Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1897-08-24
TEACHERS INSTITUTE.

OOe@AN
August 16, 1897.
In accordance with the program it was
opened with devotional exercises, conducted
by Rev. DR.. Hopkins, followed by an address
OF welcome by the Superintendent, Rev A. A.
P. Neel.
w. NJ. Deck and ]. n. Bonham were then
chosen secretaries, and proceeded to prepare
the roll of the Institute. Prof. Hodges, of
Nor gantown, outlined the work to be done
and spoke of the importance of Institute at
tendance He then introduced the subject of
Primary Reading, which is one of the most
difficult brnnchestaughti in our public schools
This interesting topic was followed by one
near akin to it in Importance, 8 Methods OF
teaching spelling" 1t was presented in BRIEF
talks by Mr.. Chapman and Miss Laura Strider,
who did full justice to the subject.
On motion, the following committees were
app ointed On Music-E. B. johnson, Jesse
Engle and o. NJ. Harris. Resolutions
Engle, Miss Ora Tomlinson, Miss Fannie
Larue, C. ]. Knott and Geo. w. Carter. Pub
licatious-E. B. Johnson, Z. VI. Chapman
and George P. Shirley. To solicit subscrip-
lions to School Journal-O. NJ. Hlrris, Meta
Shirley. Phillip Jackson. Compulsory School
Law-wright Denny, Charles Smooth, L. L.
Page.
Tuesday, Rev. Rumscy Smithson conducted
the devotional exercises, and after the regu-
lar roll call the subject of Geography was
discussed and the difficulties in the language
of the text book pointed out by the lnstruc-
tor, who also spoke of the preliminary knowl-
edge necessary to the full understanding of the
map. "School Organization being the next
topic, was introduced by o. NJ. Harris, who
was followed on the same subject by Miss
Laura strider, E. b. Johnson and E. J. VIII
lisms.
After the noon intermission and roll call
the subject of ''Liturature" engaged the talent
of some of our best teachers, who discussed
the subject fully. giving many of our best
poets and their writings with sketch OF
their lives SO clearly brought out in the essays
prepared by Miss Lloyd, DIR. Dung and Miss
Ora Tomlinson.
Wednesday, Aug. 1s.-Devotional exer-
cises, conducted by Rev. w. s. Cole. The
first period was taken up with LECTURE
from the Instructor on Physical Geography
and followed by talk on How to teach
History by Geo. P. Shirley and Herbert
Osbourn.
13o p. m.-English literature was discuss,
ed by Prof. Hodges, Mr.. Grantham and Miss
Carrie Engle.
NEED of Sympathy between teacher and
parent" was ably presented by Messrs.
Johnson, Harris and Wiltshire after which
Prof. Hodges took up "alcoholic drinks
and made interesting remarks thereon.
Thursday, Aug. 19,-Institute convened.
Devotional ercises. conducted by Rev. w.
L. Grayatt. Roll call. Col. Hodges follow
ed with talk on the Geography of West
Virginia, presenting in his beautiful way
the bright future that awaits our State.
Prof Hodges conducted an exercise and
drill on the different vowel sounds, also a
short exercise in pronunciation of difficult
words.
The Topic of American Literature, was
ably discussed by sketches on the lives OF
the different literary characters of this
country.
Miss Sheetz gave sketch of the beauties
of Hawthorne. Miss Morris of Maud Null.
Ter, Mrs. ]. c. Wiltshire of Holmes, and
Prof Hodges of Whittier and Holmes
School Libraries were given attention by
Prof. Wright Denny and Prof. Hodges.
The Subject of Language in our Schools
and houses was discussed by ]. C. Knott,
Miss Minnie Murrill, and Col. Hodges.
Friday, Aug. 20,-Institute convened
Devotional exercises, conducted by Rev. DR..
c. N. Campbell. Remarks by County Su-
perintendent a. A. p Eeel in reference to
certificates of attendance was followed by
Col. Hodges in an extended explanation Of
the inclination of the earth on its axis, to-
wards the plane of its orbit as producing
the different seasons, etc.
DIR. ]. r. Yourg, of Baltimore, gave II
very interesting address on General Litera-
ture, followed by talk on Compulsory
School Law. by Col. Hodges.
Reports of committees followed when the
ms titute of 1897 closed.
RESOLUTIONS.
l. AS in the estimation of the teachers of
the jefferson County Institute, a system of
uniform examination questions would be
more agreeable and satisfactory to teachers
and EQUALLY so to Boards of Examiners as
relieving them of the burden of preparing
questions for examination, therefore; RE-
SOLVED, That as Teachers Institute we ap-
prove and recommend State Uniform Ex-
aminations.
2. That we the teachers of Jefferson, re-
quest our worthy County Superintendent to
use his influence to have the Program and
Manuel of Institute Work delivered to the
teachers at least one month before the meet
ing of the institute.
8. That we hereafter have two ushers APP
pointed for the receiving and seating of WIS.,
itors wishing to attend this institute.
4. That we extend our thanks to the
Baptist congregation of this town for the use
of their organ during the session of this In
stitute. Also to Mrs. j. c. Wiltshire for
MUSIC furnished.
5. That we extend to our instructor, Prof
Thos. Z. Hodges, our hearty thanks for the
able manner in which he has conducted our
exercises and CONGRATULATE him upon
having made this one of the most successful
as well as one of the most pleasant Institutes
we have ever held. We invite him to visit
us again in the future, and assure him that
q cordial welcome awaits him.
6. That we extend thanks to our County
Superintendent, Rev. a. A. p. Neel, and the
for their EFFICIENT work: To the
teachers who have helped to make the In
stitute successful: To the ministers who have
led us in our devotional exercises and to Rev.
J. X. Young for his delightful talks on itera-
ture.
Z. That we humbly bow in submission to
the will of an all wise Creator in removing
from our association our beloved fellow
teacher, WALTER I. SHIRLEY, and that we
tender his family our sympathy in their be-
f. b. JOHNSON,
GEO. p. SHIRLEY,
e. NJ. CHAPMAN,
Committee.