The record-union., 1898-11-22
THE TEACHERS INSTITUTE.
EDUCATORS CONVENED IN THIS
CITY YESTERDAY.
A Full Attendance OF City and
County Teachers to Take
Part in It.

The day was cold and the skies low
arine but II did not lessen the attend
ance at the City and County Teachers
Institute Yesterday at the Sixth-Streer
Methodist Church, or dampen the en-
thusiasm or attention to the proceed
ings. although the building was not
warmed as it should have been.
The first work of the Institute was
to organize. The ratification of the
committees, already nominated, was
followed by roll call.
Then in an impressive invocation the
Rev S. j. Carroll asked God for His
benediction upon the members of the
Institute Then America" was sung
by members of the institute, after
which City Superintendent Erlewine
extended a greeting to the teachers, as
follows:
After a year of remarkable events,
and much for which to be thankful, I
take pleasure in congratulating you
upon being present at this our annual
institute, and trust that, by your pres
ence here, you may be instructed, en-
thused and inspired In the work of ed
ucating and cultivating the children
who have been intrusted to you for
that purpose.
The year just passed has marked an
epoch which in many respects, stands
second to none in the history Of our
country
We have seen great war clouds how
ering over US; we have been made to
feel and to realize all the excitement
and anxiety incident to a great war.
And after a fierce conflict of a few
short months we have seen these clouds
cleared away and our country crowned
with victory, glittering in the bright
sunshine of peace
The answering loyalty of our people
to this country at this time of danger,
proves to US that true patriotism has
been infused into the minds and hearts
of our citizens And / feel that we
would not be claiming too much when
we claim the greater part of this to be
due to the patriotic teachings in our
public schools
The speedy and businesslike manner
in which our Government prepared for
and executed its part in this war is an
+ evidence of the high order of intelli-
gence of the great mass of our people;
which is also an evidence of the effect
i've work of our public schools Even in
time of war we have seen the COM
mercial social and educational inter-
paired. Can we not say from all that
has transpired during the past year
that our country, the United States of
America, stands second to no other
country in the world?
Concerning the purpose for which we
are assembled here, I will say that
those who have watched the course of
our public schools for the last twenty
or thirty years will note many changes
in methods of teaching and government
The greater part of these changes have
been in the line of improvement, yet
we are, in my opinion far from having
reached the ideal school.
Among those who have accomplished
the least in this direction is that indus
trious class of workers known as the
extremists, who have spent most of
their time rushing from one extreme 10
another carrying methods beyond the
practical point. Among those who have
accomplished the most, is that class
who have studied and best understand
the individual to be taught, and are
thereby able to bring the mental power
Of that individual to act in the right
direction
believe that those teachers who have
engaged in teaching country schools
iAGNC SdilcO d hllOWleuSe OI cnllQ HE,
that can hardly be attained in any
other way. These teachers have before
them all ages and are made acquaint-
ed with character and disposition from
all points of child life.
The younger children are better un-
derstood by the development Of the
older. 1 do not wish to be understood
that l consider such schools to be the
best for the child, but it is good
schooling for the teacher in child study.
l sometimes think that it would be bet
ter in graded schools if the teacher
would begin by teaching the higher
grades first, then drop a grade year by
year. 1t is always Well to know when
preparing, what we are preparing for.
Think of it.
In conclusion, / will say that it is my
opinion that we are going to realize a
good institute this week, and may each
teacher present take live Goals from the
fires that burn here home to her school
and fan them into bright light-that the |
little feet which they are to guide may
be hurried along the path of knowl-
edge.
REV. SILCOx TALKS.
Rev. ]. B. Silcox said he was not