The herald., 1896-12-02
Hold Interesting Sessions at the
High School
KINDERGARTEN LITERATURE
LEGAL Educators Pr0minent 10 Yester.
days Program
IT, County Institute At the Spring Street
School
Lectures by Profs. Linscott. Kirk. Gut
terry and Others-Dr. Pratt on
Child Study-Large
Attendances.

Attendances.
The Los Angeles teachers institute
opened with paper on Biology by Prof
Hoag of Throop Polytechnic institute
He was followed according to the pro-
gram, by Prof Setchell of the Univer-
sity of Southern California. on the same
subject. Both were interesting and
thorough. Miss Brigham of the Los An
geles High school also presented an able
paper upon the same subject, after
which it was dismissed by Prof. Sum-
mers Of Glendora, c. T. Meredith of AZ
usa, Miss Dole of Los Angeles and 9TH
ers.
After recess the subject of Physics was
taken up, Prof Leslie of the city High
school commencing. He gave the in
stitute very interesting half hour with
his ideas and by his manner showed that
the study of physics can be made of
much interest to High school scholars.
He emphasized the teaching of the
mathematical part of the subject, and
gave illustrations of how easily it can
be done.
spoke next. giving special attention to
the preparation teacher should make
for the teaching of physics, ana the di-
vision of the work into recitation and
experiment.
After him Major Meredith of the Az
usa High school took UP the subject He
confined his attention to the difficult
ties in the way of teaching physics, and
showed that while only industry and
some degree of interest is sufficient to
do good work in the languages. history
and such branches the teacher of phys
les must have in addition to these en-
thusiasm.
Major Meredith closed with few re-
marks upon the text books ordinarily
used in physics, which attempt too much
ard generally end in being obscure.
This brought the noon hour and adjourn
ment
In the afternoon the High school Sec
tion met al 1880. Prof w. N. Hailmann
was to be with them at that time, but
as he had gone to San Diego to spend
day with the San Diego teachers in
stitute he could not be present. The
time OF the exercise was. however. very
agreeably spent in listening to an ac-
count Of schools and school conditions
in Brazil. After that exercise. the sub
ject Of Physical Culture was ably dis
cussed by Mr.. Magee, Prof. Rohde and
Miss Jacobs
The exercises of the Los Angeles county
teachers institute opened promptly at
o'clock yesterday morning and were
carried out according to program. In
section one, which represents the first
and second grades, the first subject of
the day was Early Geography by Prof.
Linscott. In the study of geography
with primary pupils. he said sense per
ceptions must be amplified. What they
can see and hear around them is what
they can learn. or is valuable to them
Take something near that they under
stand and are familiar with and don't
talk about definitions, Geography
should not be regular routine work ev-
cry day, but should be brought in with
oral and natural language lessons. He
emphasized the necessity Of the teach
ers loving the children under her care.
the poor as we'll as the rich. and give
them credit for knowing something g
when they enter school
There Is great need of child study and
we must not forget our own childhood
1t was brought out in the discussion fol-
lowing that sand piles are an invaluable
aid to the child In modelling the NOUN
tains and rivers he learns of at school
A Pasadena mother suggested to teach
ers that they write notes to parents and
request them to put some sand piles in
the yard, as her children and those of the
neighborhood play raphy in prefer
ence to anything else. The question Of
the use Of states in schools was brought
out. and Prof L!nscott gave it as his
opinion that from health standpoint
they should be abolished. The time after
internission In this department was &C.
cupied by Mrs. BradfeId in a technical
lecture on drawing.
DR.. Mara Pratts lecture in the after
noon on Nature Study was considerably
shortened by her not arriving from San
ia Ana, where she had been in attend
arce at the Orange county teachers In
stitute. Her remarks We're in effect that
what VIC call stupid children arises from
some physical defect and the causes of
such so-called stupidity may be weak
circulation. mal-nutrition. weak lungs
motor irritability. sensory irritability
acid blood, thyroid glands brea thing
through the mouth. adenod growths
fatigue periods In section two, compos-
ed Of third and fourth grades, the lee
ture Of the forenoon was drawing by
Mrs Bradfield, followed by Prof Kirk
on Numbers. No teacher, he said, is
ready to teach mathematics unless he
understands the work of the lower
grades and those that are to follow In
struction IN numbers must not be toe
concrete. as the fingers move too ra pid y
for the brain; nor too abstract. Secure
accaxraSE and rapidity; teach directly tt
the point; do not nave Hypothetical
work. There should be a larger proper
tion OF mental than written arithmetic.
The feature of the afternoon was Or
Pratt's lecture on Child Study. DR.
Pratt is fluent, easy speaker, and hold!
her audience by her earnestness and in
tense personal interest in her subject
She said If the child Is physically weak
the. brain will be weak. If respiration
Is poor the blood is poor and thin Thos
iJtere ;ted in child study find that Their
are some periods Of the day when tn
child Is in better physical condition thai
at others. The first hour III the mornin.
at school ijsshis best. and it is best t,
devote that to the hardest studies. Th
Lighter onessand singing exercises shouit
come when he is weary, especially tn
hour before noon.
1t Is very important that children
eyesight should be carefully looked af
ter, Eyes may be defective when tn
vision Is perfect. and children should, II
m4ny caseA wear glasses for clos