The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-29
Teachers Ningle in Congenial
Social Enjoyment.
MANY INTERESTING TALKS.


Again the halls and rooms Of the high
school building were thronged yesterday
with the teachers and their friends. and
when Supt. Meredith called the assembly
TO order for the morning exercises there
was hardly a vacant seat in the hall. One
striking feature OF the great gathering is
the social side Of IL. and during every -e-
cess or interim, and sometimes even while
the exercises are in progress. little groups
OF old friends may be seem about The
building, talking over old times or COM
pairing notes as to their varied experiences
In the school room.
The very first number on the programme
yesterday proved a popular os,e. 1t was
an instrumental trio. THUS serenace. by
Miss Nellie Huckins, piano. Mr.. LeGrand
Carter. violin, and Mr. Preston Burns,
flute. The performers were compelled TO
respond to a hearty encore. After the
invocation by MIR. Bowerman. Mr.. II. H.
JOY sang Schumann's Two Grenad!ers
so well that he was recalled and gave
Sarjeants BLOW, Blow. Thou Winter
Wind" S;ill the audience was rot salts
fed and Mr.. Joy responded 10 his second
encore with the charming ballad, "A
Bunch of Cowsi.ps." Then the assembly
dispersed and took up the work OF the
various sections.
Work I'm Sections.
c. F. Allan, OF Kent, presided over the
high school section. Prof. Eabcock. OF
the Minor school lectured On the subject
of history. He said that il had been a
custom 10 dwell TOO long on many unim-
portant details in regard To biography
early history. battles. etc. Most emphasis
mote patriotism. ManG lessons in Justice.
bravery, magnanimitM can be Cleaned
from its study. Above all. he pupils
should be taught to love their country
not as II was, but as Il is. not for what
u had done. but for what it Is capable or
doing.
Miss Olive wente. of the high school.
ably led the discussion. She would en-
phasize what tends 10 good citizenship
The history of the nation should be
studied from a broader standpoint than
Is usually taken. An attempt should be
made TO estimate justly the prominent
figureF In our history. Such men had been
too often represented as all bad or all
good.
Mr.. /. +. Rich presided over the Inter
mediate section and introduced Prof w
]. Spillman. of Pullman. His paper en-
Dietary Standards was very full and
provoked much discussion. He demon
body may be nourished ana the low cost
of proper food. The paper on School
Savings Banks" was omitted.
The primary section was presided over
by Miss Electa Armour. Harr Wagner
OF San Francisco. gave an unusually good
talk before the primary section on .'Pri-
mary Grades Composition He outlined
the work In four divisions letter writing
manner of presenting the work correction
Of papers and punctuation He empha-
sized the importance of letter writing in
primary language work the ground
that 1t presented something of interest to
the child. The talk was thoroughly appre
ciated and elected a great deal of discus
sion.
Mr.; Wagner suggested two little none
graphs. which win be OF great aid to
teachers along this line. They are Miss
Spauldings Problems of Elementary Com
position" and DIR: Shaw's Results of
Three Years Study in Punctuation"
In the department OF special help. ].
w Spilman, OF Pullman agricultural COL
lege, gave characteristic talk on How
Sutriment is Utilized In the Body" He
showed how chemical changes are pro-
duced In the body by the introduction OF
foods. Prot. Spillman explained disease
as being a chemical change abnormal to
tho body. He explained In answer to a
question that the popular idea of the
value of alcohol in case of rattiesnake
bites Is a faliacy. science having demon
strated that alcohol is actually harmful in
such cases.
In the Afternoon.
The afternoon session opened with n
lecture on science by Prof W J. SpIu-
man. He spoke of the former exclusion
Of scientific subjects from the curriculum
Of both college and common school and
approved the opposite tendency now evil
dent He suggested a radical change In
the programme of the primary grades be
ueving that the time devoted to reading.
writing drawing and arithmetic during
the first three years of school life would
be better devoted to other subjects These
subjects could be more quickly acquired
Later and the muscular adjustment neces-
sary to acquire them was too exacting
for very young pupils. Before the age OF
ten the pupil should be trained in nature
study. morals. history. oral language
singing, physical training and play.
Prof Spillman's lecture was followed bv
a vocal solo. Natures Lullaby by Mrs
Chauncey Reach.
Harr Wagner delivered an interesting
and suggestive address on THE Sixth
Sense Of Education" at the close OF
which Miss lola Barber, Of Autumn. rem
dsred charming violin solo, he Rerfo's
Scene de Ballet. exhibiting remarkable
accuracy, excellent bowling and a SYM
pathetic Interpretation that reached the
heart az the listener. The afternoon ses
sion ciofsed with a short talk on Hra ain >