Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-02-27
TEACHERS INSTITUTE.
Sessions in Centraiia Full OF Profit
for County Instructors

section Of the county, under the new
law. The opening hour Friday
morning showed a very gratifying
attendance at hand, a typical gathering
of our country school teachers, the
young people who are at present
moulding and directing a coming
generation Of leaders and business
men, instructing the mothers and
mistresses Of future homes; yes the
statesmen and mayhaps a few presi,
dents Of the Goth century, who knows
With such a burden of responsibility
resting upon them no wonder theirs
was an attitude all attention, all interest
in desire to grasp the valuable hints
and suggestions to be thrown out by
their sUperiors and more experienced
advisors. Start the boy and girl right
and their chances are good for continu-
ing in the right. And this we believe
to be largely the obligation Of the
country school teacher, in educational
paths at least; no small task to be sure
The Institute was in charge of Prof
{. H. Sylvester, of the Stevens Point
Normal, regular state institute conduc-
tor. He was assisted by County
Supt. r. A. Havenor and Prof. H. d.
kneip, of Centralia High School. 1t is
not the purpose of this writing to
attempt review of all the work done
at the two days meetlng-space pre-
vents-convlncing evidence that much
was accomplished. But we take time
to print the notes Of your reporter
taken while visiting the institute on the
closing afternoon at the solicitation OF
Superintendent Hayenor.
The first to attract our attention as
the session was being opened with a
song including all the voices, was a
golden thought in golden letters
decorating the front wall over the plat
form, Perseverance Conquers All
Things" We don't know whether
these words were placed there for this
occasion or not, probably not. But nc
more fitting or striking reminder could
have been found. 1t was certainly a
splendid working axiom for the little
army of teachers who sal facing it and
one they could we'll look up to fo1
inspiration and renewed efforts at this
very time. To 60 farther it was good
thing to take home with them, to put
upon the walls Of the country school
houses for future reference.
Miss Bridget NJ. Burns, teacher Of the
first primary department in the Centra-
liza High School, conducted practical
language lesson before the teachers
having class of little ones present for
the purpose. She demonstrated very
Cleyerly the value of nature study in
elementary classes to supplement- and
vary book work, and the recitation was
decidedly as interesting for the specta-
tors as it was for the young pupils. It
was evident that her children had been
taught to draw differences from what
they see about them as well as to
memorize SO many lines on Il page.
She is especially apt with youth and OF
such should our district schools abound
Prof Sylvester gave a talk on
Geography" closing a series Of three
suggestive lessons impressing upon
teachers that they should cause the
children to be observing. TO do this
by continually pressing them with
questions concerning nature and its
pecullarities in their every day
surroundings. He used snow drifts
streams, ETC., in an application to the
study of Geography" for his object
questions, and demonstrated that this
method could be extended to al
branches. He complimented Miss
Burns very nicely for her successful
management along this line.
Supt. Havenor followed with al
instructive and pointed address OF
"School Management" carrying with i
the emphasis and discretion gained
from years of matured experience
The main thought which he wished tC
impress seemed to be this: Thai
teachers are engaged to instruct the
children, but no amount Of education
or educational qualifications in the
teacher will suffice for lack of govern
ment over the pupils. In other words
a teacher with a limited amount O.
education but good government will be
enabled to do much more for the pupils
and is far more successful as teacher
than one possessed of great learning
and no government. Because Whe1
children are kept orderly they will ge
some useful information, while ]
allowed to play they learn only mischie
and cunning gdi5obedience. Mr.. Haveno:
is firm in the opinion that teacher
should be stationary in schools as nearly
as poss1ble-so long as the majority cal
be satisfied; that the idea 0f constan
change hoping to get ''better teacher
lis not satisfactory, does not Away
produce expected results and is los
to teachers as well as the pupils in ;
district.
\ somewhat amusing fact came to ou
attention when ii was noted that the
Superintendent started out on tn,
general subject of school government
and found it necessary to consumt
much of his time on methods o
punishment" The way they discussed
the use of switches, rods, rulers anC
like machinery of agony for the small
boy, we decided at the outset tha
vO17Dcr ArDarica iC not vat dociIa n