Brookings register. (Brookings, S.D.) 1890-1894, 1894-08-24
THE TEACHERS INSTITUTE.
One ofthe Most Successful Institutes Ever
Held in This County.


Held in This County.
On Thursday last was closed one of
the most successful institutes ever
held in Brookings county. For two
weeks the teachers of this county and
vicinity together with a large num-
Der Of young people who aspire to the
profession of pedagogy, attended the
various recltations and exercises pre-
pared for them with an enthusiasm
and earnestness that was commend
able. Supt. West had secured corps
Of instructors that inspired confidence
from the first and there was no dispo-
sitiOn on the part of anyone to hesi-
tate and to criticiSe the sytem of
holding annual Institutes. These two
sessions, where useful instruction is
given, rather than a series of vague
theoretical lectures, have demonstra-
ted their usefulness and reasonable
popularity. Then the system of gra-
ding the teachers according to expert
ence and attainments and giving each
of the three grades the instruction
that is the most worth to them adds
another incentive to regular atten-
dance. Promotion from one grade to
another inSures new set of studies
for each Of the three years teacher
attends before completing the course.
The instructors this year were Profs.
J. A. Shannon of De Smet, Geo. M.
Smith Of Vermillion, NJ. A. Robinson
of Brookings and Miss Hataling of
Huron.
Prof. Shannon conducted the classes
in Grammar, Geography Bookkeeping
Reading and writing in his usual
happy manner. Prof. Smith taught
Literature Civics and lectured on Di-
dactics. He halls from the Univer-
sity at Nermillion, having the chair
of Greek and Pedagogy. Prof. Robin
son had Arithmetic, History and
PHYSICAL Geography and Miss Hata-
ling instructed all the graces in Draw
ing. One of the benefits of the insti-
tute was in having instructors who
could both teach and inspire their stu
dents with desire to learn more than
necessary to get a certifi-
cate. Many of our young people will
try to 60 to school this winter because
of the impetus they received at this
session Of county institute. Some of
the classers called for extra hours,
the one in Literature, and the
instructor met them at odd intervals.
There were many visitors this year
which indicated that the fame of the
institute went abroad in this city.
The total enrolment was 161 and
the average daily attendance was 139.
OF this number about 100 attended the
on Friday and Saturday.
Not all of these expect to teach.
Many of them wrote for the drill it
afforded and to test their knowledge
of the common branches. A complete
list Of those enrolled is appended to
this.
There were several extra lectures
and entertainments most Of which
have been noted in our. local columns.
On Thursday evening occurred the
second annual commencement eXer-
cises of the Brookings county rural
schools. There was a class of eight
this year, six girls and two boys. Rev.
VIM. Fielder gave them an interesting
and practical address on the subject
"How to Use an Education" This
feature Of our public school work is
very.promising innovation and it was
to have the exercises held
in connection with the institute.
The teachers will take more interest
in the work year by year.
On Friday evening was held social
with few importu literary exercises.
The readings, recitations, and songs
were all good and showed that there
is plenty of latent talent among our
teachers only awaiting the occasion to
call it forth.
At the close of the exercises Supt.
West was the recipient Of a handsome
Office chair given by members of the
institute. Prof. Robinson made the
speech and the response
was as good as surprised individual
is expected to make. A generous sup
ply of ice cream was then served and