The record-union., 1898-11-24
HAS FINISHED ITS LABORS.
SACRAMENTO COUNTY TEACH
ERs' INSTITUTE ADJoURNs.
An Interesting Session, State SUI
perintendent Meredith and
Professor Kirk Speaking.

Yesterday was the last day of the
Teachers Institute, and there was a
full attendance.
The members anticipated an excellent
program, and they We're not disap-
pointed, for Superintendent Howard
had reserved the best for the last, ana
Professor r. H. Kirk Of San Bernardino
proved to be the man who captured
and enthused the teachers. State Su-
perintendent Meredith, who had been
under the weather for the two previous
days, also put in an appearance, ana
made a brief address and an excellent
suppression.
The exercises opened with piano
duet by Misses Nellie Harris and Ma
1anie Maloney that was effectively rem
Elered and loudly applauded.
A resolution was passed by the insti-
kute that the session next year be held
at the same time as this-Thanks giving
week.
Professor. T. H. Kirk addressed the
institute on Ancient Myths and Mod
Rrn Story"
He said the sum of our opinion is the
amt by which we judge the past and
present and by which we form our ideal
of the future We will not progress un-
Ill we differentiate our opinions. he
objects to myths as they are used at
present. The culture epoch is wholly
analogical. The objection is that 1t
gtakes the child back to the supersti-
tious and incongruous age. We ought
mot TO give the child the primitive life,
but the best OF emotional and intel
lectual life, so that he may fill his life
an the twentieth century.
There are great differences between
mythologies. The atmosphere he lives
1n at home and at school are different.
The feeling Of primitive man was fear
and not trust. Even If wholesome,
myths should not be used so much as
fhey are. Too large a. place is given
no them of late. Myth and nature sto-
ries should not be used to the exclusion
of other forms of literature. They are
good when they have those things
which are true at all times. To do this
we must select them and use those that
anculcate love to fellowmen, trust in
fellowmen and in Him above us.
There is a large place for the mod
ern story, of the kind that is true. Chill
7ren ask, rs it true?" They earnestly
desire that which is good is true.
He spoke in favor Of the biographi-
raj story, and the realistic story. There
is no trouble in finding this type, and
If not exactly what is wanted, it can
easily be adapted. The idealist story,
ZOO, is Of value in the schoolroom, and
so is the nature story. How much Of
life is lost to the children by not using
ahese things. The place for the stories
he defined as the place instrumental.
where it is used to help in some par
ticular thing. In language work, for
instance. One story appeals to the
memory. Another Is of the salmon
of the Columbia, by Jordan; another
is of the Mist Islands, those mysterious
islands. He listens eagerly to the vivid
word picture, and it takes hold of his
imagination and there is no difficulty
TO get from him statements in which
the incorrect idiom can be corrected.
Then there are stories that arouse in
the pupil a desire 10 be something
higher and better, an ambition to emu
late the great men whose characters
have been portrayed.
He told a simple story to illustrate
his meaning. Don't tell the child the
moral Let him apply it for himself.
The moral of "A story is not worth much
If 1t has to be explained. Get the chill
dren to talk-to tell things in their own
Language. In the reading lesson, too,
let them have more of oral expression
than is generally allowed. 1t brings
more ready expression to the pupil. He
sometimes regretted the passing of the
DAY when in the little old schoolhouse
The boy stood on the burning deck =
1T gave the boy an idea of heroism that
was vivid and real to him and appealed
no his imagination. Give the pupil the
story that makes him resolve to do
better; that WHITES his Imagination
and lifts him up to higher endeavor.
The unconscious influence the stories
exert is the thing to be magnified He
cautioned them that the myth has been
too extensively used to exert it's best
influence. 1t should have a more inn
portant place in the high school, where
the more mature minds can give it in
felligent study.
GRAMMAR.
Professor Heaton's subject was a
continuation of his talk on grammar.
although Ae had been announced to
speak on Industrial and Commercial
Geography"
He said that, for logical consistency,
the Revised State Grammar was one
of the very best he had ever exam
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