The record-union., 1895-11-26
DISCUSSING EDUCATIONAL TOPICS.
Yesterdays Session of the County
Teachers Institute.
Addresses by State superintendent
Black and Professor Brown
Evening Entertainment.

The session Of the County Teachers
Institute opened yesterday with an at
tendance of 203 teachers. At IL O'Clock
Superintendent Howard called the
meeting to order and read the names OF
those who had been appointed on the
different committees, and the assembly
confirmed the appointments.
Then followed an earnest invocation
by Rev NJ D. Buck. A vocal solo was
rendered by Mrs. Howard in most
charming manner, and she responded
to an enthusiastic encore.
City Superintendent o. w. Erlewine
was introduced, and after greeting the
city and county teachers, he spoke OF
how much they had TO gain or lose from
this institute. He said the primary OBJ
iect was not for the benefit of the State,
City or County superintendent, but the
children The school plan was for chill
dren. If teachers depend alone on the
knowledge through which they re-
ceived their diplomas their work was
sure to be an utter failure-a puff OF
smoke then ashes Teachers require
to study constantly. In closing, Mr..
E.rlewine called attention TO the
marked progress Of the schools during
the past year.
SUPERINTENDENT HOWARD'S
REMARKS
Adding his testimony to that Of Mr..
EIlewines, Mr.. Howard said the
schools We're in good condition now,
and he considered that the good re
suit had been obtained from the work
ing harmony of the trustees, through
the teachers. One good result noticed
was in the increased attendance at the
High School. There had been more
pupils at the High School this year
than ever before.
The course of study need not De fol-
lowed too closely, but should form the
basis Of operation for every teacher,
and they We're earnestly advised TO con-
form to il as nearly as possible. He in
vited each and every teacher to offer
any suggestions that in their opinion
would better the course OF study.
AN EDUCATIONAL REVIVAL.
Mr.. Howard then introduced State
Superintendent Samuel 7. Black, who
commended the course OF study. He
impressed the teachers that it was
their course of study, not the county
boards, and he earnestly hoped that
they would carry out the spirit OF Mr.
HOWard's suggestion, and forward
their carefully considered opinions
with their reasons, to the Superintend-
ent's office, where they would receive
the careful attention of the board.
He was glad to see the fraternity
that existed between the country and
the city teachers. The counties Of san
JOAQUIN. Santa Clara and Los Ange-
les were also holding their Institutes
this week, and there were some LOO
teachers learning how to better train
the children. There was great edu-
cation revival going on at this time,
and the education progress that was
being made was very gratifying.
For the Development Of Character
was the comprehensive answer given
by one of the High School students TO
the question, why do we attend the
High SCHOOL," The aim and end of
education is to produce manly men and
womanly women The growth Of char
acter that education gives is carried into
our daily life and permeates the whole
atmosphere around US.
Institute has evolved from much
waste of time a study of educational
PRINCIPLES The normal schools have
followed this evolution of institute We
should study the underlying principles.
At the end of this talk Professor Black
stated that the Superintendent was of
use in proportion to the amount Of as
sistance he rendered to the schools.
THE STUDY OF ARITHMETIC.
The next was an entertaining talk on
Essentials of Arithmetic" by Miss
Minnie Barley. She spoke of the ac-
quirement of power. What will aid
the boy to become a mann was one or
her questions. A child's mind should
be developed to the end of his capacity.
There would be two results-facility and
power. She did not favor the CRUDE
method, as she considered that it
cramped the child's mind.
Accuracy is the keynote to all, she
said and the failures of children should
be studied with reference to their
causes. Carelessness should not be eX-
cused. Right was RICH" should be
followed in the schoolroom as we'll as
in our moral life. Pupils should be
trained TO feel that carelessness was
inexcusable, and that accuracy was es-
Sentiai to success. She believed that
time for obtaining certain results should
be limited, the time to be decided by the
average scholar; that he should be re-
quired to hand in his first paper; he
should be taught to do his work neatly,
as we'll as easily.
She spoke of the different tests for
addition, multiplication and division.
She considered factoring important, and
thought pupils should be we'll grounded
III it, The logical way to teach the
l. c. NJ and 6. c. D. is by factoring.
Pupils should be wen-grounded in
percentage and the ahquot parts, but
it was not necessary to spend so much
time in compound numbers and
masonry.
The reasoning power Of children is
slow in development, said the speaker.
and they should not be given too hard
problems, but rather good ones in
analysis. However, the analysis should
be carefully and accurately given, or it
was worse than useless.
In conclusion, she said: DO not put
arithmetic beyond the reach OF children.
Put the subject before them in logical
way"
During the few remaining moments
Mr. Howard introduced Professor A. ..
C0ffey, who, after a short but witty
speech, called upon Professor Wagner
Professor Wagner responded, and the
remaining time was spent in listening
to his remarks.
AT J. O'Clock the meeting adjourned
until 80.
The afternoon session opened with
piano solo by Miss Edna Coppersmith.
STATE COUNCILS REPORT.
Professor Elmer +. Brown Of the
State University spoke on the report of
the State Council OF Education lie
explained that the council was com
posed of fifteen prominent educators
appoined 10y the State Teachers Asso-
citation for FIVE years. to consider what
questions should be submitted each
year to the Teachers Institutes for dis
cussion The underlying principle or
the work was that il progress was made
ii must be by the combined efforts Of
the teachers of the State. Three or four
persons could not do it,
The counties have taken hold of this
and many of them have published and
distributed the circular, and set apart