Birmingham age-herald., 1895-02-02
TIE COUNTY TEACHERS
Spend Day Listening to Timely
 Discussions
OF INTERESTING SUBJECTS
Miss Yendes of New York Makes a Splendid Talk on
 Stray Thoughts

The Jefferson county institute recon vened at clock yesterday morning, Prof. H. P. Rurrus presiding, and about 200 teachers present..
 Professor Anthony was appointed regis trar and all teachers present who had not registered were requested to do so.
 State Superintendent of Education Johu O. Turner had been called away on urgent business and his regrets at being unable to remain during the session were rendered. Miss Helen Hudson discussed in forci- ble manner number work for beginners. Prof. J. H. Swindell discussed the re- duction of fractions to common denomi- nator.
 Multiplication and division of fractions were explained by Prof. O. T. Donovan. and four cases of percentage by Prof. P. l.. Acton.
 Miss Jessie Ruter demonstrated the prin- ciple of borrowing and carrying.
 Miss Willie Wallace began the discussion of physiology with a ten minutes talk, which was very interesting and in structive.
 Prof. Joel c. DuBose followed with a discussion of the nervous system.
 Mss Ellen B. Grant gave an interesting board exercise in reading. Mrs. Spencer, president of the Woman's s Christian Temperance union of Alabama, and Mrs. Biilheimer, president of the United Charities, were called on and ad- dressed the institute on the subjects of temperance and the Woman's Christian Temperance union respectively.
 Miss Lucy A. Yendes was, on motion of : Prof. J. L. Cunningham, invited to ad- dress the convention at the night session, and thirty minutes were set apart for that purpose.
 Phonics were discussed in short talk by Prof. s. L. Robertson's book of poems, recently published, was indorsed by Profs. Phillips, Palmer and Burrus, after which an adjournment was taken until o'clock.
 AFTERNOON SESSION.
 On reassembling at 2 o'clock Professor Bnrrus called the regular order of busi- ness.
 VOCAL MUSIC.
 Prof. F. E. Anthony discussed vocal music. He said the importance of music is recognized by almost all people, the church as well, as the others. Vocal music is an accomplishments; it is more, it is necessity just as much as any of the other sciences. Music is mental trainer. Tal- ent for music inhicates a high wrought, nervous system. Music bears relation to principles of benmanship. of military tao tics and all other sciences are the same as those of music. We must look to the day school for instruction in vocal music. Vo- cal music is not taught in the country as much as it should be, although it IS clearly recognized by all the school jour nals of the country as a part of the school course. Music cultivates the intel lect as nothing else can. It IS akin to electricity; it creates an electric shock. Music is the highest form Of purity in it. self. People may differ on other things, 5 but music brings them together. Music harmoniZes nature.
 A motion to substitute song for the general discussion prevailed, and Superin- tendent McAdory was called upon to lead. He declined, and the audience sang 'sRing the Bells oi Heaven.
 aEoaRAPHY.
 Prof. Samuel l.. Robertson was down on the programme for a talk on Jefferson county. He sad it was becoming the cus- tom to teach the child about his home, his county, his state. Teach him about the place where he lives, the people among whom Ire lives; it makes patriot of him. The way to make good citizens Is to begin at the art and teach them how to behave themselves at home, at church. l know Jefferson county. Here map of the county, divided into townships and ranges, was drawn on the blackboard, and Pro- lessor Robertson then described its location. He spoke of the two government surveys made of the state. The meridian line runs through Huntsville and Herryellen, in this county, and that is the dividing line of the ranges. It is six miles across township and the same across a range. Townships IA, 15, 16, F, IS, 19 and 20 are iu Jefferson county; so are ranges 1. 2, 8, 4, 5, 6, 2 and 8, west, and and 2, east. The Tennessee line is the starting point for the townships. Miss Wellborn, teacher in the Powell school, was called on to demonstrate her method of teaching her class geography. Her demonstration was simple, yet very interesting, as were her remarks on tue country, it's resources, cities and towns and the occupation of it's citizens, it's rail- roads, rivers, flora and fauna.
 Prof. w. l.. Murray talked of the state of Alabama. He said geology teaches that Alabama was once part of the sea, that monsters frolfcked in the waters over her logic formations of the animals and fowls found in her borders, of it's original popu- lation and it's dicovery by De Soto, of its forming part of the territory of Missis- sippi and its admission to the union as 8 state in 1879.
 Prof. Jerry Fountain discussed general geography. He said the time had been when geography was considered very interesting and important one. It is closely connected with history and geology. In studying this subject we should begin at home and branch out from county to state, from state to section, from section to United States, then to North America. to the western hemisphere, etc. We learn more minutely the county and state in which we live than those farther away. The resources, industries, occupa- tions, etc., of the country should> be taught.
 UNITED STATES HISTORY.
 Prof. B. F. Giles, who was down on the programme to discuss the "Sequential Relations of Discoveries, Settlements and Wars,' said he had not studied the subject tn fifteen years, as 1t was out of his line of business, and the subject was passed. - Miss Willie Allen talked Interestingly of the .svaIue of the Topical Outline in Teaching History"
 ssThe Usefulness of Progressive Maps and Charts in Teaching History'' formed the topic for an interesting paper by Miss Maud 6affold. She said they were invalu-
 assisting the beginner in learning
 she told. of an incident in her
 3he took manila paper to the
 fadufhe pupils to draw an