The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-10-23

day was a splendid gathering Of repre-
sentative teachers and prominent edu-
Gators from eastern Ohio and West Vir-
ginla, The sessions were held in the
Christian church and at each the church
was filled.
AT the morning session, Superintendent
Gallop, Of New Cumberland, presided.
The first discussion was upon Have the
teachers In the district schools really
abandoned the A, b. C method?" A dir
ference OF opinion prevailed, SuperIn-
tendent Mertz, OF steubenville, advo-
Gated phonlc word, and sentence method,
He favored early script writing, partic-
ularly the vertical method. He did not
favor the chart method OF teaching chill
dren to read. He dwelt particularly on
the importance OF teaching phonlc, ST.
perintendent Maury, of New Philadel-
phia, spoke of the method in use In the
indianapolis schools, which Is prac-
tically the old A. b. c. method, II was
his opinion that an unskllled teacher, In
particular, could succeed far better with
this method than with the word or SEN
tence method. though he praised the
phonlc system, emphasizing the Import
ance OF phonetic spelling. rather than
analytic.
How shall children be taught 70 read2"
Superintendent Williams. OF Bellaire,
opened the discussion, advocating first
the script, then the print He spoke In
favor of the Pollard system. After the
script and print, he favored phonetcs
and analysis. Superintendent Wade, of
Morgantown, stated that for twenty
years he has advocated script print, say
ing that YOU can teach the whole better
than the part, Superintendent Duncan,
Of Bridgeport, thought that the primary
teachers, generally speaking, are doing
good work. and that they are not now.
as formerly, experiencing much. His
chief criticism was that some OF those
teachers catered too much to the ideas OF
the superintendent. He said the most
serious mistake Is made beyond the pri-
mary grade. Superintendent Boyd, of
Marietta, said he agreed with everybody,
and that they were all talking common
sense He uses the phonetic method In
| his city the first year. Principal Star
ling, OF Marietta, spoke In the same
strain. Superintendent King, OF Nc
Meehen, asked if # is natural for chill
dren to first learn the letters? Mr.. Maui
ry replied that In his opinion II is not.
He spoke OF the stress laid upon syllabi-
tication In the schools of Indianapolis.
Some others continued the discussion,
but without ellclting any new thoughts.
Superintendent Williams presided dur
ing the discussion OF How can teachers
make the best professional advancement
while teaching?" Superintendent Van
Clea.ce, OF GAINESVILLE, opened the dis
cudsion. He said there Is no such thing
as standing still; that we are either pro-
crossing or retrogading. He advanced
a particular line OF work. some, perhaps,
needing literature. others psychology,
and all pedagogy, He outlined the
teachers work In the GAINESVILLE school.
adding that they are following the Ohio
Teachers Reading Circle.
Superintendent H. c. Williams follow
ed, stating that the weakest point in the
preparation OF teachers seems to be that
they have no well-grounded principles
OF the theory OF education. Superlntend-
ont Williams. OF Moundsviiie, was called
upon and made some very interesting
remarks along the line OF concentration.
Superintendent Wade insisted upon a
good library, and that we should be
familiar with II. Prof Miller of Nor
gantown. was called upon and advocated
modern fashions, keeping abreast OF the
times. He thought that we should get
In touch with the leading men, especial
ly literary men,
Superintendent Duncan observed that
n he has a teacher who Is interested In
any particular thing the children are in
terested IN the same thing, and II there
Is no life in the teacher there Is no life IN
the school, He contrasted the teacher
who studies the child through the writ
lngs OF educators with those who study
the child In the school room. His re-
marks were good, as Mr.. Duncan's re-
marks always are.
Superintendent Reymon, Of East Nv
erpOol. was called upon and explained
the courHe OF study followed by his
teachers. He advocated grade meetings
with view to assisting the teachers
along the line OF some specific work. He
spoke very favorably OF the course ~
study adopted by the Ohio Teachers
Reading Circle. Mr.. Reymon Is a good
speaker and his remarks were well re-
Ceived
Superintendent Anderson, OF Wheeling
followed Mr.. Reymon. insisting upon the
necessity Of the teachers having the right
spirit and that It can only be brougb.
about by good periodicals. teachers
meetings, etc. Superintendent Startling
says that we II can't study the children
before us we are out OF our sphere STU
perintendent Mertz called up the sub
ject OF special teachers IN music writing
and drawing. Principal Arnold thought
that II this Ia necessary We ought TO have
special teachers In arithmetic and. In
fact all other branches. Superintendent
Wade, advocated such n method, T. o., a
special teacher In all branches. Super
lntendent Van Cleave opposed depart
mental teaching, saying that music es-
peclally ls not an essential He thought
that IL music is taught, it cannot be
taught well without epeclal teacher
lie opposed no much attention 10 physl-
cal culture, and opposed special teacher
IN this subject. Mr.. Mert2 agreed with
him, and spoke against department
work. lie thought The only reason why
special teacher in music Is necessary
II because the regular teachers are not,
as q rule competent TO teach this sub
jcct, but hoped they would soon be pre-
pared to 40 this work.
Hon, Charles ]. Howard was present
by invitation, and listened to nm earnest
discussion OF the Ohio truant Law. Mr.
lIodward made brief talk to the teach
ers present and won high favor with
them.
Last night DR. Garfield, president NJ
the Ohio state University, delivered an
address upon "1'hc Common Public
School" and the church was crowded,
The vast audience was both entertained
and instructed by Dr. Caufcld's splendid
talk upon n subject upon which he
cvlnced the most thorough knowledge.
The sessions viii close to-day SO noon.
THOSE who believe chronic dlarrhocn
On no lnrnrnhln nhnmld rnnl MINT Mr. Il