River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-03-11
TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
Held in the High School Building
Saturday, March 9th.
A Highly Successful Meeting

Lie teachers ASSOcldtlOu uelu dt
the High School building Of this place,
Saturday March 9th. was one that
went to bed rock principles.
The nucleus of the morning session
was the reading exercise conducted by
Miss Peckham, of the Normal, and
the discussion by Miss Shultes Of the
Normal and Prin. Toby of Hudson.
Miss Shultes made clear and logical
argument favoring the sentence
method in teaching reading. She ex-
planned the difference between 'learn-
ing to read" and reading, and pointed
to the Misunderstanding of those not
engaged in teaching Primary reading,
of the child's efforts to master the
little stories. She said, Nobody calls
the baby's first babblings talking
and yet no one doubts that those same
babblings are the beginnings of the
wonderful art Of speech"
Learning to read by the sentence
method is an act of perception and
memory, and the mind in its percep-
tions sees thing as whole, then in
its parts, which explains how it is
that children taught by the sentence
method finally learn words"
Miss Peckham took an entirely new
lesson and in 35 minutes the children
had learned to recognize and use
intelligently, seventeen new words,
The lesson was necessarily too long
for children of this age, but it was ex-
planned that the word drill of 10
minutes was given, in the regular
school work, at some other period in
the day.
Prin. Toby's discussion was compli-
mentary to both Miss Shultes and
Miss Peckham. He advocated the
teaching of both the print and the
script forms. Prin. Brewer, however,
could see no reason for wasting energy,
therefore he would teach script only.
Miss Anna Dodge of the High
School gave an excellent model lesson
in elementary geography. In her ex-
planatory remarks she emphasized
the following points: Geography
should have in view the training of
the mentalfaculties, and imagination
should be kept in the foreground.
Train to see, to produce, to reproduce
what is observed. Begin the study Of
geography with the home surround
ings. Plot school grounds from
accurate measurements and from this
proceed to the larger land areas. BY
means OF the fiat and the sand maps
of the mill pond, Miss Dodge develop
ed the idea of all coast indentations
and islands. The work was reviewed
by Prin. G. j. Brewer of Ellsworth.
He reinforced the propositions stated
by Miss Dodge, and said that nearly all
of physical geography could be taught
in the lower grades, the advanced
work being only an elaboration OF
the principles already known. He
strongly advocated the use Of both the
fat and the sand maps.
Supt. j. f. Shaw's address upon
1.-THE Daily Preparation of the Teach
er for Her Work" was clothed in
clear-cut English, and was to the
point. 1.-THE teacher must make
daily preparation for her work that
she may earn her daily bread was the
practical introduction. The knowl-
edge of each days lessons, the planning
OF each recitation, having in view
some specific thing to be emphasized,
were considered Indispensable to
successful teaching.
Owing to illness, Prin. Downer was
not present, but his paper, a strong
plea in behalf of Vertical Writing,
was read by his sister, Miss Sue
DOwner.
Prof. Wilson, in discussion, remark
ed that he found some limitations to
the system in his school owing to the
size and shape of desks. For small
children he encouraged the making of
large letters, as the smaller hand and
finger muscles are not developed suf-
flciently to permit the formation of
small letters. Miss Smith, of the
Normal, also advocated this idea.
Miss Matilda Smith, in an excellent
talk upon busy work, declared she
would have no busy work that did not
comprehend some educational value.
Her work in drawing and the means
she took to provide for it, showed an
originality plus a personality. Miss
Pardee argued strongly in favor of the
introduction of drawing in all grades.
The Sappho Quartette rendered two
beautiful selections, which were well
received.
Pres. Parker's closing address was a
fitting climax TO the days work. He
is man who has given his life work
to the cause of education, full Of re-
source and ripe experience. He
graphically reviewed the work of the
day and correlated its suggestions.
Prof. Wilson made an excellent
executive, which fact alone greatly
helped the meeting. The delightful
winter day with its flood Of sunshine;
the prevailing spirit of good-fellow-
ship among the $50 present: the ex-
cellency of the program, the spirit Of
earnestness upon the part Of teachers
and guests, all united is making the
association one of Instruction and
inspiration.
G.. w. SwARTZ, Sec'y Pro. TEN.