The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1895-09-06
TEACHERS INSTITUTE.


| all the teachers were present at the opening
session. 1t is gratifying fact to the people of
| Hartford to know that this county is one of the
only two that fulfill the requirements of the
| law in the matter of holding Institutes.
The many bright 1aoes that appeared at the
| morning session showed that the teachers had
made good use of their summers vacation,
and they were ready to perform their duties
for the ensuing year with vigor that did so
much to make the excellent showing Hartford
County schools have manifested during the
| past year.
| The address of welcome was made by States
| Attorney Walter w. Preston. He contrasted
| the scene that presented itself this morn
ing with the usual stern aspect of the Court
| Room. Mr.. Preston extended the cour-
| tesies of our people TO the teachers assem-
bled and welcomed them to our town. He
spoke of the profession of teaching one
| of the first if not the first in rank. He con-
| gratulafed the teachers that they are teachers
at the present time, and not a score more
of years ago, when conditions were not 50 fav-
orable, when teacher was looked upon as d
tyrant, and when going to school was looked
upon by most children as a punishment. Mr.
Preston attributed the change to the agency
and efficiency of the teachers, to the attractive.
ness and pleasant features the teachers have
thrown around the school. He spoke of the
| position of influence the teacher occupies in
the community, and urged them to use it for
the elevation of public opinion and educating
those who cannot be reached in the school
room. He spoke of the low compensation that
the teachers get for their work, but said that
the satisfaction of duty well performed, al,
thought would notdissolveexisti board-bills
was of great value to the teacher. MIR. Preston
closed his able address with an apt quotation
from poem.
Prof. Charles T. Wright, Principal of the
Havre de Grace schools, responded in an elo.
quent address on behalf of the teachers. AS
their representative he thanked Mr.. Preston
and the people of Bel Air for their courteous
and generous words of welcome Prof. Wright
spoke at some length. Among other things he
said THE teachers are the servants of the
State, and the welcome extended this morning
is a recognition not only of the teachers in
dividuals, but also rs servants of the State. Ii
is Il recognition of the most potent instrumen.
tally of the intellectual, moral and political
existence of ths.grand old Common wealth, and
this is said in no spirit of accommodation.
We are here to discuss topics relative to our
work to review the success and failures of the
past and to interchange ideas.
All ought to be wiser, better and more skill.
full to-day than one year ago. If we have not
mastered some difficulty, it we have not made
some forward and progressive step, then we
have not been successful. To be u live, active
vigorous, advancing teacher means days OF
teaching and nights of reading, thought and
study.
We are not here as an Institute for pleasure
| except That pleasure 1Ounu In the performance
of duty. We are not here for IN kind criticism
but for manly and helpful suggestions, we are
here to get the best from others and to give the
best we have in store to Others The Institute
is place for no personal feeling except that OF
personal enthusiasm for work.
TO the educator is the task of laying foundu
tions, the public school is at the bas of nsti
buttons. We are part of this great system
free system because the truth has made it free
resting on the intelligent will of an educated
people.
Again we thank the people of Bel Air for the
hearty welcome accorded u.s. Let us work. lei
us be earnest, let us do our duty and uphold
those in authority. The history of the coming
year in school work is ours to write. Let us
write that record with u hand of tirmness
without reference to needless or ignorant criti
cSm.n
This was one of the best addresses ever made
in the Institute, and was listened to attentivey
by all present.
of the work for the week, and spoke of the eX.
celent record made by the schools during the
past year. Among other things he SAID thai
Hartford county is the only county in the State
with one exception, that holds an annual lnstl
tute as required by law. The Institute is held
at this time that help may be given before the
years work has begun.
The people, and their representatives. the
County Commissioners appreciate the good
condition of the schools, and have twice come
to the rescue so as not to give the schools Il
''Olack eye" by shortening the term. Last
spring the County Commissioners wanted To
hear from the people before making an extra
appropriation. Soon forty-SeYen petitions
from every section of the county, representing
the heaviest taxpayers gave the Commission
ers no uncertain idea of the opinion of the pub.
ic Ii is gratifying to note that the past sum-
mer term was stronger in attendance by
more than 100 pupils than any in the history
of the school, showing that the schools are eff.
cient the last month us well as the first. 1t is
also noticeable that 10 per cent. of the pupils
of the county that attended school during June
were not higher than the fourth grade, showing
that this month gives exceptional privilege to
the small pupils, who are kept ut home by the
Mr. " orthington commended The Agis for
the editorial on the institute in last weeks issue,
and for maintaining the fact that the Institute
| is Il workshop, and not play school.
After song the Institute took recess. At
ter recess Mr.. Charles Il. Wilson, Vice-Princi-
pal of the Havre de Grace school, presented
| the following resolution, which was unani-
| mously adopted by Il rising vote:
40 the Honorable Board Of County Commissions
e1s:
county in institute Assem- bled, feeling that we
also voice the sentiments of the people of the
county in our respective school districts, do
hereby acknowledge our Indebtedness to your
Honorable Board for coming so noby to the as
| sistauce of the School Board on two occasions,
when the dire necessity of closing the schools
| of Hartford seemed inevitable for want of
funds to continue them. Yet by your fore
| sight and by additional appropriation to meet
the emergency the schools were continued the
full four terms.
| Hence i'll consideration of your magnanimity
and public Spiritedness, we today, by unani-
nous vote OF the Institute tender your Honor
| able Board our sincere thanks, not simply be-
cause we were the recipients of this generosity
| on your part, but as a body of men filling re-
| sponsible pos tion i'll public affairs you showed
| your duty to the people OF the county and were
| not reluctant to perform it"
The Institute then adjourned until $50
MONDAY AFTERNOON.
The session opened with the song, Robin
| RedbreaSt."
The topic, THE study and practice of Eng
| lish in our Schools, Articulation and Pronun-
ciation.' was then taken up.
| Miss Minnie L. Mason believes in cultivating
| the habit of correct language by teaching the
| pupils. first, TO think, and then to give clear
| and concise expression of the thought.
| Miss May HildItch thinks that language study
should begin at very early age, that the early
| training Of the child in the matter of express
| sion of thought has a great influence on the
subsequent ability of that pupil to speak Eng
Miss Maggie ofiey advocated the use of SEN
| tence cards, and the teaching of diacritical
| marks. Teachers should use correct English
| themselves and avoid the of slang.
Miss Mary Gardiner would make the frequent
use of the dictionary an important aid.
| Miss Jessie NJ Hood thinks there should be
| more diagrhmlng and parsing.
Miss Bertha Enfield believes in teaching by
| setting good example of correct English
| Miss Emma Middendorf spoke of the evil eff
| feet of too much criticism of young children in
| the matter of speaking. The corrections
| should be made gradually and reasons for these
| corrections given.
| Miss Matte Wheeler is in favor of sentence
| building as IL means to this end.
| Miss Bessie Anderson teaches diacritcal
| marks 30 that pupils can pronounce for them
| selves, and likes best reproduction stories.
| Miss Alice Smithson insists upon all pupils
| studying grammar SO us to know when they are
| talking properly.
Miss Helen Bradshaw thinks that the phonetic
| method is the proper one to use.
Mr.. w. II. Gulbreath uses great deal of drill
| in articulation and pronunciation and uses the
| reproduction stories.
Miss Tacy Mathews begins to teach the use OF
,irull al m rsf
Mr.. L. c. Gabreath has students make use of
criticisms of one another.
| Mr.. Charles I. Wilson made some practical
remarks on the topic after which Al short re-
cess Was taken.
Prof A. Finney Galbreath considers English
| the hardest subject to teach, and thinks for
that reason it Is so much neglected. Teach the
pupils to detect incorrect expressions by both
sound and sight.
Miss Laura Tammany said the object of the
school room should be to overcome all outside
| evil influence. Every reading lesson and every
writing lesson should be made u language les
son. Children are much the same rs their
| models.
The subject was closed by II practical talk by
| the Examiner.
Miss Mayfield Wright, daughter of Prof
| Wright, then delighted the audience with
| recitation, Poor Little joe"
Mr.. Worthington gave very practical lesson
in spelling, pronunciation and the use of dacri-
| teal marks.
At 4.45 the Institute adjourned.
MONDAY NIGHT.
| social reception of the teachers was held
| in Masonic Hail. under the direction of Prof.
| ID. Edw. Long. chairman of the Executive Com
| mittee. Refreshments were served and the
| social reunion was quite success
TUESDAY MORNING.
| The devotional exercises were conducted by
| Mr.. Wurthington.
The topic. Glow can the schools prepare our
pupils to become good citizens? Self-rcliance.
| The teachers share i'll this" was taken up.
| Miss Minnie Lee Chase opened the subject