Middletown transcript., 1897-12-11
THE TEACHERS. INSTITUTE.

on Friday at noon.
Rev. F. NJ. Munson, D. D., offered the in
vocation Tuesday morning Professor
Andrews, principal Of New Castle High
School, extended cordial welcome to the
teachers in bshalf Of his co-workers and
the citizens of the city; Superintendent
Smith responded.
After organizing by electing the follow
ing officers; President, Superintendent
Smith; vice President, Professor Andrews
Secretaries, Misses Amy R. Piser and Mary
q. Crime, the program was taken up.
DIR. E. E. White. of Columbus, Ohio, was
the first instructor and gave an interesting
| talk on Fundamentals in teaching in which
he stated that the three things to be consid-
cred in fundamental teaching are know
ledge, mental power, that is to acquire, ex-
press and apply knowledge and skill.
DR.. n. w. Eson, of Philadelphia, was the
| first speaker at the afternoon session, sub
ject, How to study History. He said we
should study the gradual developement OF
the nation; not to confine ourselves to text
books. He laid down three rules namely.
Do not hurry, take notes, commit import
ant dates to memory. Following this in
structive address. DR.. White gave talk on
Language. He said you could never teach
a child by analysis. English Grammar does
not confer expression yet we depend upon
it for power.
DR.. Elson continued his talk of history in
which he said tits well to review often and
make chains of events in order to impress
them.
DR.. Byron King, of Pittsburg, Pa. for
whom the teachers always have cordial
welcome, gave the evening enterta inment,
which was enjoyed and appreciated by all
who were privileged to hear him.
Wednesday Morning.
The Institute opened at $50 p. m. after
prayer the audience sang America.
DR.. King introduced his subject on Lam
guage, by few pleasant remarks, but not
all mirth, he said that the most degrading
slavery is that which enslaVes man who
goes to his work unwillingly. He began his
talk on language by saying that some one
once said spoken language is the only Ian
guage;he advanced the idea that it is not the
spoken words or the printed words that
alone make language, it can be expressed
by our emotions. We often struggle by
symbols to make ourselves understood.
Language is picture painted in words. We
might dispense with some parts of speech,
the most essential are the noun, verb. ad
jective and conjunction; the verb being the
strongest part of speech in all languages.
DR.. Elson's subject was Geographical
Progression, but he asked the questions he
had given the previous afternoon which
were: Which is greater liberty or union2
Why did the North emancipate the slaves
and the South did not? What holds the
country together2
These were answered by the teachers
other questions arose so the talk was mainly
on history telling how to teach events SO
they would be impressed on the mind.
DR.. King continued his talk on language.
He said you cannot change your vocabu
larry, the words you learn when a child
cling to you through life. A word is moth
ing until you can use it tunconsciously.
Language is not the number of words but
their adaptation; not SO much the amount
you read as what you digest.
DR.. Elson gave the opening address in
the afternoon; his subject was assigning
lessons. Find the interesting facts and en-
large on them, he spoke of assigning a les
son in history, give children facts 10 inspire
them to search for themselves.
DR.. King then spoke On Subjective Read
ing. He said he who gives and always |
gives must give out"
A teacher must feed erself in order to |
feed others. The main point in subjective |
reading is the power of the mind that en-
ables you to forget your surroundings by |
this means one can study no matter how
Ifyou wish to remember relax
your bodies, forget yourself and the speaker
and centre your mind on the thought. He
closed his remarks by reciting in his charm
ing style "Chariot Race" from Ben Hur.
DR.. Elson spoke on cause and effect, Civ
ing some ideas which might be of great
service
Thursday.
Thursday morning Supt. James NJ.
Caughlin, Wilkes Barre, Pa, gave the first |
address on Practical Teaching in which he
dwelt on the will of the teacher to stimu-
late the pupil. He said will was closely re-
lated to duty and work" Talk about the |
subject you are teaching. The strength you
give child will follow him through life,
teach him to learn, 7 can, Z ought and I
will accomplish any task.
DR.. Twitmyer. of Bethlehem, Pa, follow
ed talking on "Some things the school
should do for children" The work of the /
school should give the child Physical, Men
tai and Spiritual Power. He said teach
them how to feed and clothe the body, as
well as the mind. Inspire pupils 10 think
for themselves, do what you can to encour.
age the dull ones, and endeavor to train the
child to think for himself. Help them to
re ad and find out the good there is in liter
ature. He said strive to mold character
that will be solid, able to battle with rough
things of life.
Supt. Coughlin continued his talk on
Practical teaching. He spoke of the need
Of studying grammar to help US in our COM
position and of books to train our minds.
He said we should know through thinking
to note resemblance. Also said never ac-
cept on authority that which will admit of
sensible demonstration he enlarged at
some length on this thought, advancing
some good ideas. Another thought he sug-
gested was to "observe carefully, to infer
truthfully. to express accurately. Teachers
should strive to keep the children busy,
have them form words, gave other sugges-
tons along that line; closed his remarks by
a German saying HE who would get the
meat must crack the NUT
Thursday Afternoon.
The afternoon session opened with In
stitute's singing Battle Hymn of the Re-
public" DR.. Twitmyer whose very pres
ence was an inspiration, his bright, sun
shine face and pleasing manner drew his
hearers in such way they almost forgot.
the subject in the man. His talk OIL Pri-