Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-08-31

the leacnerS institute at the High
School building were perhaps more
pleasing and profitable than any of the
or less important questions in litera-
ture and child-study were very inter-
estingly discussed by the instructors.
Guide Ne, o, Thou Great Jeho-
vah," was the opening song of the
morning session, and then the Insti-
tute was led in prayer by Rev. c. B.
Graham, pastor of the North Street
M. e. church. Prof Anderson made
few pleasing remarks, calling atten-
ton to the resolutions adopted at the
National Educational convention at
Charleston, S. c., in July, and empha-
sized the point that the boys and girls
under the instructions, of the teachers
are but the uniformed cadets of the
State.
The next half hour was devoted by
Prof McMurray to further discussing
the subject OF literature in schools
lie thought that in speaking OF this
study we strike at the very centre of
educational life. BY this he did not
mean the literature that is considered
mere ornamentation, but the literature
that enters into the life of the child.
1t was literature that made nation.
1t had been the root of all the great de-
velopments of the Greek nation. The
literature of our six great poets was
fhe greatest heritage that America
possesses. 1t was more valuable than
gold mines or corn fields. He called
particular attention to the thousands
OF teachers who fail TO get hold of the
advantages OF literature to the child,
because they do not realize the great
power that literature is exerting on
the destinieS Of mankind to-day. Love
for good literature should be formed in
childhood, for the reason that it first
sets the child to thinking and then to
acting. II is true education. The text
book fails to get hold of the child's
activities as good literature does. The
child should be given something TO do,
or 1t would find something that might
not be OF advantage. Monuments of
marble and stone may crumble, but
the best thoughts are imperishable.
Our poets were the best schoolmasters,
and our teachers should therefore seek
literature, because by studying their
works they may learn much from
them. He concluded with the thought
that teachers not in sympathy with
the stories that interest children are
not fit to teach children. 1t is in the
primary department that the best
teacher ought to be found.
Then came recess, and another song,
Scatter Sunshine" after which Rev.
G. B. Graham invited the teachers to
attend lecture at North Street
church. The subject of Arrested De-
velopment" was taken up by Prof
Bryan, who believed that all life de-
veloped the same way, and that if in
stinct does not have an opportunity to
develop at the proper time, it will
never develop at all. He applied the
principle TO those making a start in
higher life, and the fact wss shown
that from 50 to 100 per cent. OF all who
become Christians do so before reach
ing seventeen years of age. In his
opinion parents make a great mistake
by refusing children an opportunity
TO develop along the lines for which
they have natural aptitude.
The Afternoon Session.
The afternoon session opened with
the songs Singing Singing" and
Flow Gently, Sweet Alton" Prof. Nc
Murray then addressed the teachers,
continuing his discussion of literature
He thought that what the teachers
needed most was help in selecting
books and papers, and also spoke of the
power of the best literature in educat-
ing the children. In referring to the
various kinds of literature, he advised
that the best time for a child to begin
reading imaginative literature is
when he has imagination. He called
particular attention TO fairy tales,
which he thought were both i'm
aginative and instructive, and pointed
out the necessity of giving the chill
dren Ideas of these stories before they
are able TO read. These stories are
marvelously significant and helpful to
the young people. If children are to
get the material which they should out
OF the third year grade, they must not
be permitted TO use books. A child
should be interested in stories during
the first three years of his school life
before he is given books TO read. The
developing of a fine taste for literature
In early life would serve as a great bull
Wark against trashy literature in years
TO come. He concluded by pointing
out the difference between reading to
learn and reading to understand.
"A recess OF fifteen minutes was then
taken, after which Miss Eliza Glascoe
favored the audience with a piano solo.
The Atlantic City Boardwalk Two
Step. Prof. Bryan next took up the
subject OF discoveries in childhood
study. He argued that parents as we'll
as teachers often make mistakes in
training the children because they do
not know what is exactly right to teach
them. He pointed out that the boy is
not the miniature of his father or the
girl the miniature of her mother. and
also quoted an authority that the child
Is not an adult in miniature. He ex-
planned the development of the mus
cular system in the child from the fun
damental to the accessory. His advice
to one who was nervous would be to
abandon his work and seek the sun
shine and pure air, that is, something
that may act upon the skin. He next
quoted high authorities as to the con-
tents of a child's mind when he enters
school and the development of the
sense OF ownership on the part of chill
dren. There had been a valuable study
OF the angers and fears of children. A
teacher had often made a mistake in
making child mad or soaring him
MI h