Middletown transcript., 1901-12-07


To dwell for time in an avenue of talk.
To drink of fountain of wisdom and
truth
That springs from the aged and flows
for the youth.
The time honored volumns of Daybold
and Cobb,
The recent editions of Sivinton and
Raub,
The .sscience of health" and the gram
Are lost to the wind in the maddening
whirl.
Severe in their manner and wisdom Of
They carry the banners of culture on
high.
Bright students of manners, of mind and
of heart,
To mash the professors part Of their
dot.
And here's to their girlhood and woman
hood bright,
To shine as the sunlight of SOMEBODY'S
And when they are done with the rod
and the rule,
Dear Father accept them at last in thy
school.
WEDNESDAY, 9.45 A. NJ.
The institute was. formally called to
order by Superintendent Jones, who in
broduced DIR. L. E. Barrett of Bethesda
NJ. E. Church, who welcomed the teach
ars to the town in mastery address.
He congratulated the teachers and peo-
pie of Delaware on the rapid strides edu-
cation has made in the Diamond State
during the past few years. He closed
with few happy remarks which served
10 make the teachers feel at home, and
The work of the institute was regularly
started.
Mrs. Ida Gilbert Myers, Superinten-
lent of the Primary Schools of Washing
,on, d. c., and Professor M. G. Benedict,
If New Brinton, Conn, were the in
,tructors of the day. Mrs. Myers spoke
rom the standpoint of a practical primary
eacher. Her remarks showed her to be
ully alive to the modern methods in
primary work. Too many of the present
lay methods have tendency to repress
,ather than encourage child growth; the
ilent pupil is not the best; let the chill
lren tell what they see; encourage them
o see and talk; let them all talk at once
f necessary to secure free expression.
Yrs. Myers spoke twice during the after
loon session, continuing along the same
inc as in her morning talk.
Prof. Benedict's subject was f'Habit.
'he school is the place where next to
he home, habits are formed. Teachers
i all grades are not fully alive to the fact
hat nearly all habits are formed before
he end of school life; habits are symbols
f great controlling force in character;
he teacher should endeavor to correct
'ad habits, and instill into the children
abits of industry, economy, honesty and
Ugh moral purpose; hold ever before the
hid ideal acts of heroism, virtue and
One Of the pleasing features of the in
titute was in the evening, when the Haw-
horne Musical Club gave concert. Tt
Tas pleasing relaxation for the teach |
RS, who had been engrossed in their |
chool work during the day, and was
earthly enjoyed.
THURSDAY, 9.45 A. NJ.
Thursday the work of the institute be- |
an in real earnest The teachers we're |
eginning to get acquainted and feel at
ONE. DR.. Schmucker, of the West |
hester Normal School, and DR.. Demor
st, of Hoboken, N. Y, were the instruc-
us of the day. DR.. Schmucker is an
leal nature lover. He has endeavored /
, have nature work introduced in the
;hools of Pennsylvania. In nature
udy bring the object which is to be
udied into the school room. Pictures,
,adings and second hand material does
OF interest the child. Some objections
lay be offered to this because of lack of
roper subjects of study. In every COM
unity there are more than enough spec
mems to keep every school busy until the
ollege is reached where all subjects are
,ailable. The dragon fly or snake doc
n, known also by several other local
ames, is one of the best subjects of
udy IN the school room. 1t is one of
lture's most magni6eiently and glor-
usly eolored specimens. We have a
'ead of it however, and seem to think
at it is trying, or will if it gets the op-
,rtunity, do us mortal injury. Indeed
E seem to think that the whole animal
orld has no other object in life than to
It at u.s. We are afraid of mice, snakes,
ads etc. Why this fear I know not.
or its cause would go away back to the
me when we lived north of the Cas-
an Sea. The fear of the common toad
groundless warts no more arise from
lndling the toads than does Chinese
ring from negro parents. The toad is /
le of the easiest animals to make friends
ith. Go out into your garden and
rateh the toad for morning or two,
ID you will find that You have made a
end who will come at your approach
ID respond to your whistle. In closing
e speaker said, "Above all things try
ID see that the Creator endowed animals
th some rights just the same as he did
with MANY. Get away from the idea
at the whole animal creation was made
r our own special use and enjoyment
Prof. Demerest was the next speaker,
ho took as his subject The Teaching
beginners to read. y After showing the
consistencies of many of the methods | 3
w in use, he explaieed and illustrated /,
nat he thought to be the rational
sthod.
Teach first the consonants, objectively,
nyersationly and by the use of pictures.
ach spelling of words as soon as the 1t
,rd is developed. Have children write
,rds in the air with fingers. He then
planned the use Of perception cards a
Of which he used to illustrate. Have
ought reading and expression reading.
ach the sounds and continue this work
ro1lOh urinary grade
DR.. Schmuckers next talk was ON the
beet Of Bird Study" The only thing 7 I
eded in Bird Study is an opera glass. 2 2
e gun is the most destructive. What =
wonderful thing is a bird. Average :
nperatnre OF bird is 9S. Duck lives
q temperature Of 106 Bird is built
e racing boat to offer least resistance :
air. He closed with an appeal for the
hts OF birds.
Dr.. Demarest next made plea for the
ching Of thirst for good books No
ton lives on its past The Anglo