El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-08
SCHOOL OF METHODS

SCHOOL OF METHODS
Formally Organized at Cloudcroft
With Large Attendance.-Much
Enthusiasm ShoWn.-Work Out
Iined.-Tedchers Must Continue
Self Improvement to Succeed
Teachers Association Organ
lied.
Special Correspondence OF the HERALD.
CLoUDCRoFT, New Mexico, July g.
Under the direct supervision of Prof.
G. p. Putnam, superintendent of pub
lie schools of Ell Paso, the Cloudcroft
school of methods was formerly organ
| lied today with great many teachers
present from all over the territory.
The exercises were very impressive
and great enthusiasm was shown by the
teachers present. Prof. w. w. Rob-
ertson, superintendent of public schools
Of Deming, ably assisted Prof Putnam,
and will be the sole director of the
school of methods during che session.
| The exercises were opened with the
singing of America by q large chorus
of we'll trained voices. Prof. Putnam
then said the Lords prayer and anott-
er hymn followed.
Prof. Putnam addressed the assem-
bled teachers. welcomed them all, and
stated the aims of the school. He said
that the attendance this year was very
gratifying indeed since the idea had
been so little advertised, but an at
tempt would be made to do actual hard
work for personal improvement, aud
there would be no doubt that those
present would be better teachers after
q full attendance on the course mapped
out.
The first work taken up was the sub
ject of Eogiish Grammar. The work
WAS outlined by Prof. Putnam.
l. Langusge-Kind of Language,
Grammar.
2. Letters Divisions and Subdi-
visions.
3. The sentence-Subject, Predi-
cate, Analysis. Diagram.
4. The use of capital letters and
punctuation.
5. Glasses OF words-nouns, prom
GUNS, verbs, adverbs.
6. PROPORTIONAL phrases-Punctua-
ton of propositional phrases.
I. Compound subject and compound
predicate.
8. Analysis Of sentences.
The subject OF history was next out
lined by Prof. Robertson. Under the
first chapter the following heads were
discussed.
1.-Who fret settled America.
2.-American AntiQ uities.
3.-Mound Builders.
4.-Domestic, Foreign and Political
affairs.
| CARTS and Inventions.
| 7.-Progress and Education.
| S.-Domestic Life.
| 9.-Disposition.
| 1O.-Endurance.
| u.-Religion.
| 1.-THE Indians of the present day.
| Prof Putnam next spoke on "School
Management" aud said in part "The
success teacher will have in the de-
velopment of the child mind will de-
pend on the preparation she or he will
have made prior to taking up the voca-
ton of teaching. The great majority
Of teachers are not prepared as they
should be, and the teacher who is not
proficient in the branches which he
teaches, Is not the teacher to have
charge of a school. 1 am of the opinion
that the teacher who goes forth armed
with diploma Is better fitted to teach,
but they must delude themselves with
the idea that when they receive their
diplomas the ,work rofs preparation
here ceases. They must continue self
improvement in order to be proficient
and skillful teachers.
1.-THE time is coming when the occu-
patton of teaching the young is to be
profession, just as much so rs that of
dentistry, of medicine etc. In the
case of a doctor he has but one patient
to work on whereas in the case of a
teacher they have many minds to work
on and If a teacher is bungler in her
work. the influence exerted on the
children will follow throughout life. OF
all the calamities one of the worst Is to
see children with destines to mould in
the hands of a person incompetent in
their work. How carefully should
teachers then prepare themselves for
their work. Ideals should be high and
actual study of subject matter should
be most thorough. A teacher to be
proficient can not do too much toward
self improvement"
The most important work of the
morning was the organization of the
Cloudcroft Teachers association. The
object OF the association is to further
the direct interests of observation-disclosures
and the officers will outline the work
of the institute.
Mrs. Donnelly, who has charge of the
Presbyterian Mission school in Las
Cruces, was elected spc resident. Miss
Annie Robertson vice president, and
Miss Allen, secretary.
| Immediately after the election of
officers, Mrs. Donnelly took the chair