The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-11-02
MONEY Side OF QUESTION
State Superintendent Schaeffer Ar
CUES for Higher Salaries.
WHERE THIS STATE STANDS
1t Is Away Down the List in the Matter of
Salaries and Length Of School
Terms Other Topics That
We're Discussed.

Were Discussed.
The morning session of the teachers
institute at the court house, after the
usual singing exercises, was presented
with the report of the committee on
election. The five teachers who had re-
ceived the highest number of votes on
the permanent certificate committee
were read as follows T. G. Osborne,
b. d. Bovard, r. N. Davis, NJ. w. Cum
mings and 4. L. Thompson.
Professor Eppstein instructed the
teachers in music for half hour and
then Professor Albert lectured on his
tory Natural history, he said, is a
branch Of study that the pupils can be
made to thirst after. When the inter-
est is awakened, the introduction of
specimens of natural history is very
great aid in class work. The children
like to study them and progress is rap
idly made.
DR.. White followed with q disserta-
ton on methods Of teaching. There are
three distinct features of instruction
and each one is an important factor in
itself. Drill and test are the principal
points in methods. BY drill is meant the
exercise of repeating the subject until It
is thoroughly mastered. DR.. White IS
somewhat Of a believer in the new
school Of methods and does not make
any bones about delivering body blows
to the time-worn fads that prevailed
in log school houses. His proposition
IS that the schools advance as we'll as
other things and the up-to-date
teacher is the one who learns all the
points of new inventions
The afternoon session was opened
with singing, Mr.. Eppstein leading,
and DR.. N. c. Schaeffer, state superin-
tendent Of public instruction, spoke to
the teachers. His subject is one that
every teacher was pleased to hear, and
substantially was an appeal for higher
salaries and longer school terms. Our
state, he said, stands among the first in
commercial and industrial wealth, but
1t Is eleventh in the list Of states In
the average length of the school term,
twenty-eighth in average wages paid to
male teachers, and twenty-ninth in the
wages paid to female teachers.
Where the Blame Rests.
The blame for this condition was
placed on the shoulders Of the directors,
and DR.. Schaeffer apparently has not a
high opinion of the average director.
That functionary he feared was too
often selected not from his moral fit
ness for the position, but a connection
with secret societies or little brief
authority is apt to figure largely. He
said the teacher wields power for
good that is more patent in its effects
than the sway of the czar of Russia,
but the director is above the teacher on
the principle that the creator Is above
the creature. He advised that the way
to improve the schools and the condl-
ton of the school system was to i'm
prove the calibre of men who direct the
teachers.
DR.. Schaeffer did not think it was G
brilliant thing to observe members OF
school boards who are not able to reaC
"
the autograph. The men who are en-
trusted with the selection Of teachers
ought to be men who are educated ant
the teachers ought to be hired for men
tai, not political qualifications. He
feared that this millennial age was MOI
far enough advanced to lay aside the
old customs.
Professor Eppstein Is making marked
headway in his musical instruction. HI
devoted a half hour to the scale ant
a class of little girls followed hin
through the exercises.
DR.. White took up the remainder Of
the afternoon on drill in the schools. i
was a continuation of his topic at the
morning session and presented hint:
that will be Of value to the teacher:
when they go back to shcool work HI
said a school never rises higher than the
teacher. When the teacher is slipshot
the school will be in a similar condi
ton. Let no teacher think that all the
work must be done by the pupils. The
teacher is required to do the most worl
and the inactivity or industry Of 6
school represent just these qualities II
the teacher.
This mornings session will close the
institute. DR.. White will make the con
Guiding speech on school methods.
At the City Institute.
Yesterday mornings session Of the
city institute was well attended. DIR
White gave an able discourse on 9TH,
Principles of Moral Instruction. ant
Miss Partridge lectured on "Construc
tive Construction"
State Superintendent Schaeffer de-
livered an eloquent address upon The
educational progress of Pennsylvania.
The afternoon session opened with 6
lecture on Music" by Professor New
ton. The professor showed the value
of major and minor thirds on the lad
der" system, the scale being marked
according to full tones and semi-tones
Each note was called out by the lecturer
by figures / to while his pupils sans
the note with the "sol ia" sounds, II
attempting to sing Morning Breaks
at first sight, there was great lack o.
confidence displayed by the 25O pres
ent, and the volume of sound was very
meagre.
Professor Albert delivered an excel
lent address on Education an Unfold
ing" and said that he had hearC
1t alleged that the great bulk of teach
ers carried out their duties for none,
simply, but to this he emphatically said
mo, but II it should unfortunately, b,
true that the great bulk of 10000 teach