Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1901-08-16
SCHOOL MA ANS
And School Masters Too
Are I'm Session Here.
ABOUT EIGHTY PRESENT.
Conductor Bennett and lnstruc-
tors Giving Satisfaction.
Detailed Report OF the Plan Of Organiza.
ton and Methods and Work OF Each
instructor.

The State Institute for Gratio'
county opened Monday morning at II
o'clock with fair attendance. Supt
b. Bennett, OF West Branch, has
charge as conductor, with Prof. James
Mitchell, OF Alma college, and Miss
Margaret Wakelee, Of Mt. Pleasant
normal school, az assistants.
Supt Bennett commenced with an
excellent drill in Mental Arithmetic,
taking for his work lists OF carefully
prepared mental problems similar to
those coming in teachers eXami'
nations, requiring analysis in class to-
gether with cultiyating an aptneSs tC
grasp the salient features OF a practi-
cal problem and be able 70 state the
definite principals upon which such
an analysis is based. He has provided
lists copied on the hektC graph, which
plan is highly appreciated. This line
OF work he expects 20 carry through
the entire institute. Mr.. Bennett
also takes up Botany, which he gives
20 the large class formed by outline,
and this alone, is worth the whole
time spent at the institute, as he
leads his class to see the plant in its
growth and develops in their minds
the plant itself in life or action. His
method is a very praiSewOrthy one as
is shown by the enthusiasm and iu-
tense interest OF those in the class
His work in Physics is carried on in a
similar way although in such short
time, with half-hour periods. one can
only cover the general work in such a
science with the numerous expert
ments in attending upon the practical
part Of it. But Mr. Bennett is equal
TO this and the teachers show their
appreciation in this work as In all the
others, by the spirited discussions
which they take part in during the
daily recitation.
Prof. James Mitchell'S work 10 his
tory is very interesting and the
scholarly manner in which he handles
this subject makes it of unusual value
to the teachers. Heglves two periods
daily and the teachers are having an
uneXcelled opportunity OF studying
this branch ia purely historical man
ner, in which the old method Of re-
lating few facts and remembering
scores OF dates is changed TO the in
teresting and elevating discussions Of
general subjects that have moulded
American history and blessed the
destiny of our people. The cause,
effect and result OF facts Is taken as a
prime factor in this work. Remark
able results are being obtained and the
discussion does not close with the
recitation but is carried TO the halls
and may be heard on the streets while
teachers are going TO and from their
boarding places.
Miss Margaret Wakelee, Of Mt.
Pleasant normal school has three per.
iods daily in kindergarten work and
her mastery way OF dealing with the
young mind seems TO be a very inn
pressive one while the results obtained
In this work are highly cOmmendatory
OF the system. The way in which she
interests the large class by the Illus
tration OF her methods is an astonish.
ing feature of the program. She be-
lieves in teaching the child TO tell
what he sees, TO give correct expires.
sion of thought TO what he hears, to
recognize form by comparing objects,
in fact, she teaches the eye to see, the
hand TO feel, the ear to hear and the
little mind to understand what is in
the power OF the child, using objects
TO call forth various ideas and beauti.
full games TO keep them busy and &c
interest them in the unknown. Miss
Wakelee has the class take part IN
these games and exercises. thereby
arousing an enthusiasm that can not
fail TO bring forth excellent results in
the regular school WORK.
Commissioner Pike conducts the
work in geography. He believes IL
teaching this branch, not from the
old time formal observation-disclosures
plan, but more by the topical method
The map should be studied rather
than the map questions. Teach the
pupil To see these things in imagina
tion or TO recognize them when he
comes in contact with them. Geog
raphy should be taught more from
commercial point Of view, as com
merce is a ruling occupation. Tn,
ambition of all individuals seems 20 b,
more or less TO take an active part in
commerce, while all others are endeav
oring to produce articles of commerce
Hence, commerce rules the world anC
should be taught from that stand
point. He mentioned the neglect Il
ach comparative geography and EN-