Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1899-09-13
TEACHERS INSTITUTE.
it Closes Its Labors After VerY Sue cessf1i and interesting Meeting.

It Closes It's Labors After VerY Sue
 cessfJi and interesting Meeting.
 WEDNESDAY, AFTERNOONS SESSION.
 The afternoon session opened with a discussion on arithmetic bT Prof. Matthews, who spoke of the import ance of the study of mathematics from the primary to the high school, of the tendency of go many teachers to make arithmetic hobby and Co ride that hobby at the expense oi other studies. He spoke of the dan ger Of grade teachers teaching their own part of the work as if it were almost 8 separate study rather than a part of one great total, and called attention to ways in which much time IS wasted in teaching the sub ject. The discussion was continued by Mir. Jolly, who illustrated by a problem the difficulty of using the signs correctly. Prof. Cox thea called for a problem to be explained as to a class, and Miss Wilber and Miss Henshaw responded. This opened a discussion on teaching arithmetic objectively, the time wasted in explanations which the small student cannot fully compre- bend, but which come to him later with little effort, and on the errone- ous use of the word "borrow" Tn subtraction. The subject of arith- metic was warmly discussed by Supt. Cox, J. \. Piper and Prof. Matthews.
 The subject of geography was presented by Miss Gage in very interesting paper. Mention was made of the old traditions concern ing our earth, of the connection oi the study of geography with chem istry, physics, history, etc, of the use of numerous illustrations, globes and maps in teaching the subject and the methods used for giving the clearest ideas of other countries. The discussion was continued by Miss Gould who advocated the study of geography with the topics ot the day; by Miss Johnson, Miss ker- baugh, Miss Opdyke, and Mir. Gun uingham, and was closed by Prof.. Matthews, who talked on teaching the changes of the season.
 Miss McGill next gave a paper on Kindergarten instruction. This was one of the best papers which has come before the association and it is to be regretted that We could not have more discussion on the subject, but few of the teachers present were familiar with kinder garten work. Miss McG,ll placed the age of kindergarten children at from three to SIX years. She em- phasized the importance Of the kin dergarten in developing the moral or aesthetic nature of the child, showed how form, color, etc, art taught by tte objects first used, how the cube, sphere and cylinder are made interesting objects to the child. and how even the destruction of objects IS generally for investi- gation. Miss McGill showed how education in the kindergarten is re- ceived through play. The kinder garten, as she presented 1t, IS tiny social organization for tiny people, whose influence lasts all through life.
 J. \. Piper next presented the subject of school management, gig- ing many ways of maintaining good order in tha school room, and giv- ing advice from his experience as a successful teacher. Mir. Piper spoke on the advlssbility ot having few rules of behavior, and the mls- take of anticipating evil by rule, Alter a discussion of this able paper by Prof. Matthews, Miss Winds and Supt. Cox, the meeting adjourned
 THURSDAY MoRNINe's SESSION.
 The session opened with a piano solo by Miss Hauxhurst, followed by prayer by Rev. Wycof.
 The first subject taken up was fractions. Miss White read a papar upon the subject, giving very prsc- tical methods of teaching fractions, and setting forth two principles oi Pezalozzi of passing from the con crete to the abstract. and from simple to complete. She dwelt upon the importance of teaching frac- tions objectively and of using ob- jects which when divided will not still be a complete object. The teacher should show that common and decimal fractions are the same only written differently. The sub feet was further discussed by Misses Kerbaugh. Gage, HeiJer and Camp bell. and very excellent talks given by Prof. Matthews and Supt. Cox on the subject of decilnals and the difficulty Of presenting them to pupils.
 Miss Campbell then read a paper upon Reading, giving her methods of teaching it She advised begin ming with drill on the more diff cult words in the selection, and of learning something of the author to give the pupil more interest in the subject and to excite a taste for lit erature.
 Miss Campbell was followed by Mrs. Beatson who spoke of the very small number oi good readers even among the most thoroughly edu- cated, by Miss Strange who spoke of the fact eastern people are better readers than western people because they practice r'Nding aloud a great deal.
 The question ot reading from newspapers and periodicals in the school room was warmly discussed. by Prof. Matthews, Mir. Piper, Miss Campbell and Miss Opdyke. and the advantages of sileut reaiing was dis cussed by Miss Gage and Miss Jenk- ins
 After a vocal solo by Rev. Wyck- of. who is always heard with great pleasure, recess was taken.
 Alter recess the subject of gram mar and literature in the 7th and sth grades. came up for considera- tion. Mir. Cunningham gave a very excellent talk on the difficulties of getting the students to make practi- cal use of technical grammar, and called attention to some of the words most frequently missed. His remarks on the study of literature and the best ways of exciting an in- terest in the subject, were of much benefit to the association.
 Mrs. Banta read a secand paper on this subject in which she told of many students under her own ob- servstion who at l5 aud Is years of age could not form simple sentences clearly and correctly, showing how