The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1894-11-20

l. scribed studies, and where it is in use it
generally in the shape of books with th
e word literature" on the back, and tn
d title is all there is on the subject. Unde
e the new school law, boards of education
: are authorized to purchase works on liter
T. ature and it is also necessary for teache
to convince the board that what they sug
9 gest is needed. 1t is possible for persons
to read all the books published withou
!. gaining literary culture. but it is no
u possible for any one to gain this talen
/ without reading. The essentials for liter
airy culture are purity of expression, loft
ness, richness and variety of theme.
The manner of reading was given SOM
attention. The reader should so attenC
to that duty in such way that his sub
iect will be thoroughly, inwardly digest
ed. When a child is reading he SHOULD
: be given every chance that his instructor
would desire, and should not be frequent
ly interrupted and told to stand this
way" "hold your book So" and so on
The reading of fiction had been con
demned, but the imaginative faculty of the
mind is one of the greatest and should be
cultivated. Next to imagination comes
tention to educating children in a high
grade of literature it would be one of the
highest benefits that could be conferred
upon pupil, who would go out into the
world with an advanced idea of what lit
erature he wants and knowledge how to
select it. Such education would dignity
the position of educator and would do il
great good.
Miss Laura Gaskill gave recitation in
her usual fine manner, and was rewarded
with an encore.
Beverley C. Kingdom gave a piano solo,
after which Miss Field resumed her paper
on drawing, giving many illustrations OF
her proficiency by rapidly drawn sketches
on the blackboard.
More music by the choir followed, and
then DR.. Green again took the platform
and spoke on 1.-THE Science of Education"
This is a very important subject Chill
dren had absolutely been driven from
school because teachers were not qualified
to apply the science of education as it
should be. There were many little items
in connection with the subject, which DIR.
Green treated in an able manner.
Milton H. Allen, principal of Medford
schools, read paper on Natural Philos-
ophy." He took for his text, What shall
be done to raise the standard of our grad
ed schools?" The song of teachers meet
ings for the last forty years, How shall
we raise the standard of our ungraded
schools ?" but many of the teachers of
this county had received their education
in those same ungraded schools. In them
the classes are so small that the teacher
can much better impress his individuality
upon the pupil in the ungraded school
than can the teacher in the higher grades
Many of the pupils who attend the former
come from the farm with thirst for
knowledge that causes them to work
harder than those who attend city schools
History proves that many of our highest
men received their education in ungraded
schools. Mr.. Allen then gave an account
of his early search for knowledge of Nat
ural Philosophy. His paper was very
amusing and evoked much laughter.
The afternoon session closed at the end
of Mr.. Aliens remarks.
The evening was devoted to a lecture
on sound" by DR.. William NJ. Mumper,
of the Normal School, Trenton.
Rev. S. H. Leeper, of the Presbyterian
Church, Mount Holly, opened Friday
mornings session with prayer.
County Superintendent Haas continued
his talk on grammar, speaking on syntac
tic reading.
Prof. William Mcfarland, principal of
Bordentown schools, spoke on Botany.
Rev. R. Harper Leeper sang solo in
his usual charming manner.
Having so successfully treated the sub
ject of Natural Philosophy, Milton II.
Allen was called upon to again speak on
natural Philosophy VS.. Natural Philoso-
ply" Attention VS.. Incomprehensibili-
ty." To gain attention pupil must be
given something to learn, even if he
forgets it the next day. Perhaps it would
be better If some teachers would give the
matter of attention especial notice. 1t is
all right to have children so well drilled
that they can read, write and perform
81 Ia ~ 81
of the teacher. but they must be given
power to think for themselves, to study
in such a manner that the lesson will not
fade from their minds as soon as they
memory age" in the life of every child,
and that is the time for teachers to put in
plenty of work, to lay the foundation for
noble structure. Use it to advantage,
make the child give attention, see that he
learns his lesson in manner that will be
profitable.
Elementary science was spoken of by
DR.. William N. Mumper. Reading, writ
ing spelling, geography are all good, al
essential, but is it not fact that the pupils
of to-day are taught more about things far
thest from them rather than their Immedi-
ate surrounding Is not Asia, Africa and
other foreign counties put before a pupil,
while he is allowed to remain ignorant of
the formation and character of his own
country, the mechanism and functions of
his own body? Every vocation requires
knowledge of science. The records of
the courts show this. Some of the most
important suits have been those in which
electrical railways, telephones, and SO on,
have largely figured. Childhood is the
time to study and, consequently, the time
to instruct in all things necessary for
good education. Many experiments of
highly interesting nature were presented
by DR.. Mumper.
Miss Laura Fortiner, of Riyerton, read
a paper on Reading" There is not one
teacher in ten, the speaker claimed, who
will acknowledge that he does not know
how to teach reading Reading is one of
the most important studies in the public
schools, but it is given the least attention,
and is more neglected and hurried over
than any other. 1t is impossible for
child to study geography and other les
sons unless he knows how to read. Say
ing the words of the reading lesson" is
the too often accepted definition of the
word reading. Reading is getting
thoughts by means of words" is the def
dition given by one, but Miss Fortiner
offered this: Reading is the natural ex-
nrAssion of thnnpht hv word svmhnla D