The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-04-13
TEACH,ITEACHER
Excellent Addresses Given
Daily at Institute.
VALUABLE INSTRUCTIONS RECEIVED
Miss Merrill Spoke Today on Subject
of Reading-TaIks by Other
Instructors. &.
VALUABLE INSTRUCTIONS RECEIVED

| After the opening exercises at the
afternoon session of the teachers in
stitute yesterday afternoon. Prof. A.
H. Yoder continued his lectures on
Adolescence" His subject this time
dealt with two branches spiritual and
mental. In the course of his remarks
he said: "The energy which produced
the physical body at the completion of
growth is turned into new channels.
This energy may be expended in work
or in mental impetus, or in debauch-
cry. The transition period is one Of
storm and stress. The great quality
| in the teacher for this period is SYM
pathy. Children have plans but they
are not serious. The plan of youth
becomes serious. The youth must have
some intense mental experience, though
not necessarily Of evil, before the
change from youth to manhood is
complete. The energy that built the
body must be used. If that is not put
upon work or upon some great idea it
will be dissipated perhaps upon evil.
The youth questions the authority of
doubts the school. The boy passes
through a drifting stage toward all in
a nariO6 o.
ment of which is very delicate"
After Mrs. Walter Upinton had rem
dered pleasing vocal solo, and Miss
Margaret Nye gave a recitation, SUI
perintendent Myers introduced Profess
sor Schaffer, principal of the Cheney
normal school, who made a short talk
on normals.
He then announced that the next
meeting of the Inland Empire Teach
ers' association would be held in the
month of December at Spokane. He
urged every teacher to attend and he
predicted it would be the most profit
able teachers meeting ever held in the
northwest.
DR.. Mathes occupied the remainder
Of the afternoon session in continuing
his talk on "A Study in Social Train
ing" He claimed that society was CO.
existent with man and that magazines,
papers Or literature could not fill this
need. He gave two excellent examples
Of what a teacher may do to develop
the social life Of a child.
Today's Session.
The session of the institute was
opened this morning by the singing of
Kindly Light" after which the roll
was called. The institute then sang
My Old Kentucky Home
Miss Merrill of Whitman college gave
an interesting and practical talk on
reading. She claimed that the first
requisite in teaching reading was in
terest and earnestness on the part of
| the teacher. Teachers should have one
| thing in mind in each lesson and not
|
reading in one lesson. The voice
should be developed as to force, VOL
ume and quality.
| Following Miss Merril's talk Jessie
Jones rendered a clever pantomine
which was greatly enjoyed by the
teachers.
| Prof. A. H. Yoder spoke at length
on the subject of Significance of
Play" He said that all the play of
children may be divided into two parts.
First, the historical play which is
| based on historical facts; second, mod
ern adult activities modified to suit
| the childs mind. He claimed that
| there were two universal playthings-
| the doll and the ball. The educational
value of play consists of it's social
value, and the childs play reflects the
beliefs and prejudices of it's parents.
He said that value Of the public
schools consisted largely in it's democ-
racy, and on the playground this dem
Ocracy was manifested and developed
Commercial Geography was the
topic of Prof E. T. Mathes' address.
He said that commercial geography is
now being offered by many of the
schools, but yet the system of teaching
it is not complete or entirely satisfac-
tory The United States government
is recognizing the great Importance of
and fosters it by the publication of
bulletins from the department of COM ]