Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1904-12-01
TEACHERS
INSTITUTE


remarkably large, there being only two
out of the seventy eight teachers in
the county who were not enrolled.
The institute was called to order
shortly after o'clock by County Sup
erintendent Charles w. Derr. The
Rev. j. f. Hutchison read the 27th
Psalm aud offered up an appropriate
prayer After Superintendent Derr' s
announcements, several songs were
rendered under the direction of D. N.
Dieffenbacher
After the singing Miss Gertrude Ed
mund, principal Of the Lowell Train
ing School for Teachers, was introduc-
ed to the Institute as the speaker of
the afternoon. Miss Edmund in addi-
tion TO her teachers training school
work. Is principal OF school of a
| thousand pupils ranging in years from
the kindergarten to the high school.
Her career has been most varied. She
! has taught In the country school, and
!
ell to the high school; so that with
| the experience gathered from so many
| different educational institutions she
| is particularly we'll fitted TO speak to
gatherings of this kind. Miss Edmund
combines with these acquired attri-
butes. the natural quality OF concisely
expressing her thoughts in the sImp-
lest diction. Her subject, 'The Claims
of the Children" was treated in most
interesting and instructive manner,
and while her address was particular
IL adapted to the Institute, it would
have been enjoyable and profitable to
any audience.
Miss Edmund said that children
should not be rushed to work beyond
their years, or trained in any way be-
yond their age. There is a marke d
tendency at the present time to de-
velop this evil. to imbue into the minds
OF children the ways Of older people,
and to make childhood lost art +"
1t is mistake to send children to a
kindergarten before the age of six
years, when they should be playing
the games and enjoying the amuse-
ments of childhood. aud building up q
physically sound BODY that will the
better stand the trials of a mental
training. The children who are kept
out of the kindergarten until the age
whose schooling is started ut al earlier
age, for the reason that they have be-
come physically stronger because of
the outdoor exercise that the others
have missed.
She also brought up the Iuestion of
more extensive practice of physical
culture in the schools. More of both
indoor and outdoor exercise was ad.
voc,ted. The brain does not act as
whole, but different portions have diff
ferent functions. each muscle having
its brain center. Therefore when the
children exercise they develop not only
the muscle. but the brain centers as
we'll Pluck and courage are develop.
cd IN the games of childhood that bet
ter fit one to fight the battles Of after
life.
Miss Edmund made a plea for the
introduction Of manual training into
l., ,NfS la
that when a child is utterly incapable
of book learning his intelligence can
be quickened by giving him something
to do with his hands As soon a. he
learns to do some thing useful he gains
in self-respeIt, which makes him hap
py and keeps him out of mischief.
Manual training combines the develop
ment of the brain with the develop
meut of those powers which will en-
able him to earn his living Miss Ed
mund does not consider "a boy as hav
ing been thoroughly educated or cul
tured who can not harness horse or
drive a nail, nor does she consider the
education of a girl complete until she
can bake bread, darn stockings and fit
dress, even though she can converse
country furnishes the intellectual basis
of the city, and this is because of the
manual training that country bred
men receive in their childhood and
youth.
Each child must be studied individ-
uaIly by the teacher. Some children
are "eyeminded. and learn easily
what is placed before them in writ
ing Others are earminded" and alb
sorb more readily the things that are
told them The peculiar kind Of train
ing should be used that will appeal to
the pupils peculiar kind Of imagina-
ton. Most minds are more richly en-
dOwed in one direction than in anoth-
er. Great pains should be taken to
discover this special bent in a pupil,
and an effort made to train the child
ong the line of greatest strength in
the broadcast way.
TUESDAYS PROCEEDINH.
The Teachers Institute OF 1904 bids
fair to go on record as the most valu-
able and agreeable session that has
been held in recent years. The in
struction rendered is certainly of
very high order. and, judging by the
many expressions of appreciation and
praise, it is highly regarded by the
teachers attending.
Religious exercises were conducted
yesterday morning by the Rev. 6. +.
Limbert The first period was oooupi.
ed by Miss Gertrude Edmund. who ad,
dressed the Institute on "Children's
Literature. The speaker said that