Amador ledger., 1903-11-13
TEACHERS INSTITUTE.
Minutes of the Teachers Institute, Held
at Volcano Last Week.
VOICANo CAT Nor 1ooq

mittee. y 0o-
Officers and committees appointed by Supt
Gordon accepted by the institute The roll
was called 13 teachers being absent.
AS Miss Anderson was absent, Miss Daisy
D. Larson read paper on 1.-The kind OF library
book that should be read and why
What children should know of advanced
geography and how teach it, was the next
subject, taken up by Miss Margaret E. Devan
She told how she teaches geography in her own
school.
Next was a talk on introduction eff arith-
tic-combinations-wha does child ac-
quire by study of theme by Miss Rachel
Goldner. Miss Slavich asked five questions,
four of which were discussed by the institute.
Miss Schallenberger made some very inter
eSting and instructive remarks relating to the
subjects that had been presented.
The committee on music rendered selections.
The roll was then called, but two teachers,
| Miss Esther L. BreeSe and Miss Laura K Null
len, being absent, and on account of illness they
were excused.
Miss Sabra A. Hickey took up the subject of
| What a teachers attainments should be-her
| duty as regards her personal improvement -
| Miss Hickey pointed out the necessity of moral
| physical and intellectual qualifications on the
| part of the teacher. Tue teacher should so con-
duct herself that her profession is a passport
into society. The important fact that training
| should not stop when teaching begins was men
| toned.
Miss Henrietta Post made very interesting
| and pointed talk upon "What teach of gram
mar, and how teach it, She gave her method
of teaching the parts of speech Diagraming
an excellent means of finding parts of sentences.
Miss Florence M. Lowry then read paper on
What am doing in composition. Hold chill
| dren responsible for what?' Following this
| Miss Margaret Schallenberger gave methods
| to be used in order to gain better results
in spelling, calling attention to the fact that
| most people are either visual auditory or
meteor minded.
Miss Laura N. Mabury gave very interest
| ing and helpful talk upon Drawing" calling
| attention to the materials to be used The
| subject she said, is for the purpose of culture
| TO teach children to enjoy and understand the
| beauty IN everything. In using pictures but
few at time should be studied, and studied
| we'll
A paper on the subject of Social influence
among school children. How teacher may es-
| tabltSh standard, was read by Miss Mary E.
| Robinson She called attention to the duty of
| the teacher to superintend the growth of virtue
IN children, and to establish social intercourse
in community by taking precedence herself
recess was then declared, and Mr. Clark
had thoughtfully provided some lucious noun
tam apples, to which the teachers were invited
| 10 help themselves. After a recess, Vice-PreSi-
dent Fred A. Ball called institute to order
| Mr.. Williams had made arrangements to
present his subject later, and Miss Esther
Breese being absent, Mrs. John Touhey pre-
sented thoughtful paper upon what pupils
should be proficient in before entering high
| school," Mrs Touhey spoke of the periods of
| infancy, childhood and youth, showing that
| training should be carefully done during these
| periods. Culture of thought power the most
important duty of the grammar school, and
reading the subject through which this should
be developed. There should be a proficiency
in photography, history, and in the government
of our country; if anything must be Sighted
let it be mathematics. Bible history Should
stay part in school crriculum as it is an
important aid in high school work.
Miss Clara p. Anderson took up the subject
omitted in the morning session, Humane edu-
cation, its place, its purpose manner of pre-
senting, results" Its place is in the school
room the purpose to teach bravery Kindness
and unsel6shness. Manner of presenting is to
teach indirectly as far as possible by reading
and telling stories which give their own morals
placing confidence in children, and discourag-
Ing wanton destruction of the property of
birds and animals. Results are difference in
the attitude of children toward each other and
toward every living creature.
Miss Janet Il. Lithgow then read much ap-
preciated paper on Methods l apply to secure
naturalneSs in reading-results." Children
nave more need of models than of critics. Miss
L1thgow aroused very interesting discussion
upon the subject, and good points were gained
from remarks made by Miss Schallenberger
In part she said that children should be taught
to talk well first and then to read, giving sew
eral good methods. Miss Schallenberger then
read story illustrating the child'S point of
view This was especially enjoyable and in
structive
Institute then adjourned.
EVENING SESSION.
An enjoyable evening was spent in listening
to pleasing program, after which sumptuouS
banquet was rendered the teachers by the citi
zenS OF Volcano. Mr.. John h. Clute acted as
toaStmaSter. and ably performed the duty
The toasts were eloquent and elusive Wit
flowed freely, and all went merry as a marriage
bell
NOVEMBER g.
Institute called to order by superintendent
Gordon at $50 am.
Music committee favored the Institute with
selections from the Song Wave
Roll call found all teachers present
Minutes of previous day read, and with two
corrections were accepted by the Institute
Mr. Clark moved that the following named
persons be enrolled as honorary members of the
Institute: Mrs John r. Stoves, Miss Lillian
Bradshaw Mrs owen Gillick, Mrs T. Dillon.
Miss Ella Clute, John F. Clute, August Grillo,
James LESLEY Fayetta Mace, Edward Santir-
TO, Elmer BoydSon. Mr. Williams seconded and
the motion was duly carried
The first subject, Summer Session at San
Jose Normal School, was ably treated bv Miss
Kate j. Driscoll. She explained fully the OBJ
Ject OF the establishment of the summer school
the work taken up, and also gave description
OF the buildings, libraries and SURROUNDINGS
Miss Driscoll emphasized the benefit of tax
ing this course. laying stress upon the growing
demand for Normal trained teachers. She
spoke OF points of interest near San Jose which
may be visited with profit to those attending
the summer sessions. Mr. Gordon. Miss Schal-
lenberger and Miss Maestretti made remarks
upon this subject
Miss Maud E. Read presented paper on the
SUBJECT OF Value of supplemental work in the
teaching OF history" Miss Read thinks that
history should not be put OFF too long but should
begin very early in the lower grades, treating
1t In very simple manner to be sure without
relation to t1me condition or place, but firmly
history stories, so that on entering the seventh
grade the child has fair knowledge of history.
Composition is of value in the higher grades, as
1t stimulates research. A discussion on the
questions of reference books in history and
what was to be done owing to the inability of
the teachers to procure the new histories. The
discussion was taken up by Mr.. Ball Mrs
Touhey, Mr., Williams, Miss Wheeler, Miss
Payne. Miss Fox and Miss Tierney. Mr. Cor
don advised consulting the state Superntend-
ent OF pnblic instruction in regard to the
matter.
Miss Mayme V. Thomas gave points ON ssIn-
dividual instruction" showing its benefits and
good effect upon recitations. If instruction is
given fully before recitation period the teacher
can give undivided attention to her class dur
ing that time,
Miss Henrietta Smith gave a yery interest |
ing talk upon 'Drawing-its advantages in
various studies.'' She exempli6ed her re-
marks by appropriate blackboard drawings
The main advantages of this work are first its |
attractiveness, thereby holding interest; sec,
ond, 1T is better means of expressing the
child's thoughts than words; and third it aids |
in language work. The higher grades illustrate
compositions with henefit. After this Miss
Smith touched upon map drawing and drawing
from nature, leaves, fruits, flowers, ETC., using
colored crayonS.
Recess was then declared.
After recess Miss Schallenberger gave a |
lecture upon "Picture-writing and story telling
as a stepping-stone to literature" Children
like action and must be active and since this |
is the tendency, means should be provided by |
which they can express themselves. Interest |
and attention are the same; secure these by |
variety of action. Tell and read stories of ac- |
tiep. Miss Schallenbergdr read some stories |
to Illustrate her meaning. Teacher should |
practice storytelling as a means of increasing
her own ability in the use of language. Theory
to be gained, viz: Get children to make pictures
as symbols of their ideas, as pictures are the
first way of expressing thogghg. This must be |
done with absolutely no CRITICISM and children
will soon learn to tell stories by this picture
writing.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The music committee sang Red, White and