The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-11-20

Teachers Knstitute.
j The annual Teachers Institute for Bur
lington county is being held here thi'
week, and opened its session yesterday il
the Court House,
The proceedings were opened with
prayer and responsive readings. State
Superintendent Baxter was the first speak
er. He made few remarks on institute
work, and urged that there be more delib-
Grafton in the proceedings, less rush, less
crowding of time. He felt that the insti-
tute is for the benefit of the teacher and
there should not be any disposition to
hurry it through
Miss Louise Connolly, of New York, de-
livered an admirable address on Relation
of the home to the school," Miss Con-
molly felt that it is home where the heart
is, and that one member of family can
not be touched without reaching all,
sympathy with others is the outcome of
sympathy with members of ones own
family. The school provides transition
period between home and business Pa
rents should not gossip about teachers, as
children cannot have any respect for
teachers if parents ridicule and deride
them. Teachers need the cooperation of
parents, not only on the first day of the
first year, and the last day of the last year,
but on every day of the entire year.
Pleasant social relations between parents
and teachers, and sympathy of the former
to the latter are the greatest aids that can
be given to those who are devoting their
lives to the instruction of the young.
Each child should be taught that he has
something to give to the other. 1t is not
leveling down that is to be desired, but
leveling up that is necessary. Influence
of the highest character should be exerted.
Miss Janet Trowbridge, of the State
Normal School, spoke on Gymnastics az
an educational factor" The speaker con
siders this one of the most important
factors in the entire educational system,
and insisted that we must have gymnas-
tics whether there is money and equip
ment for elaborate work or not. The
body must be developed as well as the
mind if rational education is to be OBJ
tanned. A child can study only certain
length of time and the mind can take in
but a limited amount of knowledge, hence
it is better to employ the time when he is
not taxing anything in, by giving him
something that will develop the body.
Gymnastics are necessary from both men
tai an physical standpoint, giving a child
mastery of mind and body. Walking is
good in its way, but it calls into use mus
of gymnastics is to use and develop mus
cles not in constant action. Germany is
an example of the benefit of physical de-
velopment Attendance at gymnasiums
is there compulsory. That the mental de-
velopment is not neglected has been prov
en- by the greatest universities of the
world being found in Germany.
State Superintendent Baxter consumed
the balance of the morning session speak
ing on the aims and benefits of the Teach
ers Retirement Fund.
At the afternoon session Miss Trow
bridge continued to talk, her subject be-
ing "Schoolroom games These, she
claimed, are aids both mentally and ply
sically, resting tortured minds, helping
and relaxing tired muscles. Miss Trow
bridge gave practical illustration of her
subject In school good behaviour and
good lessons should be made the pretext
for engaging in games.
''The Country School, was the text of
an address by Dr. G. G. Rounds, of New
York CITY. More than one half the teach
ers in the United States teach mingled
schools. Agassiz first thought how to
teach nature by studying nature itself.
The worth of a good country school, the
good it does for community, can hardly
be estimated. New Jersey is the only
state, with the possible exception of Cali
fornia, that insists upon the school being
kept open nine months to get the state ap-
preparation and the value of this insist
ment is noticed in many localities. What
shall the country school do to rejuvenate
country life? The concrete basis Of edu-
cation is an advantage of country schools.
The country boy knows the country and
nature as it is, the city boy sees nature as
man has made it. Living in the country
has many advantages. The country boy
and girl is often left alone and is com
PEELED to think, hence acquires a reflect
ing mind. France, Austria and Sweden
cultivate the school garden extensively
and derive the greatest benefits from it.
There is great need for education in this
direction, as there are more persons en-
gagged in farming and gardening than in
almost any other occupation.
This concluded the afternoon exercises.
The programme to-day will contain adj
dresses by DR.. Rounds, Edward H. Griggs
and Miss Connolly. This evening Dr.
Rounds will speak on That Child. The
speakers tomorrow will be Miss Connolly,
Dr. Rounds and Mr.. Griggs.