The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-12-16
HAPPY TEACHERS
4oth Annual Instituts an Unqualified
euccess.

The fortieth annual session of tho
Somerset County Teachers' Institute has
passed into history and all who took part
in its deliberations feel that il will go 90
make up one OF the brightest pages in the
educational annals OF the county.
The attendance was equally as large as
at any former session. many persons be-
ing turned away at each meeting unable
to gain admission to the Court room IN
which the Institute was held. So apx-
ious, in fact, were some to he present and
enjoy the proceedings. that the room was
half-fiIled fifteen minutes after the morn
ing session adjourned by ladies and gen.
tlemen who patiently waited until the af-
ternoon programme WAS taken up. The
very best of order was maintained
throughout the week aud teachers and
pupils appeared eager to drink in the
words of wisdom and adopt the helpful
suggestions dropped by the eminent in
structors. Equal interest was manifested
i'm the meetings devoted entirely to teach
ers, where views were interchanged as to
the best methods to be adopted in school
rooms and to listening TO essays on edu-
cstional topics.
1t is genuine pleasure for young men
and ladies engaged in the occupation of
teaching TO sit in the presence of such
able aud practical teachers as Superin-
tendent Walton, of the West Chester Nor
NAL, DIR. Moss, of the California Normal,
and Prof. Chaplin, of Rochester, n. ",
nd faal h<af inc Of bn.,
and enjoy the rare atmosphere which
surrounds them. That teacher must
have been dullard indeed who failed to
be inspired by Prof. Walton and who re-
turned 10 his school room unprepared to
discharge the duties devolving upon him
better than ever before. Ii is perhaps,
not too much to say that Prof Walton
impaired more helpful and practical in
struction during the week than ninety
per cent. of the learned gentlemen en-
gagged in the same oommendable work,
who have preceded him in this county.
lie was not only a prime favorite with
the teachers present but with all who
heard him.
DR.. Moss. who is recognized rs enc of
the most thoughtful, careful and success
ful educators in Pennsylvania, was easily
at ease with his audience. many of whom
were his devoted friends and admirers.
The DIR. has been a visitor at our County
Institutes for number of years past, and
has probably done more To qualify the
teachers of this county. through the med
ium of the California Normal, than any
other man in the state.
Prof Chaplin is an earnest and practi-
cal educational worker and his various
talks, some of them on very dry subjects,
were embellished in a manner that held
the interest of his hearers from start to
finish.
The musical director exceeded the
expectations of his audience and
made himself popular, aud vener-
able DIR. Horne, of Allentown, delivered
practical talks.
A notable feature of the week was an
unexpected visit from ex-County Super
intendent ]. VI. Berkey. now City Super
intendent of the Johnstown Public
Schools, who was greeted with rounds of
one OF the best addresses delivered before
the Institute.
Before final adjournment the usual res
olutions, the most notable of which were
those favoring central township High
Schools and disappearing the practice
''of employing unqualified home teachers
rather than qualified teachers from other
districts" were adopted.
1t is not the province of a weekly news
paper TO fully report the proceedings Of a
Teachers Institute, but rather TO chron-
icle the success or failure of such meet
ings, with view to encouraging those
engaged in teaching the youth of the
Commonwealth to greater effort aud
higher ambition.
Superintendent Pritts and the teachers
associated with him have good reason to
feel proud of the success that attended
their first effort