Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1904-12-01
TEACHERS
INSTITUTE
Continued from First Page. !

and RnOWl6uRe Vi the DOOhs he
should read so that he may go on ed
ucatinR himself indefinitely.
There is somewhat of tendency at
present on the part of teachers to neg
lect the fairy tales and Bible stories
so dear to the hearts OF children, and
put in their place the literature of
more advanced mind. Even the teach
ers themselves are often unfamiliar
with many of these charming stories
1t is well for any one, of whatever
age, who is desirous Of comprehensive
ly reading biographical, historical and
by becoming acquainted with these
Bible stories. fairy tales and folk lore.
Miss Edmund said in conclusion that
it is not so much what the child reads
in school, as it is what he loves to read
after he leaves school that is a mea-
sure Of success to us teachers.
After a short intermission class
from the Third Ward Primary School
rendered several songs with pleasing
effect.
James Coughlin, Superintendent of
the public schools OF Wilkesbarre. and
one Of the foremost educators of the
state, was then introduced to the In
stitute He said that the great pro-
blem for teachers to solve is how to
teach. He emphasized the Importance
of the teacher fixing the attention of
the pupil upon what he is reading.
The children should be taught to
help themselves. A method. TO what
ever il may apply, must represent an
orderly and related series of exercises
leading to self-helpiullness. Self-dir-
ected activity should be the one great
lesson for the child to learn. If the
teacher has nothing definite i'll mind
the school will not be moving in a
definite direction.
His conclusion was plea Tor teach
ers to learn to so conduct their schools
that there will be awakened in the
pupils mind an appreciation OF that
person who is standing before the class
and who is deserving of the esteem of
the class.
In the afternoon Miss Gertrude Ed
mund spoke upon 1.-THE Art Idea in
| Education" She said that imagina-
tion, feeling and expression are neces-
sary for the creation of art in any
| form. There are three lines of educa-
tion possible in our public schools
drawing, music and literature.
AS instructors OF children, our first
duty Is to teach the children to ap-
preciate the beautiful In art. Second.
ly we should teach them to produce
art. In order to accomplish results in
these lines teachers should decorate
and beautify the walls of their rooms
with inspiring pictures.
Iu speak ing of music Miss Edmund
said; II hope the time is coming when
we shall have in our High Schools
| classical music; when we shall have
children studying the great classics IN
music, jost as they study the great
| classics in literature. I" She continued
| by saying that we often invite ou1
local talent to play in the schools in
order that the children may hear good
music. How much more beneficial il
would be il we encouraged the chill
dren themselves to come forward and
do what little they could, and in this
way better develop their talent along
that line.
II have only one word to say about
poetry" Miss Edmund stated, "And
that word is this: it seems to me that
il is the mission Of art to make plain
things fair and ugly things oftentime:
beautiful, and il is the mission of ART
to find and make beautiful the uncom
monness in common life. often think
that poetry has been more of help il
this line than anything else. "
The balance Of the afternoon wa
taken up by superintendent JameI
Cougblin's address on School Discip
line" His talk was instructive anC
inspiring and was very acceptable tC
the institute so much so that Misl
Edmond, who was TO have occupied
the last period, voluntarily gave NJ
her time that Mr.. Coughlin might con
tinue. His remarks we're punctuateC
with amusing incidents in his person
al experience which served admirably
to illustrate the point under discus
sion.
He said that is is vastly better to d Is
cipline q school by moral suasion thar
by force. A school should be manag
ed. that is. a pupil should be persuad
ed to do things rather than force hin
to do them. Teachers should also pos
sess the spirit of justice. Some one hal
said "The teachers Of this country art
the commissioned leaders of civiliza
| blOu. NON IL VIC ak tilO
ed leaders Of civilization, we ought tC
understand the qualities which con
stitute leadership.
At both the morning and afternoon
sessions the High School room was
comfortably filed with people Many
persons not connected with the Insti.
tute were in attendance.
! wednesday, PROCEEDINGS.
4 With each session OF the Teachers
Institute the interest seems to grow.
Yesterday at both the morning and af,
ternoon sessions a number of citizens
were in attendance. The addresses OF
Miss Gertrude Edmund and Superin-
tendent James CouRhlin were practic-
al and comprehensive and thoroughly