as soon
as pupils can read well. Study history
intensively; get to the bottom; effect |
from cause, the motive back of action;
teach history parallel to that of United |
States history; arrange the subjects
around the great central events.
Special attention was called to the |
method of intensive study of history |
also to the value of beginning history |
early by the stories found in every his
tory.
Make use of the child's love for the |
heroes of our country, but do not put |
too much coloring into these stories.
Chairman Thompson, of the school |
board, then made some pleasant and |
profitable remarks, and enforced many |
of the points made by the teachers in |
the course of the morning program. He |
gave the teachers some practical points
in reference to the discipline of the |
schools, and spoke in reference to the
public system of promotion of pupils.
1t is worth the attention of all teach
ers.
A vote of thanks was given to the
high school choir and primary rooms
for program of music rendered during
the institute; also to Supt McElroy for
his presence.
The institute adjourned to meet at
Rescue hall at 2 o'clock, to listen to
Miss lone Dunlap of Portland, on kim
dergarten work.
Soon after Q o'clock Rescue hall was
filled to hear Miss Dunlap. After a
piano solo by Miss Bertha Welch, Supt
Lyman introduced Miss Dunlap, who
held, in a most entertaining and profit
able way, all present
She opened her talk with brief
sketch of the founder of kindergarten
Kindergarten work Is
new and may make many
mistakes; the work needs carefully
trained teacher with much ability and
heart; Froebel's childhood was intimate
ly connected with his methods of work.
The things that amused him he intro
duced as helps in the development of
other children AS system of educa-
tion, he taught that to remedy the de-
fects we must begin with the child IN
infancy; his chief principle is that the
whole child must be educated; all his
games tend to cultivate the physical, as
we'll as the moral and the mental ele-
ments of childlife; the natural activity
of children is so great that there must
be some outlet; if this is prevented
narrowness results.
Two important points in physical de-
yelopment--the improvement of balance
of children by games of skipping, ETC.;
then the position of child in reference
TO the development of the chest and
breathing capacity; hence the import
ance of seats adapted to the size OF the
children. The "gifts" of Froebel was
one of the divisions of Frobel's systems;
the three divisions were the occupar
tions. the games and the gifts" The
gifts relate to mutual development.
The connection of opposites; the value
Of contrasts. lies at the foundation of
his system. His first gift deals with
colors; his second with forms; the third
gift is building or combining and d.
viding; the latter gifts deal with lines,
circles. The lessons drawn from these
are endless. and Froebel may be said
TO have been the founder Of the two
ideas of psychology. contrast and rela-