The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1904-10-29

school year of at least nine months in
every county, and minimum of $500
per annum in teachers salaries ais also
an increase in the teachers pension
fund. which allowed all who had passed
60 after % years service in the schools
to be placed on the roll Administration
of the schools had been better systema-
tized with the highest authority center
ed in the State Board, with enlarged
powers and resources, allied with the
County Boards and local boards, of trus
tees. Two Of the holidays had been
drUpped-W aShngtOn's Birthday and
Whit Monday. 1t was puIpOsed, how
ever. to make of the former as well as
of Maryland Day occasions for giving to
pupils proper and rightful conceptions by
means of appropriate exercises of the
worth of Washington and the proud rec
ord of our own beloved Commonwealth.
Prof. Gibson then devoted half an
hour to singing with Gabliel's notation
of Tennyson's Brook as the theme. to
the pleasure of teachers and visitors.
Miss NJ. Il. Cochran, of Western Mary
land College. then read an admirable
paper upon Vocal Expire SSiOn,' show
ing the necessity of correcting at the
very start Of the pupils career the de-
fectS that lie clt the root Of faulty read
ing. Otherwise, the trouble would not
be cured and would ATTEND the pupil to
the end of his course or life. Much
could he done in this direction by par
cntS. if careful in their use of language
in the presence of their children. Stam-
mCring, suffering. vicious pronunciation
could all be cured but the chief requisite
to correct expression waS for the pupil
to grasp the thought involved III the
word.
After the noon recess MISS Cochran
elaborated her treatment of vocal eX-
preston made in the morning with AN
extended discussion of the requirements
of good reading. chicf of which was the
power t" think and, particularly, ito
think upon ones feet The eye. too,
needed to he trained 50 Ills to grasp
gI"ul> of words in advance of their ex-
preston. The ear. too. needs to be
trained bur one must f,~l the sentiment
conveyed 10 give its full and correct
expression. Following Miss Cochran's =
paper DR.. Stanley Steele sang with his
wonted EXPRESSION II solo which was
loudly cncorcd. and the singer respond
ed with another equally well-received Sc
lection. Next followed Il drill upon the
vocal SC'ale to give sense of tone rela-
tions and rhythm, directed by Prof. Glib
son. followed by Alice Carcy'S Dan and
pimpc," as theme fer practice in
melody.
Assistant Statr Superintendent ]. NJ
Gambrill followed with II thoughtful
and helpful paper upon The Study of
Literature in which he held that liter
aturc a~ Il form of art could be studied
proftably only by taking complete $I,1i-
mems Of the work of any given poet or
rose writer. Fragments were as val
url,>,> as would be sections Of n great
picture or great statue toward acquir-
ing knowledge of art The youngest pu-
pills could he given a taStr for this study
by presenting poems suited to their ca
pacity. like WordSworth'S Lucy Gray"
and getting them to grasp the thought
OF thoughts they conveyed. He recalled
the hUa>t of Carlyle thsit he was what
hr was without ever having seen N
work of Titian>. and Thackcray'> re-
tort tlIt it WAS Il lamentable thing for
Carlyle. The man ignorant of htera-
tur" or satisfied with any sort of read
ing lacks something that he would BE-
the hrtt'r for liking and acquiring. The
chief value Of knowledge and appreci;l-
ton Of literature is its help ON onc'S
moral side. and its study is. therefore,
worth pursuing when properly directed.
and that it could be proftably pursued
the speaker trusted he had succeeded in
showing.
The institute was then adjourned for
| the day.
After the close Of the musical pro
gram given inthr hall on Tuesday even
ing the floor was cleared and several
dances followed in which visiting teach
crS and hcllcS and bcaux of Elkton par.
| ticipatod.