Smyrna times., 1902-12-17
KENT TEACHERS INSTITUTE
MAKES FINE IMPRESSION
TWENTY.EIGhTH ANNUAL SESSION AD-
JOURNS AFTER THREE DAYS SITTING.
Was q Splendid Intellectual Treat to the
Teachers and Citizens Of Smyrna and
Was Largely Attended Throughout.

Teachers and Citizens of Smyrna and
Was Largely Attended Throughout.
After one of the best courses ever
held in Smyrna, the Kent County |
Teachers Institute closed its twenty
eighth annual session at the Smyrna |
Opera House Friday evening with the
approval of satisfaction and the sin
cere appreciation of the people of
Smyrna. The weather opened auspi-
eiously, with clear skies aud bracing
temperature, but before the three
DAYS session had ended the clouds had
gathered and rain fell in more or less
quantities. This, however, had but
little effect upon tine attendance on
the sessions. Enthusiasm continued
with increasing interest, and the spIen-
did day and evening program rendered
was mutually beneficial to the town
people and the hundred and fifty or
more teachers in attendance.
The speakers on Wednesday were
Superintendent George W. Twitmyer
of the Wilmington City Schools, and
Mrs. Mary II. Hunt, an authority on
Scientific Temperance instruction.
The former told of ''The Story in
Education, and gave during his three
talks some very helpful suggestions to
the teachers. Supt. Twitmyer has his
whole heart and soul in the work of
education and as an instructor made
"hit" with the Kent County Teach
ers. Mrs. Hunt was also greeted with
a large and appreciative audience.
She made a strong point of the i'm
portance of teaching temperance
physiology from the primary to the
higher grades of the schools and en-
phasized the necessity of total absti-
nence from the standpoint of the
Improvement of the race and the
preservation of the government.
During the intermissions Prof. J. M.
Davidson of Dover led the Institute
in singing of familiar songs. Miss
Edith Beck of Smyrna presided at the
piano.
Greene and HOuck Make a jolly Team.
Thursdays session was one of the
most delightful of the Institute and
was largely attended by the town
people. Prof f. Fl. Greene, of the
West Chester Normal School, and
Superintendent Henry Houck, of the
Montgomery County Schools, Penn
sylvania, made a ''lively pair" and
they kept the Institute in good
humor with their repartee and funny
witticisms- Prof. Greene made three
brilliant addresses on "Guiding Prin-
ciples in Teaching Literature" during
which he held the marked attention of
his audience. As public speaker he
showed remarkably retentlve mem
ory, and his talk was an almost un-
broken monotone of selected quota
tiOns, puns and witticisms borrowed
from the best authors aud from all
possible sources, with here and there
some brilliant cllmaxes full of peda.
gOgic truths. Supt Houck won his
popularity with the Kent County
teachers at former Institute sessions,
and his appearance was greeted with
marked applause. In his random
talks he made some excellent points
Howell and Dematesi Entertain Large Crowd
On Friday the sessions of the Insti
tute opened with increased enthusiasm
In the cause of education. With th,
splendid intellectual treat of the day
before still lingering with them, the
gathered at the Opera House in largl
numbers to hear Congressman-elec
George Howell of Scranton, Pa, and
Prof. A. j. Demarest, superintendent
OF the Hoboken, n. j., Schools. Tht
Congressman invited the attention o
MS hearers to Geography House,
that he was going to build at Inter
laken, Austria. He took his audienc,
with him to every country famed for th
manufacture of the best materia
he wanted. Mr.. Howell gave an
other splendid talk on Memory.
Supt. Demarest addressed the Insti
tute on Primary Reading" in whicl
he strongly recommended the wor
method in teaching the lower grades
The day sessions closed in the after
noon with two addresses. The frs
was a brilliant character study on th
life and adventures of columbus,
and was one Of the treats of the course
At the. conclusion Of the program
Prof. j. p. Burdette Of Smyrna, pre-
Hented on behalf Of the Delaware Fed
GRAFTON Of Women's Clubs, lot Q
beautiful pictures to be displayed Il