The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-01-29
NORTHEASTERN
PENNSYLVANIA

ness. This is the reason that singin-,
reciting, etc. is brought into the local
institute, that 1t might be made en-
durable for the public to listen to the
dry subjects of education. Prof. Tay-
lor and Prof. Coync differed little re-
garding this. the superintendent claim.
ing that the right kind of talk regar1-
ing teaching would be tolerable with
out even introducing these things. The
first talk of the afternoon was by
Prof. Charles Weber, assistant princi-
pal of the high school on History"
The speaker showed that he was thor-
oughly conversant with the latest au-
thorities on the subject and gave some
very timely remarks and witty say
ings which will prove very useful to
every student of history. Miss Prit'.
Of the Dunmore schools. rising young
elocutionist of Taylor. delighted the
audience in her own charming man
ner by reciting The Deacon's Court
ship" after which Prof. r.. y. Davis.
principal of the Dunmore schools, gave
what he called rambling talk, on "a
count of being called upon to talk ua-
expectedly. Among other things the
professor said: Local history should
have a place in every school through.
out the land. If a boy lives at Wyo-
ming he has right to know the mean-
ing of that pile of stones. The pro-
fessor also said that primary. inter-
mediate and high school teachers
should meet at stated intervals to dis
cuss their different lines of work. Ie
this plan were followed every teacher
would become a specialist. After this
came the principal address of the af-
ternoon by County Superintendent Jas
par e. Taylor ON Order" He said IN
part: I'm my visits throughout the
county | come in contact with patrons
| and directors who say; I have a good
| deal of respect for this teacher, she is
| perfect lady. etc. but she can't keep
| order Since this is true, a part of the
| time in local institutes should be de-
voted tc this subject. What is order!
/ have compared many authorities on
| the subject. but the one that strikes
| mo most forcibly is F. W. Parker. He
says: An orderly school is a working
school. Every pupil doing his best in
| the best way. Graveyard silence
| Is not a synonym for order. The
pupils may whisper TO their seat J..
| mates and an occasional book
may be dropped and still the order be
| perfect. Every phase of the subiec.
was dwelt upon. the most important Of
which is the teachers attitude towards
the pupils. The superintendent spoke
| also of the inconveniences of some
| buildings as being detrimental to good
order. In some buildings the teacher
has to walk the whole length of the
| room to open the door for a visitor-in
such a school the desk is at the wrong
| end Of the room. Every school build
| ing is supposed to be good fDr forty
| years and still there was IL twelve
thousand dollar building put up recent
ly in this county that requires arti-
| fetal light to make two of the rooms
fit for study on a day like last Thurs
| day. Directors should be careful to
| have all Conveniences possible. \ good
| way to do this is to have a school
master at the architects elbow when
the plans for a new building are drawn.
1t was conceded by all present that this
talk was one of the most practical they
ever heard on this subject. Professor
| COyne followed with few remarks on
| language. He said that pupils tire
| easily of the teachers monotone. | do
not want to act the clown or | would
give you some striking examples of thi.
samcness of tone. Modulate your voices
| properly and it will be productive o!
good order. About four dozen teach
crs were present, and the directors
were represented by Mr. George Dowse
| of Taylor.
In the evening the auditorium was
comfortably filled with people anxious
to listen to the polished orator and
brainy city Superntcndent, George
Howell, and tn hear the famous Schu.
bert quartette, under the leadership o'
Professor j. II. Watkins, of the Roya
academy, London. Owing to some I'm
known circumstance Professor Howell
did not appear. but tn" quartette d
ali that was possible to lessen the dis
appointment oil the people. The solo:
were sung with unusual effect. ana th,
new member of the quartettc, Mr.
Joshua Johns, did credit to himself
The others have had ample time I,
make = name for themselves and nrcC
no commendation, as they are first
class artists.
Burgess j. r. Watkins. Il brillian
young attorney of Taylor. presided
over the deliberati tions of the meeting
in creditable manner.