Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1895-11-22
THE TEACHERS INSTITUTE
The Teachers of Pike County Con-
gregated at the Court House,

Interesting Sessions Held-Several Able
Lecturers Present - Pretty School
Marms Largely in Evidence Prof.
Bibles Suggestion on tho Use of the
Books of Elementary Science.
The Annual Pike County Teachers
Institute convened at the Court
House in Milford on Monday, Nov.
Is at 20, o'clock and was called to or
der by County Superintendent Saw
yer.
The institute was opened with a
responsive reading and singing.
The following were then elected
officers
Miss Minnie Van Akin, vice -presid-
ent.
j. F. Maloney, secret ary.
Miss Florence Case, assistant secre-
tary.
John G. Watson, treasurer.
Superintendent Sawyer then de
livered an address and dwelt on the
functions of teachers institutes, the
Importance to teachers of attend
ing, both in the line of education and
also in finances.
Prof, c. H. Albert, of Bloomsbury
State Normal School was then intro
duced, taking for his subject, geog-
raphy. This the professor declared
to be a most important study, and
generally most poorly taught. He
suggested the idea of substituting
for our third and fourth readers
other books ON elementary science,
written and prepared for such grades
in schools. He illustrated by saying
that a child being able to speak a
word is no proof that child knows
it, and spoke of the importance of
knowledge of relative positions in
geographical instruction.
Singing by the teachers followed.
Prof. Bible, of East Stroudsburg
State Normal School, then talked on
"Oral Language, the key which
unlocks all thought of the written
and printed page.
The roll was then called and AZ
teachers responded. Adjourned to
73O p. m.
Tuesday forenoon, Prof. c. H.
Albert took up the subject of educa-
ton; 1st object of education; 2nd,
nature of material to work on: 3rd,
how to conduct operations Egg. the
carpenters apprentice should con-
slider well the object of his education
in that especial line, and by several
other illustrations showed that bet
ter work can be accomplished by
careful consideration of the object.
In particular is this true of the
teachers, whose aim should be to
develop all conscious power Think
ing is seeing relations. Time should
be spent in finding ont the kind of
material we have to work ON, and so
avoid mistakes, and trouble, and
doing better work in the school room.
The afternoon session was opened
with singing, when, Prof. Bible took
up the subject of school government
He said laws are not made for those
who choose to do right, but for
those who choose to do wrong. The
teachers aim should be develop di-
rection in the child, direction in
habits of self control, in self govern
ment, to secure good order, regularity
and application. AS means to this
end he cited mechanical devices,
the seating of pupils, and that pro-
gress was often retarded by impro-
per seating. He spoke also of the
moral training of pupils, and of the
teachers qualification, confidence,
cooperation. The teacher must have
a positive moral character.
Every act of the soul leaves as an
enduring result an increased power
to act, and the tendency to act in
like manner.
This talk was followed by singing
when Prof. Paul began his spelling
match, choosing fifty words from
among list of five hundred. The
one who misspelled the fewest to re-
ceive copy of Barnes General
History.
Wednesday evening, Prof. Houck
spoke to a crowded house, and in
beginning remarked that he never
talked long, seldom exceeding three
hours. This was loudly applauded,
which the speaker said pleased him,
as he scarcely received it at the close,