Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-08-20
The INSTITUTE.
church.

of the w rk.
Monday morning was taken by the
instructors for enrolment, division of
he institute into classes. discussion of
the method TO be pursued and brief
outline of the work TO be done.
Supt. Simmons had charge of the
work in reading, pedagogy, and school
manage ment He also gave talks upon
now to organize and conduct society
with some examples of sharp practice
in parliamentary law.
Supt. Monroe had charge of L. S.
history, geography, aud civil govern
ment while Supt. Cook took aritheme-
nc, language and grammar.
Reading was defined first as the
power of getting the thought from the
printed page and second the ability to
inter into the feeling of the subject
natter without which it Is impossible
10 convey the thought to the listener.
The preparation necessary that the
.hld may enter INTO the feeling of the
subject was then illustrated by taking
IN extract from the ''Chambered Maui
illus" In this the little animal was
pictured out and described to the class
50 that the comparison between thai
and our lives could be clearly seen. In
this way he showed what the teacher
should do with every lesson taught and
it is to be hoped that teachers will close
follow his advice as reading is as
poorly taught As any subject in our
country schools. In the higher grades
ogether with the above should be
taught infection, accent, movement,
Emphasis, etc, which will give the
pupils something more dItlinite than
mere feeling upon which to found their
knowledge of reading.
Pedagogy was pursued upon some
What new lines from the basis of physi
,logy.
Psychology and pedagogy were de-
lined and it was shown that while peda-
gogy dep nded upon psychology for it,
foundation, psychology did not depend
lpon pedagogy in the least. From a
hart of the brain taken from "Hallick's
Education of the Central Nervous
System" as were many of the thoughts,
vas shown the different areas devoted
20 the different powers as motion, am
oition, vision, etc
From this, many of the truths of
pedagogy were brought to the attention
# the teachers in a clear aud forcible
manner. The teachers received new
impetus which will lead them to devote
more attention to this subject, the
foundation of the teachers profession.
The work in school management was
taken from DR.. Arnold Tompkin's and
Whites works upon this subject, and
also from the rich experience of Supt.
simmons. Such topics as the first day
Of school, program, examinations, morn
ny exercises, etc, were discussed and
many valuable points brought out.
In history, Supt. Monroe for the pur-
pose of illustrating his method took the
Constitutional Period in our history
which he would teach from political
standpoint. BY the use of Nealy's
political chart he showed how the diff
ferelt events grew out of and were ex-
planned by the tenets held by the parties
of the day; also how the parties changed
when the good of the country demand
ed a different policy. A mimeograph
outline was given each teacher, and
the CARTS fully explained.
In geography a printed circular was
followed which was ISSUED for institutes
and taken from Farnham and also from
Kings methods and aids in Geography.
Upon one side of this circular is a sum-
mary of "Reasons for Principles In
volved. Aims and Relative Importance,
Wrong Methods, Apparatus, Maps, etc.
The topical method of teaching geogla a
ply is also discussed and its superiority
over other methods is brought out in
such a manner that teachers should GER
tlinly adopt it. Upon the other side of