The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-06-12


lowed with a delightfully."- swinging
waltz song sung by the members of
the class, under the leadership of Mrs.
Barnes, the supervisor of music Fol-
lowing the custom established last year.
there was no formal address delivered
by visiting educator Instead, two of
the members of the class had prepared
essays and there was a discussion on
an educational topic.
PERSONALITY OF THE TEACHER.
Miss Olive Mum, the president of the
class, had prepared an essay on "The
Personality of the Teacher" Because
of a death in the family she was unable
to be present, and the essay was ac-
ceptably read by Miss Edna Eloise
Freeman. 1t was an able presentation
of the principle which is coming to be
recognized more and more among
teachers every year, namely, that the
shaping of child's after life is largely
in the hands OF the teacher.
Miss Beatrice Morris recited "My
First School," and gave an altogether
delightful picture of new teachers
first day as a teacher and her struE-
giles with a class of hopelessly ire
pressible youngsters. AS an encore she
recited a humorous negro dialect poem.
The discussion of the subject. us
Spelling by Phonics Desirable and Prac-
ticable?" was participated in by four
young ladies and was the most inter-
esting feature of the programme.
Miss Sadie FalkowskX opened the dis
cusson for the affirmative side, giving
at some length the reasons why "mon-
key" should be spelled "monki," and
why "easy" should be spelled "ez."
Words in their written form should pic
ture to the eye the sound which they
represent. This is possible only by the
use Of the phonic method of spelling,
she said.
The economy in time which would fol-
low it's introduction was pointed out.
Children could be taught to read in
one-half the time required at present.
There would be an economy in printing,
also. One column in six could be saved
In the newspapers and one page in six
in the printing of books and magazines.
Its use would result in the introduction
Of rational methods of teaching and
would make English in time the uni
versal language. She pointed out the
diverse pronunciations given to pre-
cisely the same combinations of letters
under the present system. as for in
stance-bone, gone, done.
MISS JONES' CONTENTION.
Miss Helen Jones, for the negative,
said that the introduction of the phonic
system is impossible, because it would
be impossible to get philologists to
agree on the pronunciation of words.
Each would want his own pronuncia-
tion, and so would everybody in gen.
eral. The result would be confusion.
The Introduction of the system would
make the English language resemble
"stump tailed fox" and would rob it of
its wonderful beauty of form. The
great masterpieces of English liter
ature would remain closed book If it
We're introduced, she said.
Miss Sadie Coslett ridiculed the argu-
ments of her opponent and asserted
that the introduction of the phonic sys-
TEN of spelling would establish for all
time sound standard of pronuncia-
tion. 1t is the only rational method OF
spelling, she said She told of the first
efforts of little children to write and
how they invariably spell according to
argument to show how the education
of the child could be simpllfed by its
use. The literature of the past could
be rewritten into phonic words, she
said, and need not be lost,
Miss Olive Mead. a very positive
young woman, closed the discussion
for the negative by asserting that the
of the phonic system Is
undesirable and alto
Gether impossible.
Miss Ruth Beddoe, who has sweet
ly sympathetic voice, sang "Forgot-
ten." Then Miss Ethel Beale presented
to the board of control for the school
a beautifully framed photograph of st.
Marks cathedral in Venice. Superin-
tendent Phillips accepted it in few
brief words. The great popularity
which he enjoys was demonstrated
when he stepped forward. The APP
piause was so loud and long that he
was obliged to wait nearly two minutes
before it ceased
SUPERINTENDENT REMARKS.
The children. under a teachers care,
he said, are buildings and perpetuate
the life and influence of the teacher in
themselves, as the cathedral per-
petuates the artistic genius of the ar
chitect. He urged them to live not In
words but In deeds.
Miss Grace Lauer read an interest
ing essay on "Col. Parker the Chill
dren's Friend" in which she pictured
the life of that first great American
of Froebel's teachings.
y. j. Jennings. the chairman of the
high and training committee made
an address in which he said that the
present class Is the largest i'm the his
tory OF the school. There have been
1e1 rn5nafpS ba said apI nf this