The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-07-16
STATE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.

Association convened in the Normal
School Auditorium in its forty first an.
nual conference on Tuesday morning.
The number in attendance was not as
large as was expected. Among those
here were State Superintendent Schaef.
fer, Deputy Superintendent Henry
Houck, DIR. Harris, Principal of the
George School near Philadelphia,
Supt. Smith of Delaware county,
President of the Association Prof.
David Keck of Kutztown, Treasurer
of the Association, Miss Elizabeth
Lloyd of Philadelphia, Supt. Coughlin
OF Luzerne county, DR.. Benedict of
Edinboro, DR.. Smith of West Chester,
DR.. Waller of Indiana, Supt Patterson
of Pottsville, Supt. McGuinnis of
Steelton, and DR.. Hull of Millersville.
Rev. l. M. Patterson conducted the
devotional exercises. In the absence
of Col. J. G. Freeze, a cordial address
of welcome was delivered by J. c.
Brown, to which Hon. Henry Houck,
of Harrisburg, and Professor c. E.
Reber of Slippery Rock, responded.
Following this, Dewey and McClel-
lan's "Phychology of Number" which
has created quite sensation in edu-
cational circles, was discussed and
criticised by DR.. A. T. Smith of West
Chester, Supt. w. U. Ehrhart of Ma
hanoy City, Prof. H. H. Spayd Of
Minersville, and Prof. VIM. Noetling
of the Bloomsbury State Normal
School.
They admitted that the results at
tanned in the teaching of arithmetic
are not commensurate with the time
spent upon it, and that teachers need
to understand that number is ratio,
and not substance, and is to be thought
rather than learned through the senses.
They agreed that the Grub method is
more psychological than any other
method yet offered,
Inc burrows memorial committee
then reported progress. A memorial
tablet has been placed IN st. James
church, Lancaster, and a handsome
tomb in the church yard. Ten thous-
and large portraits Of Thomas Bur
rowes have been distributed in this
state. A memorial window will also
be placed in the new Y, M. c. A.
building in Lancaster.
Tuesday afternoon the principal
subject of discussion was the county
institute. DR.. d. J. Waller of Indiana
said the county institute of Pennsylva.
MIA is one of the most remarkable ed
ucational institutions in the United
States, and gave short history OF its
evolution.
DR.. Schaeffer said the organization
of farmers institutes throughout the
state on the same general principles
as the county school Institutes was a
proof of their efficiency.
Supt. Harrison of Wilkes Barre
found the influence of the county ms
titute far reaching. but that it some
times does much harm by spreading
useless educational fads.
DR.. Cooper of Edinboro pronounced
the county institute as useless ex.
pense, and the fact that teachers were
compelled to attend it was a stigma
upon the profession of teaching.
OF all those who discussed the
question, however, all but ore testified
to the professional inspiration received
at the yearly meeting.
Professor T. l.. Gibson of Ebens-
burg next read paper on vocal music
in the public schools after which the
session adjourned.
Tuesday evening, Supt. A. G. c
Smith of Delaware county, president
of the Association, delivered the an.
nual address. Among other subjec.:
he discussed the teachers social stand
ing in the community and means O.
elevating it. He said that in hi:
opinion this could best be done by
the teachers themselves striving to at
tain broader scholarship and wideI
culture.
Mrs. Melick sang a song and re
sponded to hearty encore.
Miss May c. Ermentrout Of Reading
read an interesting paper on Physica
Training.
At o'clock reception was tend
cred by the citizens of the town tc
the visitors. The gymnasium was
beautifully decorated, and the schoo
orchestra discoursed sweet music. A
number of young ladies served ice'
and lemonade to the guests, and the
young men acted as ushers in presen
ting the strangers to the reception
committee.
About 500 people were present
and it was an enjoyable affair.
| The exercises on Wednesday opened
at 9 o'clock a. m. with prayer by Rev
ID. N. Kirkby. The auditing com