Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-08-31
THE Teachers INSTITUTE.
A Very Good Attendance at the First
Days Sessions.
The Instructors Were Present and
Gave Many Interesting and Pro-
ftable Talks, Which Were Sup
plemented by General Discus
sions of the Subjects Under Con-
sideration-To-Day's Meetings.

The annual session of the Wheeling
Teachers Institute began yesterday
morning. The meetings will be held
in the lecture room Of the Y. NJ. c. A.
building, as in former years. Shortly
before 10 o'clock the institute was for
mally opened. The instructors are
Mr.. H. ]. Black and Miss Chapman, Of
Chicago, and Miss Buckbee, training
teacher in the Normal School of Cali
fornia, Pa.
All joined in singing God Ever Glor-
ious," led by Miss Lucy Robinson, af-
ter which Mr.. Black Immediately en-
tered upon his work. His theme for
the morning was Number work. lie
described, numbers as representatives
of things illustrating principles OF ad-
dition and subtraction, and in very
simple manner showed how much
needless work is often used in estimat-
ing values His short talk in the morn
ing promises the practical instruction
that is so much desired by the teach
ers.
Mr.. Black followed Miss Buckbee,
who held the close attention OF her
hearers during an excellent talk.
Miss Chapman was then introduced.
Miss Chapman will give instruction IN
drawing. She explained just how her
work will be divided, and after further
directions as to what will be necessary
for the work the body adjourned.
Promptly at 100 p. m. the meeting
was called to order. After singing
America" the roll was called by Miss
Mary Reppetto, of Webster school. Mr..
Black opened the afternoon session IN
eivig a talk on Child Study" He said
can eminent educator writes that
teacher who gets into close sympathy
with her pupils and who has ordinary
tact is fully equipped for teaching,
The study must be Of the individually
child. We treat our pupils as a class,
and grade them in this way, yet we
find in every school odd ones, children
"born short" as one writer expresses
il. 1t is for the benefit of these untor-
tunate ones that child study becomes
a necessity. 1t is the duty OF teacher
to establish a bond of sympathy be-
tween himself and the pupil whereby
he can reach what is best in that pupil.
To the unfortunate there comes tune
when that bond is broken-the child
COMMITTEES an offense. Should we grow
angry? Do we not take il as a person
al offense? Motives should be sought,
then the mode of procedure is plain.
Offenses may come from carelessness,
mischief. thoughtlessness, ignorance or
yiciousness, and hence arises the ne
cessitv of acquainting ourselves with
the individual nature Of the child.
Mr.. Anderson spoke for a few mo-
ments concerning the importance OF the
subject upon which Mr.. Black had
been speaking.
Mr.. Chapman next organized a class
in drawing, after debating six definite
rules for work. She illustrated the
same by having the class draw a cube,
glass of water, etc. This promises
to be an interesting feature of the work
that is to be done. A short recess fol-
lowed. and after singing the Battle
HYMN of the Republic" Miss Buckbee
discussed the topic bf motives. In gen
eral she said. the public school is held
responsible for all the misfortunes that
befall us. The fact that so large
number of our pupils leave school at
an early age was discussed at some
length. We cannot find the reason Tor
this, Many of them prize the practical
value of knowledge. but do not love
knowledge for knowledge's sake. Many
think that to earn money is the real
business of life. Others leave because
they persuade themselves they are
needed at home; others leave for social
reasons; the school room does not OFFER
what they want. The strongest mo-
tive grows out of this, that we can see
an end for which we strive and the
nearer that end is in view the stronger
the motive will be. We hope that the
school of the future will model It's
course so as to meet the demands OF
these boys and girls without Interior
ing with that higher culture 80 much
desired by others.
At the close OF Miss Buckbees re-
marks the meeting was adjourned until
9 o'clock this morning.