Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-08-31

| Yesterdays session of the institute
was opened in the usual manner with
prayer by Rev. Graham. Supt Ander-
son spoke briefly to the teachers, urg-
ing interested attention to the work
of the institute, reminding them of the
fact that not all teachers have the priv
| ilege of hearing such fine instructors.
| Prof Crago made some announcements
with regard to school journals. for
which he will take subscriptions.
These preliminary matters being over,
Miss Chapman began the work of the
day.
The lesson was one upon shading and
massing. She gave some direction con-
corning blackboard work as she would
carry it on in the school room. Later
she talked of landscape sketching,
illustrating upon the board all that she
gave to the class. DR.. Gilbert was the
next speaker 1t was the doctors re-
quest that questions which might serve
as topics be handed to him. A number
were sent and this question was Sc
lected for a theme: Which is more
beneficial to the public good, science
and literature, or the rules of the three
R,s?" In answer to this he said:
"There is no question about it. Sci
ence and literature are by far the most
beneficial. The three Rs have their
value, in that they help us in science
and literature. What is the value OF
reading? Not that we may call mean
ingless words, but that it makes litera-
ture possible to us. What is the value
of writing? Not the merely mechanical
forming of characters, but that we have
a means of conveying thought one TO
another. Arithmetic, too, is useful
means of scientific investigation. These
secondary studies are the keys to. ma
ture."
After brief discussion of this ques-
ton. the doctor returned to his theme
of the day previous, School Discl-
pine" In reference to this, he said:
school discipline is the sum of school
exercises; not thing apart. Order
may or may not be good thing as the
case may be-. School order is condl-
ton of things that best brings about
the desired results. If you want an
autocratic government, then you must
have autocratic schools. If you want
free citizen. the child must have part
nership in the school. The schools are
instituted for the children's good, not
the teacherA If the child is to be
trained for community life, he must
be a member of a community. In the
free state the school trains not for
place, but for movement. The ideal
American citizen is always moving up
ward The matter of obedience comes
in here. The question is asked: Ought
the child always to obey?' This we
shall answer indirectly by another
question: is obedience essentially and
primarily a virtue?' No, it is not.
Obedience is sometimes an expedient,
necessity, but when authority is
wrong, disobedience becomes a virtue.
The great leaders in the worlds thought
the fathers-stand out as examples
of disobedience. They have broken
away from tradition. They have defied
authority. In the school room, when
child is told to do a thing he should do
it. But be careful what you tell him
to do, and how you tell it. Disobedi-
ence is often the result of bad rules.
The school is community and it is
perfectly possible for the teacher to be
in harmony with the children. If the
spirit of the school is right, there is no
need for rules. The first thing neces-
sary is to get the right atmosphere.
Some teachers apparently make no eff
fort to discipline their schools, and yet
results are all that can be desired.
This is genius"
Referring again to literature, he said:
"Our ideals come largely from Itera-
ture, and just how much we are in
fuenced by our ideals we canot say"
The story of Black Beauty was refer
red to as to the wonderful influence it
has exerted and how much it has had
to do with alleviating the sufferings OF
thousands of dumb animals We must
cultivate the heart, for out of the heart
are the issues of life-not out of the
head. There is not boy or girl who
cannot be touched by higher influences
If we recognize the divine in them, we
shall reach them.
DR.. Starkey, of Washington, D. c.,
being present was introduced to the
teachers and to-day will speak in be-
half of the American University A
recess of few minutes was given. then
song and the roll call followed. Prof.
Moss began what proved to be the most
interesting and instructive talk he has
yet given. In the beginning he re-
ferrpd to the new efueafion With L.