The herald., 1895-11-28
TEACHERS INSTITUTE

morning.
Following the roll call WAS a musical
number, TitaLia gaiop, G. s. De Lano,
rendered by the High School orchestra,
which ELECTED much applause. The APP
plause continued until the musicians
were forced to retuse an encore from lack
| of time for an eXtenson OF program.
The Mandolin club contains Misses
Maude Hill, Mabel Hatch, Mabel Hill and
Messrs. Frank Phelps, Linnaeus Westoott
and Arthur Peterson.
A paper, Vocal Music as an Educational
| Factor, by Mrs. Mary E .Gordan came next
! ON the program. Mrs. Gordan traC ed tn c
tonal system back TO the Greeks. saying
It was only by them that the modern
| mus cal art has been aft ected. This tonal
system was devised by Pythagoras. 500 b.
! G. The Greeks believed that some relation
ship existed between the heavenly bod
les and the musical tones, SO named the
tones from the sun, moon. Mercury, Ne-
nus. Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. The
| Egyptian confined the musical art entire
| ly to the Priesthood and by them it was
used in their so-1alled mysteries. All the
| early nations drew their musical ms pira-
| ton from their religious observances, and
Incorporated music in all their sacred
rites. The civllizing effect of the Greek
| culture was wide spread and the Hindoo
| ID usic was very mucn ike that of the
| Greek. The dawn of the Christian relig-
ION provided new themes for musical eX-
| preston. Love, faith, hope, charity.
gave new turn to history and music
! played an important part in their inter-
| probation. The early church relied upon
strains of sweet music to touch the pagan
| heart, and ST. Augustine attributed his
conversion to the influence OF Christian
| music.
America is still far behind Europe in
! all forms OF musical art, yet the m usio
taught in our public schools exerts
refining influence and in manv OF our
| colleges and nigh schools We ars doing
much good work. When our musical
taste shall have improved we shall be-
come better men and women.
After Mrs Gordon had finished her In
terestins paper Mr.. i. +. Gates spoke for
some time on the teaching of history.
He covered a great deal of ground in the
short time allotted him and outlined a
practical course tor instruction in this
subject
After recess the mandolin orchestra
! played a selection, followed by an encore,
after which J. 3. Willard of the Spring
street school read paper on The Art of
| Questioning. MI. Willard divided the
methods OF recitation into the topical
| and anslytical. The topical is apt to
degenerate into mere talk, but the ques-
tioninG method touches ali phases or
~
teaching.
In order to succeed teacher must use
the hap-haZard way of calling on pupils
instead OF having them recite consecu-
lively or simultaneously. Then the teach
err must be logical in her questions,
choose her words carefully, use good
ton. and be ready and well-nformed on
the subject under consideration, under
which conditions the exercise becomes
series of mental gymnastics for the pu
pills. Mr.. Willard concluded his remarks
by graceful tribute to the teachers who
aimed at high ideals and came so near
attaining perfection in their work.
Mr.. a. b. Dressler gave a practical IL
lustraton of the way to test the sight
and hearing of the pupils III the sohuoi
and instructed the teachers where to ind
means for these tests.
Want of unifcation in the high school
course was the subject under discussion
in the high school division of the insti-
tute. J. q. Strine began by showing how
difficult 1t was to obtain unitication when
there was such great difference IN the
facilities in the different high schools.
Prof. j. W. Henry argued that unitica-
| ton meant correlation and concentfa-
| ton and urged less diffusion and more
/ concentration upon the necessary studies.
Major c. \. Meredith humorously
! showed the disadvantage of the present
| system to the children of nomadic pa
rents.
He urged the county board to make
the course more uniform even il Latin
must be placed in the last grammar
grade.
These remarks called forth lively dis
cusson, which was ended by Prof.
Strine making motion to appoint
committee of one from each high school.
which committee should confer with the
county board in regard to more uniform
ity in the course of study and the text
books IN the high school throughout the
county.
Prof. Molyneaux insisted upon the
value of good literary matter in the form :
ing of the pupils character. Advocating
the reading of numbers of selections from
each model chosen in eacn grade.
Miss Willard opened the discussion hv
a paper in which she outlined the bent hts
derived from carefully selected reading
and memorized selections, the benefit be-
ing intelligence in reading. love for
good literature, better use OF language,
power of discrimination and natural
i'm provement in expression.
Section three had geography as Its SUD
tect. which was discussed by f. Al. Win
ston, Mrs. +. A. Brink, Ella D. Adams,
Susan Thompson, Manetta f. Badgley,
Fanny HAYS, Mrs. c. Talbot, Ma pel Pet
tigrew, Foneta Chase and Mrs. Nellie W.
Westerman. The question OF the exam
nations was discussed with good de al
of spirit and those gwen bv the city
compared rnfavorably with those pre-
pared by the county. Mr.. Hutchinson,
with his customary audacity, declared
the city board dit not prepare questions
for examination. ana invited a discussion
of the su Dject. But Professor klrk quoted
the opposing factions AID peace reigned
again.
In section two an interesting discussion
Of discipline took place. W. \. Chandler
led aad sad that experience pointed to
the abandonment of all corporal punish
ment. +. y. Hazard urged that the
child be trained for good citizenship, and
william +. Kent, e. W. Campbell. Sophie
Aver and Mabel A. Harris spoke OF the
practical working of different methods of
| discipline, pointing toward the develop
ment OF self-coEtrol in the child.
| Section one had the subj ect of errors Of
teaching first and second grades for con-
| Cutchen, \. II. Smith, Mary +. Thorn p
son and j, \. Molyneaux talked on the
! subject.
The question OF allowing the child TO
report on his own conduct was discussed,
| together with other matters relating to
the formation Of the chlld's character.
At tile afternoon session Professor j.
/ II. Shine outlined the course o BIZ fol-
| lowed in teaching language in the coun-
! try schools. The following committee
| was appointed to prepare the work: w.
ii. Holland, J. NJ. Grittiths, J. F. Ander-
son, John L. Wright, =, \. Molyneaux,
}. G. Storment ". w. DonncIl. ]. w.
Mosher, NJ. Il. Williams, G. Il. FraSier g..
TrowbrldTc, i. J.. Stewart, A. Car
/