The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1896-12-22

counties of Burlington and Ocean. The
snow storm prevented full attendance
on Wednesday morning, but at the after.
noon session nearly every teacher re.
sponded to roll call. Rev. Martin Aigner
rector of Trinity Church, offered prayer.
The first address was delivered by Miss
Susan A. Reilly, of the State Normal
School, Newton. Her subject was 'Geog-
raphy" which she very cleverly demon
strated.
} Prof. 1. F. Hall, of North Adams, Mass,
occupied the next 40 minutes, speaking
on Language teaching"
The most unsatisfactory subject to teach
is language. The teacher must not be
discouraged if the results are not as pleas
ing as those derived from geography, ar
ithmetic and such studies. In language
teaching everything must be utilized to
prepare the pupil for every subject that
may be presented. Language is pltting
the pupil in such position that he will
form mental pictures and put them into
intelligent shape. The fact that language
is difficult, that it has so much to do to
build up the character and develop the
mental qualities of the pupil makes the
subject one of the most pleasant and i'm
portant in the life of teacher.
Language is the development of ex-
preston of thought, and all teaching
should be to that end. This expression
can be classed thus fluent. correct and
artistic The power of fluent expression
depends very much upon the impulse and
habit of the pupil. Clear ideas must be
created which resolve into thought that
demand expression. Get the pupil in the
habit of thinking for himself and the rest
will follow.
Miss Reilly resumed her talk on geog-
raphy. Practical lessons may be obtain
ed by getting pupils to observe different
things along country roads, and the effects
upon nature of rain, drought. high winds,
and SO on, and apply these thoughts to
the earth's surface.
The first address in the afternoon, was
by Miss Amelia c. Hewitt. of the State
Normal School, whose subject was eel
ementary Science" Do we know nature
accurately? Take the boy who goes out in
the spring ignorant of the habits of trail
ing arbutus. He loses much beauty and
fragrance that is obtained by the boy ia
miliar with the habits of that lovely flow
er. Much better train child about ma
ture than to instruct him about his environ
ments. Love of nature must first be in
culcated. How shall the work be con-
Quoted? First an interest must be aroused,
not merely classroom interest that will
soon die out, but one that will lead the
people to observe for himself. A child is
naturally interested in nature, hence it is
the duty of the teacher to encourage that
interest. Having secured this the next
thing to cultivate is observation, which is
the very essence of the entire process.
Having attained this desired end, the
pupil has little trouble in giving expires
sion to his thoughts in modelling, paint
ing, drawing and by other means This
will be of great value to the pupil. In ad-
dition to giving him an interest in all that
he sees it awakens in him love of the
beautiful and softness and elevates his
personal nature.
In the evening State Superintendent
Baxter spoke on Profession of ability"
On Thursday morning the Institute
met at the opera house. Rev. Milton
Relyea. pastor of the M. E. Church, ma de
the opening prayer.
After roll call County Superintendent
North, of Ocean County, spoke on the
advantage and necessity of the formation
of teachers association for Ocean County
He said preliminary meeting had been
held at the West End hotel, at which Of
fcers had been nominated. The list was
read and the action ratified Prof North
then gave the teachers several hints about
pertecting the organization, particularly
emphasizing the Importance of securing
school libraries.
Prof. w. ). Shearer, of Elizabeth, was
the first speaker. His subject was IRE
i
has visited all of the schools ofimportance
in this and other countries, says the
teachers of this land are sadly deficient in
the matter of conducting recitations. In
this portion of school work is formed the
nucleus of the students educational life.
There natural hunger for mental food
must be SO satisfied, the interest in search
for knowledge must be instituted. In
recitations the characteristics of teacher
will be made visible. If cold, sarcastic,
whitening. or if warm, sympathetic, en-
couraging, it will be quickly noticed by
the scholar, who is far more observant
than he is gwen credit of being.
Mind influences mind and it is in the
recitation that the strong mind of the
teacher comes in contact with the weaker
mind of the pupil. and failure to properly
exert the right influence may send a child
forth good for nothing idler. Negligence
cannot be charged to teachers who fail.
Many there are who work hard all day
and worry all night over their duties
which are conscientious performed.
Lack of preparation on the part of the
teacher is mainly responsible for failure.
Many instructors seem to think lessons
are all that are to be studied. The char
acteristics and temperament of pupils
should be thoroughly looked into. Pupils
frequently appear to be dull, ignorant or
| 10 TO- -
dent in their life is responsible for the APP
parent Indifference. AS an instance the
speaker related the case of boy in Eliza
beth who was about to be suspended for
the third time. Investigations proved that
the boy was seeking the suspension that
he might be at home where his mother
was very i'll and likely to die. After the
mothers death the boy was one of the most
boy to go without an endeavor to ascer,
tain the peculiar incidents of his case the
result might have been one of regret
J Prof l. F. Hall was the next speaker.
discipline" was his subject, and he called
attention to the fact that discipline at
{ school was just the same as it was any.
where else, and the correct definition Of
the word Is ''learn to endure" Too many
think discipline means punishment, while
there is not the slightest doubt that praise
holds prominent position in the matter
of discipline.
Good discipline is always educating
, Pupils frequently misbehave through ig
: norance of propriety, because of improper
home influence. The personality of every