Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1902-08-12


The proceedings of the opening day
of the Jefferson County Teachers Insti-J
tute (Mondas) were published il our last
issue.
TUESDAY.
Tuesday mornings session opened with
the hymn. Guide Me-" Devotional ex-
ercises were conducted by Rev. B. FL
Ball. Prof. Goodwin gave an interest
ing and inspiring lecture on Pluck and
Plod Prof. Barnes discussed the SUBJ
ject OF Psychology as applied to educa-
tional work. Prof. Goodwin gave a His
tory-Geography lesson on the State. using
map in connection Herewith Master
Charlie Strider favored the teachers with
very entertaining defamation. AT the
afternoon session Prof. Barnes discussed
Arithmetic, Prof Goodwin some further
work on State Geography. The West
Virginia Hills" was then sung. The
GROWING feature of the day was an ex-
cellent informal talk by Prof. Mailman
Barbe on the Teacher and Twentieth
Century Progress" Prof. Barbe INSIST
ed that the teacher force of our State keep
up to the times and lead the boys and
girls forward at goth century pace. -
The days program closed with the ma
tional song. America.
/ WEDNESDAY.
The days work was begun with devo-
tionsl exercises by Rev. L. r. Milbourne.
who read the Io4th Psalm. Prof. Barnes
had an exercise in Memory Gems, par
/ ticipated in by the teachers. Marshall
County Institute, in session at Mounds
vile, w. Va, telegraphed their greetings
and pledged splendid educational year
lin West Virginia. The Institute returned
greetings and promised the banner coun-
ty next session. The Institute telegraph
ed greetings to Grant County Institute in
session at Maysville. w. Va. Professor
Barnes lectured on Psychology" after
which Profs. Denny and. Barnes discuss
ed "The .Irreducible School Fund" a
subject that evinced general interest on
the part of the teachers. many of them
participating in the discussion that fol-
lowed. The arguments in support Of the
amendment favoring the reduction of
said fund, as given by Profs. Denny and
Barnes. were as follows: First-That as
we are now in our infancy in educational
development it is wrong to extract money
from the pockets of the people when tu-
ture generations will be much better able
70 maintain schools than we are now.
We are not accommodating the fund direct
ly from the people. but do take money
from the general fund. which VIII be in
creased by the amendment-thus increas-
ing the amount distributed to the coun-
ties. and reducing the local taxation in
many counties particularly Jefferson
county. Second-It would enable many
counties to establish high schools as it
would reduce local taxation somewhat,
and taxpayers would be willing to main
tain same rate of taxation if high schools
could be established. ThiId-This fund
| is not obtained like that in Texas and
other States from sale of public lands,
but from sources which can be readily
converted into the general fund. Fourth
Counties now having three or four
months. school can have six months
school until these counties are developed
Our educational progress is not keeping
pace with our material progress. Fifth
More than one-fourth of this fund is
now lying idle IN the banks drawing no
interest. 1t is always difficult to find a
safe investment for the fund. An argu-
ment against the amendment advanced
was that in time of panic. war or famine
the proceeds of this fund could be used
to keep our schools opened while these
extraordinary conditions prevailed -
Prof. Goodwin spoke in behalf OF our
State Normal School at Shepherdstown
and also on Arithmetic and the use of
blocks in teaching mensuration. At the
afternoon session Mr.. c. E. Bushonp. of
the Charles Town Academy, was intro
duced and explained the working Of his
new book holding device. Prof. Barnes
discussedCecll Rhodes and his education
al policies and an exercise on common and
decimal fractions Prof. Goodwin ana
lyzed Bryant's ITO Waterfowl" the
teachers answering the. questions The
session closed with a round table discus
sion, participated in by all the teachers,
which was one of the most enjoyable fea-
lures of the days work.
THURSDAY.
The morning session opened with the
hymn, Nearer My God to Thee" Rev.
DR.. c. N. Campbell conducted the reliq
lous service. after which Memory Gems
were given by a Number of teachers. -
Prof. Goodwin took up the subject of
History Teaching Methods. Prof. Den
ny made vigorous address opposing the
use of Histories as School Readers =
Prof, Barnes discussed Reading Circles. /
District Institutes, etc. After intermis-
sion. Hon. c. M. Wetzel made an earnest
address on ''School Discipline" Prof
Barnes gave the legal aspects of questions
involving the teachers contract. Prof.
Goodwin, in talking about West Virginia
Literature. read poem by H. S. Swish
sr and a chopter from, tsCo,,,er r..