The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-02-19
An Instructive Meeting.

A highly instructive and entertaining
program was rendered at the meeting
Of the Educational Association Satur-
day evening.
The first number on the program,
''The Vertical System of Writing" was
given to the meeting for general discus
sion. The arguments given in favor OF
its adoption were: IL ia the natural
method; is more legible; can be written
more quickly; occupies less space; gives
the writer better position: and 1t does
away with the difficulty Of teaching
position Of the pen, as the child is al
lowed to adopt its own method Of pen
holding.
The subject of "Reading Matter for
Young People" was opened by Miss
Myrtle Geist who gave some very good
ideas as to what should constitute the
literary study of the pupils Of our
schools. Good literature should be put
into the hands of the primary pupils
and such nonsense as, 81 see Ann and
her dog" should be thrown aside. A
taste for good literature is the corner
stone of good education. To create
this taste, biography and stories of pa
triotism should be read, and a study OF
the poetical works should be made.
Having acquired taste for such read
ing, the child has no desire TO read
trashy matter. Prof. Doane thinks this
subject is not given due Importance in
the school room, as is shown by the ig-
norance Of pupils of even the names Of
some of our famous literary productions.
This may be the result In great part Of
the material furnished the pupils, the
home and school libraries being usually
insufficient. One series of reading
books, "The Heart of Oak" was suggest
ed as containing well graded amount
OF reading matter and including great
many Of the masterpieces of the Ian
guage. A good history for primary
reading is Montgomery's, for advanced
| Is Fisk's. Additional remarks were
made by Mr.. Mitchell, Prof. Hawthorne
and Mr.. Postlewait who regrets that
Reynoldsville is producing no poet or
author.
The preparation of paper on the
undertaken by Miss Hannah Stauffer,
and the result showed a thorough inves-
tigation of the different subjects that
have been agitating the public mind.
Topics from the industrial, the political,
the educational and the medical world
we're considered Among the subjects
noted were: the establishment Of peace
between China and Japan the Siberian
railway; the building of the Harlem,
Puget and Nacarauga canals: the horse
less carriage; the Atlanta exposition;
admission of Utah; compulsory educa-
tion law; trouble in South Africa, Ar
menian trouble: sale OF Govt bonds; and
the North Pole.
The Venezuelan and the Cuban sub
jects, which are now attracting atten-
tion, were given special notice, full
discussion and explanation OF each be-
ing made. In conclusion plea was
made for the teaching OF current events
in our schools.
Mr.. Clarence Henry read selection
entitled ''The Legend OF the Organ
builder" in very effective manner.
\ Mr.. Neff,, whose name was not on the
program, favored us with a fine recital
of Woolsey's address to Cromwell, taken
from Shakespeae's Henry VIII.
The following program will be pre-
sented at the next meeting. March 7th:
Music; "Second Year in Number
Work." Miss Miles; "School Incen-
dves," Miss Dempsey; music, Misses
Doane; recitation, "The Rhine of the
Ancient School. Master" Miss Whit
more; double quartette; History, and
the Teachers Preparation for Teaching
IT, A. ]. Postlewait; question box;
music. SEC.