Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1904-12-02
TEACHERS
INSTITUTE
[Continued from First Page. I

school room he should carry with him
the outline of the books he has read,
and q knowledge OF the books he
should read SO that he may go on ed.
ucatinR himself indefinitely.
There Is somewhat of a 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 a
more advanced mind. Even the teach.
ers themselves are often unfamiliar
with many Of these charming stories.
1t is we'll for any one, of whatever
age, who is desirous Of comprehensive.
ly reading biographical. historical and
classical works to lay the foundation
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 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 ia 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 it may apply, must represent an
orderly and related series of exercises
leading to self f-helpfullness. Self-dir.
eoted activity should be the one great
lesson for the child to learn. If the
teacher has nothing definite in mind
the school will not be moving in a
definite direction.
His conclusion was q plea for 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 teachsrs should decorate
and beautify the walls of their rooms
with inspiring pictures.
In speaking of music Miss Edmund
said: 81 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, just as they study the great
classics in literature. - She continued
by saying that we often invite our
local talent to play in the schools in
order that the children may hear good
music. How much more beneficial il
would be if 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.
~ have only one word to say about
poetry" Miss Edmund stated, "And
that word is this: it seems to me that
it is the mission of art to make plain
things fair and ugly things oftentimes
beautiful, and it is the mission of art
to find and make beautiful the uncom
monness in common life. often think
that poetry has been more of a help in
this line than anything else.''
| The balance of the afternoon was
taken up by Superintendent James
Ooughlin's address on "Sohool Discip.
line." His talk was instructive and
inspiring and was very acceptable to
the institute; SO much so that Miss
Edmund, who was to have occupied
the last period, voluntarily gave ur
her time that Mr.. Ooughlin might con
tinue. His remarks we're pupctuated d
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 dis.
cipline school by moral suasion than
by force. A school should be manag-
ed. that is, pupil should be persuad
ed to do things rather than force him
to do them. Teachers should also pos
sess the spirit of Justice. Some one has
said 1.-THE teachers Of this country are
the commissioned, leaders of civiliza-
tion." Now il we are the commission
ed leaders of civilization, we ought to
uhuoAopoho ehO AuuiAeOb WHICH Gull
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,
WEDNESDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
With each session of the Teachers
Institute the interest seems to grow.
Yesterday at both the morning and af-
ternoon sessions number OF citizens
were in attendance. The addresses of
Miss Gertrude Edmund and Superin-
tendent James Ooughlin were praotic-
al and comprehensive and thoroughly
interesting.
On account of the Rev. Edward