The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-05
TEACHERS INSTITUTE,
Some Excellent Papers Read on Various
Methods Of Teaching.

i u j
Some Excellent Papers Read on Various
Methods Of Teaching.
Yesterday morning DR.. Nelson, Of
Delaware. gave one Of the best talks
OF the week on Hygiene In the School
Room" He was favorably impressed
with the idea Of having skilled ocu-
list give advice as to light and the
correct angle Of the desk and seats.
He did not believe 1t policy to 20 into
general study of medicine, but every
teacher should know enough about dis
ease to be able to talk about 1t to the
children. We have better conditions
than formerly. Children come to school
looking neater and cleaner because
they have had cleanliness taught them.
DIR. Nelson said we should go farther
than that. even so far as to tell the
child how to guard against disease.
he was surprised to learn that more
people died from throat disease than
any other. Cases were illustrated to
SHOW that much carelessness was ex-
hiblted In certain localities. Infection
ana the spread Of disease was found
to be due in large measure to q want
Of forethought. Diseases are caused
by germs floating in the air.
The doctor gave some good advice as
to how the number Of these germs. es-
pectally of tuberculosis. can be reduced
10 q minimum by little care. The
breath OF a consumptive patient should
never come I'm contact with a person.
The habit of splitting should be avoid
ed, and If 1t Is necessary the floor
| should be cleansed as speedily as pos
slble and the cloth on which the sa-
hva or expeotoration Is put should be
placed beyond reach.
In the meantime DR.. King was CIV
ing one of his excellent talks on "Read-
Ing" to the primary teachers He said
II he were an examiner he would give
diploma for efficiency If the appli-
| cant could read the second and third
| readers. If these books can be read
well, the others can take care of them
selves, as they come into almost daily
| use.
1t Is best to spend most time on the
pupil who found 1t difficult to catch
| the meaning of word or sentence.
There should be an avenue, a way to
| reach the object we are seeking. A
dangerous practice is to read without
an audience-to space. If the child Is
| timid, endeavor first to have 1t read
only to the teacher and afterward to
the class. 1t is a bad practice to keep
the eyes constantly on the book.
| One glance is sufficient for the SEN
tences usually found in the first and
second readers. When this fact Is con-
sidered it should not be difficult for a
child to commit to memory q whole les
son after an hours preparation. Spe-
cial advice was give as to accent.
| While the doctor was talking Miss
Cronin in another room was talking
on the Pollard system of reading.
County Superintendent Harrison also
gave an excellent address on the
schools. and he praised the excellence
Of Wlllkes-Barre schools. and 'advo-
Gated absolute freedom in this govern
ment from politics.
School Director Houser also gave an
admirable address on the subject of
Patriotism" He deplored the alb
sence Of the flag on that one particular
school. and gave very excellent talk.
The Institute then took it's noon re-
cess.
DR.. Nelson spoke in the afternoon on
Geology and Geography" and his ad-
dress was one of the most interesting of
the day. He said that Cuba and Yucca
tan were laid down originally in fresh
water. He spoke Of the mountains and
explained how most of them We're found
bor1 1ering on some great body Of water.
This rule is true in all cases except the
Urals, which lay between Asia and Eu-
rope, and which, according to DIR. Nell
son, have no right to be there. They
ought to border on some large body of
water.
The Caspian sea, said DR.. Nelson, is
now body of salt water. but in q few
years 1t will be fresh water lake.
Lake Superior was once salt. and was a
M - Rnf IN Nov fe, hv<,
where between geology and geography
If one can only find the line. The defini.
tion Of this line, given by a young
teacher at an institute, "All before Ad-
am, geology; all after. geography"
does not satisfy the speaker. You can
not, unfortunately, fix the time OF
Adam accurately, and the line is still
very indefinite.
He used good arguments to show that
once there was much more water than
now. which was not difficult, OF course
for DIR. Nelson to do. He found, OF
made. beach line at various points In
Europe. He found the sand and the
pebbles Of the seashore, the petrified fish
the shells and all things necessary fol
sea or ocean, and so 1t was easy for him
to fix cause for the rocky chain Of the
Urals.
AT the afternoon session State Su.
perlntendent Schaeffer made an inter
esting address. He dwelt on the state
Of Pennsylvania-its educational ad
vantages industries. etc. He com
pared Pennsylvania to the othel
middle and to some Of the southern
states, and said that the term In thi.
state, on the average, Is shorter thar
that In Ohio. New York or New Jersey
West Virginia Is the only state ada
cent to this, the average term of which
Is as short as ours. The speaker CLOSED
with a discussion on the methods o.
teaching children that was quite in
teresting and instructive. He sale
that in order to be successful in teach
Ing children we should love them, ant
not only do our work In perfunctory
manner. but take O lively interest II
1t for the children's sakes: II we dt
this. ne said. we will never retrograde
Miss Buckley then spoke on Ian
guage and Nature Studies" her tall
being one Of series that is beinl
greatly appreciated by those who 1lav'
heard them. Professor James thei
sang two songs, accompanied on tn,
piano by Miss O'Niell. and DR.. Byroi
King closed the session with one of hi
splendid addresses. He Is one Of tn
best speakers in the country. and hi
addresses are being greatly appre
ciated.