West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-09-05
EDUCATIONAL
CONVENTION.
Preston County Teachers Institute
in Annual Session.
Starting Under Difficulties but Now
Moving Forward Successfully.
From our Spccial Reporter

FROM Our Special Reporter.
TERRA ALTA, w. VA, Aug. 20
The Goth century educators of
Preston county met to-day to hold
their initial institute Of the present
century. The auditorium of the
new'school, building which is un-
finished was hastily and temporarily
improvised for the occasion and
the sound Of the saw and hammer
had scarcely subsidized when County
Superintendent Candy at 1910 a.
m. called the institute TO order and
after singing the "West Virginia
Hills" Rev. T. +. Brown conducted
devotional exercises.
Then the members sang Scatter
Sunshine" and the Superintendent
appointed Miss Daisy Stemple and
Mr. ID. w. Metheney as secretaries.
After enrolment the able and genial
Prof Thomas +. Hodges Of the
West Virginia University, made a
short address outlining the works
of the institute. His address was
practical and free of plaititudes.
Prof Hodges was followed by
Professor A. l.. Wade, the veteran
institute worker, who spoke in his
most interesting and pleasing man
ner and closed the forenoon session.
In the afternoon session Prof.
Hodges gave good address and
was followed by Prof. G. ID. Albert,
who besides relating several anec-
dotes and personal reminescences,
made an able address on the alert
ness of attention and its leading to
skill while the combined result of
both give character.
Prof. Albert was followed by
Miss Elliott, who fuently presented
the theoretical side of the new
versus the old geography and clearly
developed the power of visual real
ization of objects
Next came Prof. Wade to present
the claims of vertical writing and
after few minutes animated con-
troversy with Profs. Hodges and
|
Burke, he proceeded to address the
institute forcibly on his subject.
Prof. Geo. +. Little concluded
the work of the day by one of his
inimitable chalk talks in which he
drew portrait of Prof. Wade.
No organ or piano could be OBJ
tanned the first day, but the lack
will be supplied.
There was no night session, much
to the regret of the teachers.
TUESDAY. MORNING SESSION.
a piano was brought into the hall
and Miss Herndon appointed
choiister. Prof. Hodge conducted
the devotional exercise, preceded
and followed by Coronation" and
"School House on the Hill"
Prof. Hodges then talked on the
preparation of the teacher for his
work. He pointed out that GER
tiicate is no conclusive evidence of
a PERSONS fitness to teach. The
real test lies with the consciousness
of the teacher himself. The school
room calls for the best theoretical
preparation the teacher can make.
Miss Waddell then read a fine
essay on the subject of "Mother's
Day"
After recess and the singing of
the "'West Virginia Hills" State
Superintendent Miller was intro
duced. His earnest talk made a
favorable impression. He discussed
the inadequacy of county superin
tendents' salaries, the grading of
district schools, the inequality Of
taxation as a means of support of
the free schools, a I'd the irrecible
school fund. He plead that every
person should give careful thought
10 these matters so that our school
system may advance.
Prof. ALDER, now gave a pedi.
gogical talk, saying that education
is the art Of human growth and
quoting Emerson's apphorism that
art is the expression Of mans ioy in
his work
Prof Little took the floor with
one Of his entertaining chalk talks
and the session closed with roll call
and the distribution Of tickets for
the nights entertainment
AFrERNooS SESSION.
The institute opened at 1:45 with
the instructors absent. "The Rat.
tie Hymn Of the Republic" and
America" were sung and roll was
called.
Prof Hodges gave ono Of his
earnest pedagogical talks and Prof
Wilkinson then responded to a re-
quest for an address in which he