The Dickinson press., 1897-09-04
,tark and Billings Csuaty Iastltsts.

Stark and Blllinss Csuaty Iastltsts.
The Stark and Billings County
Institute for 1897, opened
Monday, Aug. 30. in Dickinson High
School building with PrincipalsC II.
Clemmer as conductor, assisted hy
Superintendent Finger Or.
g%anizstion. singing and announce
ment Of the program for the week
occupied the time of the morning ses.
sion. Fifteen members were enrolled.
MONDAY AFTERNOON.
The session was opened by singing,
folio wed by the registering of new AZ
rivals, after which frof. Clemmef,i in
addition to his words Of greeting and
welcome to the class, spoke Of the
uses of the institute and outlined
somewhat the work which they were
expected to take up. Among other
things lie said: ''1'his is your institute
not mine. I expect t" carry Jaw "
new ideas gathered from you rs we'll
rs advance new ideas tO you. As it
has been well said that the best
thought of u book is not in the
thought which it contains but in the
thought which it suggests. SD the best
you will get out Ut this institute will
he not the thought which may he all
vanced but in the thought which will
he suggested"
He spoke of having sought in his
earlier teaching years, and supposed
that somewhere in the educational
field there was to be found "the meth
3D." one Of which there could be no
doubt and with which there could he
fault found; but he had learned that
it was not SO necessary to have "the
method" as "a method" In institutes
which he had held during the past
summer he had found two teachers
who had been teaching school with
no desks. no text books or blackboards
orlany of the apparatus usually neces.
sary in a school room; yet they had
methods" and adapting themselves
to their circumstances had evidently
done good work with good results.
In the lesson on reading the con-
sideration was of good reading, bad
reading, no reading-what are they!
knowledge comes from reading hence
the great importance of reading
How much does the child know wher
he begins his school life at six year.
of age! How large = vocabulary ha'
he at his command in conversation!
He has the ear language-how shall
we introduce him to the sight Ian.
guage.
After intermission, Supt. Finger
gave a lesson in elementary or prima'
ry botany, illustrating the manner OF
growth of different kinds of seeds.
After intermission and singing,
MI. Clemmer took up the lesson on
civil government. The purpose and
intent of the law requiring thi.
branch to be taught to all pupils, in
the public schools, and how much Of
this can be taught to the youngest
ones. Children should learn that.l
cense is not liberty. Explanation Of
the terms civil and political; origin
and necessity of government; its evo
luton from the savage who is a Law
unto himself to the more civilized
forms.
Monday evening a pleasant infor'
NAL social was held for the teachers
and some of their friends in the par
lor Of the Congregational church.
TUESDAY MORNING.
Singing. reading lesson, prOnouncia
tion, what constitutes authority II
the pronunciation of words, whe
shall say who are the best speakers
authorities c~hange-Webster's die
tionary recognizes the democracy Of
language more than any other-meth
DDS Of teaching younger pupils -er
rors In speech which are learned IL
early life are often unconsciously re
peated in mature life by highly edu
Gated persons who would, perhaps, be
shocked to hear others use improper
forms of speech-many Of these er
rors the result of faulty teaching il
their childhood by careless or incom
petent teachers, hence teacher
should exercise much care as to how
they teach the very young pupils.
Intermission-Supt. Fingers lessor
in botany treated of buds. He sal,
many of our transplanted trees TAI
because the terminal buds which de
termine the next years growth Or
too many for the small roots an q
have insufficient strength to r6f 8
the early frost. VIZ
After intermission and sinkflndl
came the lesson in civics, takingss4,1l
the Organization and government Q
the school district, township ~
county. /,
State Superintendent ]. G. Hallane
was then introduced and greeted tn
members Of the class with q few yer
pleasant remarks. He spoke Of th
benefit to be gained by meeting thu
to confer as to means, measures an
methods of school work, contact wit
fellow workers can not help but Civ
one new ideas. He considered teact
ing the noblest of all callings, th
teacher works with life, works sid
by side with reformers and philal
thropists.
TUESDAY AFTERNOON.