The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-12-05
SESSIONS OF The
9 TEACHERS INSTITUTE
Interesting Lectures Delivered yes
. terday by Prof. Kemp, Miss Hag-
" ga,ty and Miss Hyde.

7 The features of yesterdays sessions
; of the tcnchers' instltute---tha over
shndowng features--were the lectures
on psychology by Prof. u. L." Kemp,
principal of East Stroudsburg Normal
school. No more intensely interesting
talks have been heard at an institute
i'm Carboulale than these lectures. made
doubly valuable because of tie ihlec-
,ion In one way or another of the FRUITS
of Prof, Kemp's wide educational rN-
4, perience. His side observations. MS
. timely comments and his pleasing
bumor were the elements that so nap
pily combined to make his talks worthy
of the undivided attention and hearty
ro-operation OF the teachers.
Prof. kemp's lectures were so ililed
with repeated discussions OF topics tnat
suggested themselves as he proceeded
that their real value is lost When trans
ferred to type Some of the oDsefNa-
tions, however. will be read with m
terest by others than the teachers. TO
whom, only. it might be said the tech
.ncal features are os value.
At the forenoon session, in discussing
( "'rhe External Conditions to Atteh-
ton" Prof. Kemp. among his opser-
vations or expressions of opinion, SAID:
'"The man cannot act independently
of the body. Anyone who says so, says
what is sheer nonsense. Mental actlN-
ity is dependent upon physical condl-
ton the brain function in mental ac-
ton depends upon the supply OF biood
and the quality of it,
Young children are as sensitive TO
the weather AS animals. We. teachers,
are guilty of the pedagogical sin of
becoming cross at children VINO under
certain weather conditions are rest
lessly active. depressed or languid We
should have such control OF ourselves
and should have that enthusiasm Wliich
would ill the room with sunshine If
none come from without.
The teachers health and disposition
are factors in attention. When we are
not we'll and things don't seem to go
the right way. we blame it onto the
children.
There should be a state law COM
pellns teachers to take sufficient eXer-
else The nature study is one of the
greatest blessings in recent school life,
for it gives us the greatest opportunities
of exercise and relaxation that is the
most beneficial because of its ever
changing novelty.
The school work in Pennsylvania is
not yet highly organized. The work is
not in harmony. Some of the students
who come to normal schools find that
they have already gone through the
junior work in the High school. This
produces Il lack of interest, because OF
al absence of novelty / have taught
in two Normal school: and know that
this has greatly interfered with the
progress of these students. The injury
was shown in results for Il long time.
Teachers are the most conservative
among all professions II takes several
hundred years in some cases to get Il
proposition in our minds.
The author OF the textbook on
physiology sins when he uses the Illus
tration OF the telegraph system to show
the workings of the nervous system.
The intricacies of tile telegraph system
are harder to penetrate than the
understanding OF the nervous system
if the arrangement OF the nerves ba
explained. This textbook illustration
is stuff and nonsense chiefly.
The ability 10 ask questions is one
Of the fine arts of teaching.
When I went to college the students
knew Just what questions each would
get. This system has changed some
what, but if any one still follows it.
remcmber thar this giving cut-and-
dried questions cuts attention TO pieces.
The ability to teach is measured by